Prior to this, my last Half Marathon was over a year ago, where I set a Personal Best of 2:23:03. But afterwards, my training was inconsistent. Though I kept running, I rarely pushed long distances. So, when I registered for the WAMC Accura Perth Half Marathon on 3rd August 2025, it felt like a turning point. For the first time in a while, I was ready to commit to proper training. My sessions were consistent, and running in a hilly suburb definitely made me stronger. With a flat course ahead, I felt prepared, maybe even on track for another PB. But as race week unfolded, the forecast grew grim with heavy rain and strong winds. And so, on race morning, I found myself not just facing the physical challenge of a half marathon, but the unexpected test of running straight into a storm. However, what unfolded taught me lessons far more valuable than any PB could have.

Five Life Lessons from Running Through a Storm

Resilience: When I woke up to the sounds of howling wind and rain, I was convinced the race would be cancelled. I checked my email repeatedly, waiting for the cancellation notice. Instead, the only update was that the start had been postponed by half an hour. At the WAMC Clubhouse, I joined the long toilet queue and was still there when it was suddenly announced that the delay would be cut short. Heart pounding, I bolted to the start line with just three minutes to spare. Nervous tension filled the air, and as if on cue, the slight drizzle turned into a downpour shortly after we set off. Sheets of rain came down, the wind blasted head-on, and puddles stretched across the path. But we all chuckled when one runner quipped, “Not like we’d rather be anywhere else on a Sunday morning!”.

Looking back, it would have been easy (understandable even) to give in, to let the storm win. But with each kilometre, thousands of runners made the decision, again and again, to keep moving forward. That is resilience. Life can sometimes feel like running through a storm – relentless rain, wild winds, unexpected hail. And it’s in those moments, when conditions are at their toughest, that we often discover our true strength. This race reminded me that adversity doesn’t stop us; it dares us to rise, to push through, and to uncover a resilience we didn’t know we had.

Adaptability: The course followed a beautiful out-and-back route along the Swan River. But what should have been stunning scenery was blurred into a grey wash of rain. I quickly realised my race plan would not survive. I had aimed for a 2:22 finish, with target splits every 5km, but the conditions forced me to rethink everything. Instead of chasing numbers, I ran by feel, trying to remain steady, focused, and almost instinctive. I tucked behind stronger runners, drew energy from a woman blasting music, and kept an eye on the 2:30 pacers, determined to stay ahead. I couldn’t control the storm, but I could certainly control how I responded to it. And just like in life, it’s often our ability to adapt, rather than rigidly stick to the plan, that helps us move forward, even when circumstances change.

Perspective: Around the 10km mark, icy pellets stung my face. At first, I thought it was just a combination of the strong wind and rain, until someone beside me said in a slow drawl, “Now hail is usually where I draw the line!” Crossing Narrows Bridge, I felt the bizarre sensation of my whole body being shoved sideways by strong gusts of wind. And yet, with Golden playing in my ears: “We are going up, up, up, it’s our moment”, I threw my hands in the air and laughed. Soaked to the bone, battling 40km/h gusts, I felt powerful. Invincible, even. When I stopped fighting the storm, I began to notice its strange beauty. The Swan River’s rough waves looked majestic, the runners with heads bowed and bodies pushing forward looked powerful, and the drenched volunteers radiated unwavering spirit with one declaring, “Isn’t this just beautiful?! This is nature!!!” And she was right. Perspective turned chaos into strength. In life, shifting your perspective can transform challenges into opportunities to see beauty, strength, and resilience where you least expect it.

Letting Go of Perfection: With a few kilometres to go, I was drenched, my feet frozen, and my vision blurred. The finish line arch was tucked around a corner, invisible until the final push. There would be no shiny new PB, no neatly wrapped Instagram post. And yet, the imperfections gave the day its magic. My final time of 2:25 wasn’t a PB, but at an average pace of 6:52/km, it was my third-fastest time. In those conditions, it felt like a fierce victory. Sometimes, the greatest wins are the messy, soaked-through stories we’ll never forget. Letting go of perfection allows us to embrace the journey, celebrate our efforts, and find fulfilment in the progress we make, even when things don’t go as planned.

Gratitude: By the finish, gratitude overwhelmed me. For the volunteers who cheered in raincoats, refusing to abandon their posts. For the strangers who ran shoulder-to-shoulder with me through the storm. For my own body, cold, soaked, exhausted, but still strong enough to carry me across the line. For my family waiting at the end, my son even capturing an epic finish-line photo (below). Crossing that line, hands thrown high, shouting “Come on! Come on!” to the amusement of a drenched marshal, I felt unbelievably grateful. And just like in life, gratitude transforms challenges into moments of connection, appreciation, and joy, reminding us to value the people, the effort, and the journey itself.

Final Thoughts

The Perth Half Marathon gave me more than a medal. It reminded me that storms, both literal and metaphorical, are inevitable. We don’t get to choose when they arrive, how long they last, or how fierce they’ll be. What we can choose is how we respond, how we show up, and how we keep moving forward, step by step, even when the conditions feel impossible. Sometimes it’s not the smooth, perfect, or easy races that stay with us, but the wildest, wettest, most chaotic ones – the ones that challenge us, test us, and ultimately teach us something profound about our strength, resilience, and the joy of simply carrying on. These are the races, and the moments in life, that leave the deepest mark.

Your Turn

• Have you ever run a race (or faced a life challenge) where the conditions were completely out of your control? How did you respond?
• Which of these lessons speaks to you most right now?
• Did you participate in the Perth Half Marathon? What was your experience?

Love from The Gaborone Runner – one street, one story, one run at a time

I am joining My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida for Fit Five Friday. 

Credit: Faze Photography