The Day I Stopped Making Excuses and Started Leading Myself
Lachlan Stuart walking in pain during a marathon
On Day 3 of the 58 marathons, I didn’t feel like a leader. I felt like a victim.
I was cold, injured, and overwhelmed.
And worst of all I was feeling sorry for myself.
I remember thinking, “How could this happen to me?”
I hadn’t touched alcohol for over a year. I’d done the perfect training block. I’d prepared for success down to the hour.
And somehow… I’d still dropped the ball.
The Spiral That Almost Took Me Out
It was freezing.
My ankles were starting to swell up.
I could barely get my shoes on.
This was before I even knew how serious the injury would get.
But my body was already warning me. Something was off. And it was getting worse.
The old me would’ve started stacking the excuses.
“It’s not fair.”
“I trained harder than anyone.”
“This shouldn’t be happening.”
But I didn’t.
Instead I took a breath.
And made a decision that changed everything.
Two Options. One Outcome.
I gave myself two options:
1. Quit.
Let the pain win. Go home.
Spend the rest of my life thinking about what could’ve been.
2. Keep going.
Push through the pain.
Accept that I’d be moving slower.
That I’d be out there longer.
That every extra hour meant more time in the cold.
I hated both.
But quitting wasn’t a real option—not in my mind. Not anymore.
Most of us never choose.
We hesitate. We complain. We stall.
But choosing—even when both options suck—is what separates leaders from talkers.
So I chose.
And I reminded myself:
I am strong enough to deal with the consequences.
I’ll be resourceful enough to figure it out.
That’s when I reached out to a physio back home.
We didn’t have a full-time physio on the road, so we had to troubleshoot.
We tested things daily. Adjusted plans. Prioritised getting the swelling down.
We figured it out. One step at a time.
The Day I Became a Man
There was no spotlight. No camera moment.
Just one truth echoing through my chest:
The little boy inside me died that day.
The version of me who waited for others to fix things.
Who leaned on other people to create the life I wanted.
Who hesitated when things got uncomfortable.
Gone.
What replaced him was a man.
A man who takes full responsibility.
Who asks for help when he needs it.
Who owns the outcome, no matter what.
That was the day I stopped being “mummy’s little boy.”
That was the day I started leading myself.
This Is What Mental Strength Looks Like
It’s not about being perfect.
It’s not about avoiding pain.
And it’s definitely not about waiting for everything to be ideal.
It’s about accepting what is and choosing how you respond.
It’s about leading yourself especially when it’s hard, messy, or inconvenient.
I don’t need hype.
I don’t need motivation.
I don’t need to be saved.
Because I’ve become the kind of man who keeps showing up,
even when it hurts.
I don’t just talk about it.
I am about it.
Lachie
PS
What moment forced you to stop making excuses and start leading yourself?
Drop it in the comments I want to hear your story.
Or share this with someone who’s standing at that same crossroads right now.
You never know who needs the reminder:
You don’t have to feel ready. You just have to decide.
Take the Free Life Performance Scorecard to see where you are now!
