Kailyn Stone
University of Tennessee College of Law Class of 2025
Tennessee Law Review Editor-In-Chief

Few experiences in law school have compared to the feeling of turning left on Titan’s Way and seeing the finish line packed with family, friends, and spectators after 26.2 miles of running. Some of my friends called me crazy for running a marathon in the middle of finals week, only three days before our Business Associations exam. They might have been right about that, but after reflecting on my experience, I know that training for my first marathon has made me a better law student, leader, and hopefully, a better future lawyer. Here are my three main takeaways.

1. Lean on the people around you.

During the week of the race, I started to panic. I began questioning whether I trained enough to finish the race. Afterall, the most I ever ran was 18 miles. How was I supposed to run 26? I started the race with a pacer, who held me accountable for the first 13 miles. After mile 13, I was on my own. The thought of seeing my family and friends at mile 18 carried me through the next 5. My friends, family, law professors, and co-workers tracked my location during the race. Throughout the entire 26.2, I received text messages and even an email from a professor, saying things like, “You can do this,” “You are doing great,” and “Don’t give up now!” After seeing my family at mile 18, cheering with their embarrassing signs, I felt motivated to complete the race. As I neared the end and the race became more challenging, I reminded myself that people were waiting for me at the finish line. Without them, I could not finish the race.

Law school and the legal profession are no different. There is always a deadline, a paper, an exam coming up, an oral argument to prepare for, or a stackcheck due for the Tennessee Law Review. Law school is demanding. As a result, it is easy to lose sight of the support system around you when you are focused on the workload in front of you.

Taking on a leadership role adds an additional layer of responsibilities, deadlines, and expectations. As a result, leaders sometimes take on extra work and responsibilities to accomplish an end goal for the group. While work ethic and dedication are admirable, marathon

training taught me that it is just as important to lean on the people around you for support when the journey is tough and the stresses of the profession are too overwhelming. The best leaders I know delegate tasks to the people around them and lean on others for advice. As law students, leaders, and future lawyers, we should remember to lean on the people around us for support, encouragement, and guidance.

2. What you do you when no one else is watching matters.

There were a lot of days I did not feel like training. When my Saturday morning runs increased from 8 miles to 12 to 18, I felt burned out, sore, tired, and bored. Some days I skipped training entirely. Most days I chose to train even if I did not feel like it. Much like marathon training, consistency in law school and in the legal profession is a choice. There were plenty of opportunities during the race to cut corners or walk when no one was around. Similarly, in law school and in the legal profession, there are opportunities to take the easy route or the path of least resistance. Marathon training reminded me that leaders are called to a higher standard of integrity.

What do you do when no one else is watching? It matters. Each day I showed up to train when I did not feel like it, I got closer to my ultimate goal of finishing the race. Part of being a good leader is doing the right thing and putting in the work when no one else is around to hold you accountable. By showing consistency, you raise the bar for others around you.

Notice how I said consistency and not perfection; they are not synonymous. Not every day is going to be perfect. Consistency, to me, means simply showing up and doing your best. For instance, one day I might jog a slow mile after a tough school day. The next day I might run 18 miles of hills in the heat. Marathon training taught me that both days are equal. On each occasion, I showed up and gave it everything I had. What you do when no one is watching sets the stage for good leadership, and it starts with consistency.

3. Grit is key.

Growing up as an athlete, I learned the value of grit. Half the battle of collegiate athletics is persevering through adversity. While marathon training is similar, nothing could have prepared me for the mental battle during the last 6 miles of the race. During those last few miles, the fans were at the finish line, which was too far to see or hear. To make matters worse, the sun became progressively hotter, and the hills multiplied. My mind repeatedly told me to quit because it was too hot, too hilly, and too far.

The mental battle during the last 6 miles of a marathon mirrors the challenges leaders encounter in navigating complex situations. That is why I believe grit is a shared trait between a marathon runner and a leader: both need grit to persist through challenges, setbacks, and complex situations. Good leaders have grit to fuel themselves toward their own goals. Great leaders have grit to inspire and motivate others for the benefit of the group. As law students, leaders, and future lawyers, we need grit to motivate ourselves and those around us to achieve individual and team goals.

Although running a marathon was one of the most challenging goals I have ever worked towards, I am grateful for the lessons I learned along the way. I hope these lessons will transform how I lead during the upcoming school year and beyond.