When we think about improving our performance, whether in sports, fitness, or life, most of us instinctively focus on what we’re already good at.

It feels natural. Comfortable. Rewarding.

But what if the real key to progress isn’t sharpening your strengths… but confronting your weaknesses?

This is something I’ve learned firsthand.

 

From Limitations to a Marathon Finish Line

Running has always been part of my life, but only to a certain point.

As a teenager, 5 to 7 kilometers was my limit. That was where my body felt comfortable, and I never really pushed beyond it.

Around the age of 20, everything changed.

After years of ballet, I had to stop due to injury and overuse, especially in my legs and feet. Ballet is incredibly demanding, and my body simply couldn’t sustain it.

What surprised me most was that even after I stopped dancing, I struggled with running too. My body had developed imbalances that made even moderate activity difficult.

For a long time, I accepted those limitations.

But becoming a physiotherapist changed my perspective completely.

 

Seeing the Body Differently

Through my work, I began to understand something fundamental:

The body adapts to what you ask of it, but it also compensates for what you neglect.

If you only train what you’re good at, your body becomes efficient but not balanced. And over time, that imbalance can lead to injury, pain, or stagnation.

So when I decided to train for my first marathon, 42 kilometers, I knew I had to approach it differently.

 

The Real Training Didn’t Start with Running

Of course, running was part of the plan. But it wasn’t the foundation.

The foundation was analysis.

I took a close look at my body:

  • Where was I weak?
  • Where was I compensating?
  • Which areas had been overused, and which had been neglected?

This is something anyone can do, either on their own or with the help of a physiotherapist, coach, or personal trainer. It’s especially important if you’ve had past injuries.

Once I understood my imbalances, my training became much more intentional.

 

Training What I Was Bad At

Instead of just running more, I focused on:

  • Strengthening weak muscle groups
  • Improving stability and control
  • Building endurance gradually
  • Adding interval training for resilience

It wasn’t always enjoyable. In fact, training your weaknesses rarely is.

But it was effective.

Over time, my body became more balanced. Movements felt smoother. My endurance improved, not just because I ran more, but because my body worked better as a whole.

 

The Marathon I Never Thought I’d Enjoy

When race day came, I had one goal: finish without injury.

I didn’t expect to enjoy it.

But something surprising happened.

It was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had.

The atmosphere.

The energy.

The sense of achievement.

The feeling of a body working in harmony after months of intentional training, it was unforgettable.

Before the race, I told myself: “I’ll never do this again.”

Now? I’m not so sure.

 

The Bigger Lesson

This experience reinforced something I now believe deeply:

What you’re good at is what your body already relies on every day.
What you’re bad at is where your growth, and your balance, lives.

If you want to:

  • Perform better
  • Avoid injuries
  • Feel stronger and more capable
  • Maintain your body as you age (especially beyond 40)

Then you need to train the parts of you that are weakest, not just the ones that feel strongest.

 

Start Where You Are

You don’t need to run a marathon to apply this principle.

Start by asking yourself:

  • What movements feel difficult or unstable?
  • Where do I lack strength or control?
  • What do I tend to avoid in my training?

That’s your starting point.

Because real progress doesn’t come from doing more of what’s easy.

It comes from doing what’s necessary.