For most people, running a marathon is a pretty big deal. The distance of 26.2 miles is a long way for one person to run in a single shot.

So how do people actually pull it off? What is the process for actually completing a marathon?

Let’s start with the obvious: if you break down a marathon into smaller sections, you come up with a certain number of miles—26.2 of them to be exact. Then you can break those down into half miles or quarter miles.

But what is the simplest, singular motion that causes a runner to complete a marathon? It is the single stride. For the average person, it is between 2.1 and 2.5 feet.

It takes the average runner somewhere between 55,000-63,000 strides to complete a marathon. Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? Maybe so, but now you have a specific number you can get your head around.

Interestingly, the number of words in an average non-fiction book is around 50,000 words. So, you can think of writing a book almost like running a marathon.

How does a runner complete a marathon, and how does a writer complete a book? You keep moving, no matter what.

The screenwriter and producer Brian Koppelman said, “Resilience is a writer’s best friend. Train like a marathon runner. Move a little further each day despite the pain.”

There’s no special trick to writing a book or running a marathon. It’s all about training, persistence, and action. Put one word after another and keep moving until you reach the finish line.

Question: In your book project or other writing-related work, are you committed to keep moving until you reach the finish line?