Colin MacInnis

“Finish What You Start”

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by

Colin MacInnis
in ,

The Final 2%

Of all the phrases I repeat to myself, finish what you start has become the loudest.

It shows up everywhere. At work, in my routines, even when I’m brushing my teeth before bed.

I start each day, I finish each day.

That idea was reinforced years ago by an old boss and mentor. That the final 2% is where things quietly die.

Most projects don’t fail. They stall at 98% and quietly die.

The final 2% isn’t glamorous. It’s the moment when excitement has gone and the next shiny thing pulls at you. This is where discipline comes in.

Reflecting Over Christmas

Over Christmas, I did a rare self-check. I looked at habits, routines, spending, goals. It felt relieving to finally give myself the time to do this.

As New Years Eve approached, my wife and I were tidying up. At a point, we talked about where our running medals from 2022 should go.

These medals meant a few things to me:

  • Resembled the year I ran 1,200km
  • The year I participated in 5 race events
  • The year I ran 9 half marathons
  • The year I completed the RunDisney Wine & Dine Challenge doing a 5K, 10K, and half marathon over 3 days.

And while I am proud of these achievements, I didn’t do Dopey.

The Thing I Stopped at 98%

To those unfamiliar with RunDisney’s Dopey Challenge, it entails:

  • Running a 5K
  • Running a 10K
  • Running a Half Marathon
  • Running a Full Marathon

Do the 4 runs, get the medal. Plus you’ll join the ranks of the less-than-1% of people who will ever complete a marathon in their lifetime. And beyond that, be part of an even smaller subset of people to run consecutive races back to back.

I was 1 marathon short. Would it have been easy? Absolutely not. Did I doubt myself? Was I in my own head? Yes.

It would’ve been easier to just stick it out in 2022, but I can’t turn back the clock. Fast forward 4 years and under the “Life Goals” section of my journal remains the goal: Run a Marathon.

Finishing What I Started

So here it is. My decision and purpose. I began the RunDisney events and I’m going to see them through.

I will be running my first marathon and earning the Dopey Challenge medal in January 2027.

Not impulsively or out of regret of the past. I’m doing this to practice what I preach, step outside my comfort zone, and be a source of inspiration for my family as an aspiring role model to my kids.

Registration opens March 17, 2026.
Races take place January 6–10, 2027 in Orlando, Florida.