Going the Distance: What Marathons and Rails Teach Us About Longevity

Rails didn’t win by sprinting — it won by lasting. Through stories from running marathons and leading a Rails company, I’ll explore how endurance, discipline, and long-term thinking help us build software, teams, and careers that stand the test of time.

Leading a company and training for a marathon have more in common than you’d think — especially in the Ruby world. Both reward consistency, patience, and the discipline to keep going when progress feels slow or setbacks hit. In this talk, I’ll share stories from my journey as a marathoner and CEO of a long-standing Ruby on Rails company, from pushing through the wall at mile 20 to navigating difficult seasons in business. Along the way, I’ll draw parallels between endurance training and the values that have helped Rails — and the people who build with it — last: pacing over sprinting, fundamentals over hype, and resilience over quick wins. You’ll leave with a renewed appreciation for long-term thinking and what it really takes to go the distance in software, leadership, and life.

This is a non-technical, narrative-driven talk intended for a broad Ruby audience. It requires only standard A/V support and slides; no live coding or demos.

I am the CEO and co-founder of JetRockets, a Ruby on Rails consultancy I’ve led for over a decade. Throughout many iterations of the company — including navigating the pandemic, relocating our distributed team, and evolving our business model — our commitment to Ruby on Rails has remained constant. That long-term perspective closely mirrors the mindset that has allowed Rails itself to endure.

I’m also a marathoner, and long-distance training has deeply influenced my leadership style. The parallels between endurance training and building software teams — pacing, recovery, consistency, and resilience — form the backbone of this talk. Rather than theory, the session draws from lived experience leading Rails teams through real-world challenges.

This talk is designed to resonate with developers, team leads, and founders who value sustainability, craftsmanship, and longevity in both their careers and the tools they choose.