Everyone who knows me, even a little, knows that I love running marathons. In fact, it is basically all I talk about for about 6 months out of the year. Specifically, every year from June to November, and I only stop in November because I want to talk about Christmas. Typically, people like to talk to me about marathons. They have lots of questions about “how in the world I do that?” or sometimes “why in the world I do that?”
For the next couple of weeks, I’m going to post 2 blogs featuring everything you ever wanted to know about long-distance running. This first post is a Beginners Overview. I reference 'marathons' only, but its a substitute for any long distance. The second post will be the ‘nitty-gritty, no one ever told me that guide’ to becoming a marathon runner. If you’ve ever wondered if you could run a marathon, this post is for you. If you’ve ever wondered how to run a marathon, this post is for you. If you just like to read all the nonsense I write about, this post is for you too.
I would say 98% of the people I talk to about marathons believe they "could never do that.” I believed that too. Anyone who has never run a marathon believes they could never do it. I wish I could tell you “OF COURSE YOU CAN! Everyone can!” That actually is not true. For some people, marathons may not be realistic. For example, if you’ve ever had a major surgery on your back, ankle, foot, knee. I wouldn’t recommend that you run a marathon unless you’ve talked to your doctor. You will absolutely push these parts of your body to.the.limit. If you have a heart condition, I mean, getting your heart rate up to 170 bpm for 4 consecutive hours is probably not ideal for you. But, for the most part, I do believe that ALMOST everyone can run a marathon. And I'd go further to say EVERYONE CAN RUN a 5K.
Here are some lessons and common misconceptions that I learned the hard way. All of them. I learned all of them the hard way. I’m saving you so much time, heartache, tears, and you’re welcome.
The Navy Seal Approach
I’m not sure if I heard this from my husband or an actual Navy Seal or really where I got this from. But, it is KEY and it is carved into my brain. No one signs up for a marathon and says, “oh yeah, I can definitely run 26 miles.” I’ve trained for 5 marathons, and I NEVER sign up with that kind of confidence. The Navy Seal approach is simple- focus on only the run on your schedule, one week at a time. If you can run 1 mile, you can run 2 miles. If you can run 2 miles, you can run a 5k. If you can run a 5k, over time and with practice, you can run a 10k. Do you see where I’m going with this? I start my marathon training at 8 miles. After that initial 8 mile run, I never, ever want to even think about running 26 total miles. In fact, sometimes the 8 miles is SO hard, that I think “Dear God in Heaven, I can’t run 8. There’s no way I’ll be able to do 26.” But, guess what? I don’t have to. Next week, I only have to do 9. So, save those self-defeating thoughts for when you ACTUALLY can’t do it, not when you THINK you can’t do it. #micdrop
Eat
If you ever thought about signing up for a marathon as a weight-loss plan, think again friend. I eat approximately 17x more during marathon training and I typically only lose like 1 lb. To successfully run any long distances, you have to eat pretty large meals the night before your run. You have to eat pretty caloric meals the morning of your run. You have to eat some sort of nutrition during your run. You have to eat after your run. Good luck on your 1200 calorie a day eating plan. Let me know how that goes for you. If you’re looking to eat more and maintain your weight, you are in luck. This is a great plan for you.
Water
Every.freaking.time. I forget this lesson every time. You can imagine that you will need to drink water during your run. Duh. It is August. You might even be smart enough to know that you need to drink water the whole day before your run. The reality is, you need to be chugging water all day every day. Your muscles need all the water to recover and to be strong. I don’t even like drinking water. I have to flavor it like a 2 year old, but you know what I don’t like even more? My calf muscles stiffening up on mile 9 when I have 6 miles to go.
$$$
This one makes me laugh. A lot of people think, “I should become a runner, it’s not a very expensive hobby.” Allow me to be your myth buster. Running is actually a pretty expensive hobby. Let me breakdown MY cost for you. Every runner is different. I can only speak to my experience.
Shoes- $120
Race Registration- $80-$200
Runner Rehab- $150 per month (more in next post)
Nutrition- $20 per month
Knee Braces- $30 (2x per training season)
Water Bottle- You can find these sweet belts at TJ Maxx for like $20.
Group Registration- if you sign up with a group (optional): $200
The grand total FOR ME is anywhere from $700-$1,000
This doesn’t mean every single runner spends that much, but you should be prepared for this to be a minimum of $300.
Shoes
I know what you’re thinking. Jordon is crazy for spending $120 on running shoes. I’ll go to the Kmart and get a pair of Nike’s for $40. Yeah, ok. Good luck with that. Your $40 Nikes are great for your 5k. When you’re out there POUNDING pavement with your entire body weight for 3-4 hours on a Saturday, you need some shoes that know what they’re doing. Don’t even bother signing up for a marathon if you aren’t going to go to a RUNNING STORE and be fitted for a pair of shoes. You don’t have to buy them there. You can go home and look on Zappos or 6pm or whatever. But, you absolutely need to be professionally fitted for running shoes. Running Shoes are a science in and of themselves. Words you may not know but definitely matter: stability, pronation, neutral, mid-strike, fore-strike, etc. Just go to the store. I can't even talk about this because it makes me so enraged.
Not Optional
If running a marathon is optional, you will not do it. You know who marathons absolutely SUCK for? Everyone. At some point, it sucks for everyone. At some point every person wants to quit. At 6am on a SATURDAY, you will want to quit. If it is an option, you probably will. If you make up your mind that you’re going to do it, then do it. Quitting isn’t an option because you are the 0.5% (percentage of people in the US to run a marathon- google it).
No Excuses
You have a job? Me too.
You have a kid? Me too.
You go to school? Me too.
You don’t have time? Me either.
You didn’t get enough sleep? Me either.
Your weight? Not an excuse.
Your boobs hurt? I don’t care. Get a better bra.
You’re too old? Unless you’re older than 101, apparently you are not too old because that little grandma completed Boston.
Unless your doctor does not find it medically advisable, you have no excuse not to run a marathon.
You don’t want to do it by yourself? Sign up for a training group.
You don’t have the money? I will PERSONALLY sponsor you. Don't tell my husband I'm paying for you to follow my dreams.
I can play this game all day.
Mental Game
Running a marathon is about 40% training and 150% mental. Those stats don’t add up but they are 100% accurate. Long distance running is a mental game. When I see 3 miles on the schedule, don’t ask me to run 4. Ain’t happening. I mentally prepare for every run. If I know I only have to run 3, then 3 is what I’m prepared to do. When I am mentally prepared to run 18, then somehow by the grace of God, the music of Taylor Swift, and the Invisibilia podcast, I am able to crank it out. Don't ask me to explain this black magic, it just is what it is. (I have more podcast recommendations if you need them).
30 is actually old
Yes, it is. My 30 year old body hurts during marathon training. It is hard on your hips. On your feet. On your back. On your legs. On your ankles. It’s just hard. You need to expect it to hurt. You also need to expect to have a minor injury during your training. Every single time I train, I have some sort of minor injury that requires me to take a couple of weeks off. Do not let this discourage you.
The Accomplishment
When people ask me why I run marathons, I give a different answer every time. They are all true. But, deep down in my soul, I do marathons because I can do hard things. This is my mantra. Life throws you curveballs. You will endure crisis, sickness, death of loved ones, childbirth (for some), parenting struggles, marital struggles, all kinds of BS that life throws you. And, you can do hard things too. I don't need to list my accomplishments in life, but running a marathon is absolutely one of my top 3. Because every single time I cross that finish line regardless of the time on the clock, I remember that "I can do hard things" and that keeps me going when life really gets hard.
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