Marathon Archives - Run Like a Kenyon

My next marathon, The Jack and Jill Downhill Marathon is about 20 weeks out and training has started! Whenever a new round of training starts, I can’t help but think back to my first marathon in 2013. Oh the things I didn’t understand then. This got me thinking that really, a “marathon training guide” isn’t just one post, or one article. It should be a series of things that you can dive into. So, while I’m training I’ll bring you along for the ride with all the goods.

Part 1: Where to begin?

First things first, if you’re not quite sure or you haven’t signed up for a race yet, check out my tough questions post here. If you’re still with me let’s get started.

Choose a Plan

Running a marathon requires planning. Before getting started you’ll need to pick the right marathon training plan to make sure you are running enough miles, while not increasing too quickly. Most plans are 15-20 weeks and the mileage will vary depending on your experience and goals.

If you’re a complete beginner and have never done a marathon before, pick a plan that gets you across the finish line. Don’t focus on a specific time goal. After all, any time will be a PR! One trap a lot of first timers fall into, is expecting that a marathon will just be double your best half marathon time but that’s not quite how it works. Madame Marathon is entirely her own game.

There are countless free plans as well as paid plans out there. Jeff Galloway, Hal Higdon, Runners World just to name a few great resources for beginners and pros alike. For those running their second (and beyond) race and want to kick things up a bit you can find intermediate or even advanced plans, all depending on your goals.

Coaching

If you don’t feel like you can confidently choose a plan on your own or if, like me, you want to take your running to the next level you might consider getting a coach. Coaching comes in a variety of levels and price points. You can find coaches willing to create a plan for you once and you’re on your own, all the way up to a coach who checks in with you daily.

Run4Prs is a great coaching option, and what I currently use. They offer personalized coaching plans at a variety of levels and are reasonably priced. I personally do the basics with a custom plan and occasional email support. It’s unlocked potential in me I didn’t know I had. Plus, someone tells you when and how far to run, so you don’t have to think about it. 🙂

Strength Training

When focusing on a marathon, it’s easy to stick to logging the miles and forget about strength training but it’s a key part of the equation to make you stronger and help avoid injury. For instance, most of us don’t think about how having weak abs effects other parts of the body, like our hips and glutes. Ahh, so ab exercises now make sense for running!

A good strength training routine is a must, but keep in mind running is still your main focus while in training. I like to strength train twice a week, and avoid things like the dreaded leg day right before a long run. I also tend to avoid a lot of plyo and jumping but that’s personal preference and knowing that my feet and knees tend to need more TLC during training time (no this is not because running ruins your knees).

Gear

If you’ve read my tough marathon questions mentioned at the beginning, then you’ll already know to prepare to spend some money on gear to have the best marathon experience. Start with making sure you have a solid pair of shoes, maybe two to rotate during the week. If you need some guidance on choosing shoes, check out my guide. You’ll also want those babies plenty broken in by race day.

You can ease into your “race outfit” once you get into training and learn what gear rubs you in the wrong places, what the weather will be like, and anything else you learn along the way. Just make sure you run in whatever you plan to run in on race day on at least one long run before hand. You don’t want any surprises.

Stay tuned for part two, where we’ll talk fuel, recovery, and more!

Happy New Year friends! For a lot of people, a new year means new resolutions. That’s cool and I’m all for creating and crushing goals. However, goals don’t mean much without thought, purpose and making sure they’re realistic. So lets talk about some questions to ask yourself before running your first marathon.

There are a lot of reasons to run a marathon. Whether it’s a lifelong goal or you’ve recently gotten inspired, running a marathon is an incredible physical feat. I’m 100% not trying to talk anyone out of running a marathon. I wouldn’t be here if that was my goal. I just want to make sure it’s a positive experience.

Ask yourself these questions. Some of them are hard, and some are scary. I’m laying it all on the table y’all and no one will ever accuse me of pulling the wool over your eyes.

Do you really want it? Because you really HAVE to want it. Training for, and completing a marathon is grueling. It’s physically and mentally taxing.

Are you a Badass? Just checking. I mean, you’re reading this so chances are high.

How much do you value your social life? Training for a marathon takes more time than most people think. It’s not just about the miles, it’s also about preparation, rest, and recovery. Before I surrounded myself with a community of runners I had a lot of conversations like this:

“Hey, do you want to go out Friday night?” “Sorry, can’t I have to get up early and run on Saturday.”

“So, how about Saturday night?” “Sorry, I’ll be too tired from running all the miles.”

“Ok, literally any other night of the week?” “Sure, but I won’t be drinking and I have to get home early…because running.”

It’s not that you won’t have ANY free time, it’s just that once you really get into the higher mileage, you kind of start disappearing from the world a bit and opting for the couch.

Are you doing it to lose weight? I hate to be the one to tell you this, but most people don’t lose weight training for a marathon. In fact, it’s actually REALLY easy to gain it. You’ll be hungry ALL THE TIME. I’m not exaggerating when I say this, you’ll want to be eating constantly and unless you are really disciplined in your choices, weight loss ain’t happening. Read more of my thoughts on it here.

What are your running goals? Running a marathon requires a lot of focus and a pretty specific training plan. Many plans will have you run some interim races along the way, but I’ve seen a lot of people try and conquer too many things at once. If your goal is to race your fastest half, win your local 10k, and do a 5k every month, yadda yadda, you might want to think about whether now is the time to add in the marathon.

Do you love running? Honestly, do you? It’s ok if you don’t, but you’re going to be doing A LOT of it, for hours at a time. If you don’t love it, why are you doing it?

Can you afford it? Whoever said running was a cheap sport wasn’t doing a lot of it. Once you’ve paid the race entry fee (and depending on the race this can cost you a pretty penny), there are a lot of other things people don’t think about.

Shoes – you’ll likely go through at least a pair (read about how long gear lasts here)
Food – you’ll want to eat high quality food
Supplements – Pre, during, and post workout fuels are all extra expenses
Massages – Not required, but extremely helpful
Recovery aids – Epsom salt soaks, muscle rubs, pain relievers, etc all add up
Travel – If your race isn’t local, factor in hotels, transportation, meals out, etc.

Are you willing to make sacrifices? Everyone is different here, but training takes work and often sacrifice, whether it’s giving up alcohol, certain foods, time, or anything else in your normal routine.

Do you have support? Your friends and family play a key role in your marathon training. If they aren’t on board it can be hard to train consistently. I’ve seen things y’all. Remember the social life question? If you are in a group that pressures you to “party all the time” it can be hard to commit. I’ve also heard the most ridiculous things from people like “why are you doing this”, “it’s bad for you”, “you probably won’t even finish” (yes it’s been said), or any other non supportive things.

Can you handle pain? I promise I’m not just a Debbie Downer, but marathons hurt and there’s no way to sugar coat it. Pain doesn’t always mean injury, so don’t freak out, but you’re going to run 26.2 miles. Let that sink in. Things will chafe that have never chafed before. Muscles you didn’t know you had will hurt. Blisters can appear in strange places even if they never have before. You’ll walk like a baby giraffe for a hot minute afterwards.

Do you love the feeling of accomplishment? Ok more of the good stuff. Completing a marathon is AMAZING. There’s really nothing like it and you’ll be proud of yourself for years to come.

Do you like to brag? I hope so, because you’ll get to be all “yeah I’m a marathon runner” FOREVER.

Do you love bling? Do I need to explain this? You’ll get a medal, and not like your standard local 5k medal, a real solid, piece of bling!

How long have you been running consistently? When you build a house you don’t just plop it on the lot without a foundation. The same is true for race training. You can’t expect to train for a marathon if you are only running once in awhile, or haven’t consistently built up a base of 20 or so miles for at least 12 weeks, in my opinion. This will be different for everyone, so it really depends on your level and where you want to be at the end of the race.

Have you run a half marathon? Not required, in fact I know a couple of people who went right from running 10k’s to their first marathon. Again it’s the base that’s key. However if you’re at all doubting yourself, I recommend trying a half marathon first to get a feel for it.

Are you healthy? If you have any underlying health conditions or have a propensity for injury, I highly recommend talking with you doctor about whether a marathon is right for you. If you’re not well now, a marathon is definitely not going to make you better, in fact it could be detrimental to your health.

Can you handle disappointment? This can be an AMAZING experience for you. There’s also a chance that things won’t go the way you want. There’s a chance that even with the best training you won’t finish the race. It happens. Be prepared to to recover and try again.

Are you ready to talk about it non-stop? Be prepared for people to roll their eyes because you can’t shut up about how amazing it is.

How do you feel about porta potties? You’ll need to get used to them because if you don’t have to pee (or something else) at least once during this whole ordeal, whether at the starting line, finish line, or during…then I’m scared for your health.

Are you squeamish? Runners are gross. Marathons are gross. You’ll be so tired at some point that it won’t matter who’s sweat is all over you (a passerby or a sweaty hug), if you did a great job cleaning up after trying to pee at mile 15, or if you wiped snot all over your sleeve.

Are you a fair weather runner? You can’t predict the weather, no matter how hard you try. If you never run in the rain, or other adverse conditions you could be in for a rude awakening. I’ve raced in the rain, the snow, and in the extreme heat. Knowing what to expect drastically improves your experience.

Do you like crowds? Races are crowded, especially at the beginning. Things will thin out as you get going but be prepared to do some bobbing and weaving for a bit.

Do you want more friends? It may seem weird if the love and support of total strangers isn’t your thing, but I’ve actually made friends during races. One time someone asked me if they could run next to me for awhile because they weren’t going to make it alone, and we started chatting.

Are you ready for unsolicited advice? As soon as people hear you’ve signed up, everyone becomes an armchair expert in running. Learn to listen, forge ahead, and take your advice from trusted sources only.

Are you ready to sign up yet? If I’ve talked you out of it, I’m truly sorry…but maybe you’ll be that much more confident when you’re ready. And if that’s now, YAY! I’m so excited for you!

What are you waiting for? If you’re still with me what’s holding you back?!

I don’t know how to ask .2 of a question so…will you tell me if you sign up? 🙂