I can’t believe it’s been a month since I ran my first marathon, the Rock n Roll Savannah Marathon. Since then, I’ve had ample time to think about what worked and what didn’t work, the lessons I’ve learned and what I’ll do differently for my next one.
Here’s some of the things I learned throughout training and for a race day breakfast.
These are in no particular order.
If you ever plan on running a marathon, I hope this list can be helpful for you! And if you think you have no time now, wait until you train for a marathon with a toddler.
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1. Follow a Training Plan
You need some sort of structure and routine, whether it be running 3 days a week and one long run, or running 5 days a week. Ed made a rough one for me, and then I sort of combined it with some others that I found online.
While speedwork can help improve your speed, it also has other benefits. It can help with endurance, training your body and mind to fight through the pain and those feelings of, “I can’t hold this any longer.”
Sometimes, sleeping in is way more important than getting the miles in. I had a few long runs planned but I was just too tired to wake up when I had to. So, I slept in later and therefore had to cut my run down.
Sleep is important for recovery and helping your mind and body be at its best! Adequate sleep is also important for preventing overtraining and exercise obsession.
4. Eat More Complex Carbs
Sweet taters, squash, brown rice, whole grains, veggies.
They release slower in your bloodstream, helping with more sustained energy, plus they provide fiber and ample antioxidants.
5. Practice Your Race Day Plans
Don’t just practice once and think you are set. Practice during each long run before to nail your race day nutrition.
Tweak a little something each time, whether it be a gel flavor, the amount of calories or water you take in, or your pre run meal or snack.
I wanted to hear what worked for them, what didn’t. How they trained. I wanted to talk to Ed about my training plan, and how we had to tweak it.
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If you train alone, like I did for the majority of my training cycle, this is so so important. You need some scenarios to simulate race day. You need to get up and go through the motions like you will the morning of your marathon.
Have all the feels, the butterflies, the nerves, and practice your pre run ritual.
If you prefer not to run races before hand, try to join in some group runs. Learn what it feels like to be running with others.
10. Prioritize Your Commitments
You have to balance your life. I found it nearly impossible to keep up with all my social obligations. Honestly, after a long run on Saturday morning, you just want to chill for the rest of the day.
Eat and lay on the couch.
Don’t overbook yourself and don’t underestimate the power of rest. Even if you’re not sleeping or napping, you’re resting and rejuvenating your muscles.
11. Stop worrying about how your appetite changes. Just accept that it will.
While I’m not a fan of calorie tracking, this is one instance where I think it can be beneficial, at least for the short term. Every few weeks, or after a long run, I’d track my meals and snacks to ensure I was getting enough.
Sometimes you don’t feel like eating after a long run, but you and your muscles need the calories. It’s a difficult habit to keep up (tracking requires time) but for my runs that felt pretty crappy or my energy was really low, I could look and see what I ate and if it was enough.
Or, maybe it was the wrong foods.
12. Wear Good Shoes
Make sure you like your shoes because you’ll be spending a lot of time in them. Also, buy an extra pair or two because the shoes that you’re training in months before your marathon likely won’t be the same pair you’re racing in, unless you have a very short marathon training cycle.
I could have done a better job with my strength training. But, I did make a conscientious effort to improve my core, and I did see a difference with that.
Sometimes, it’s less about running and more about time on your feet and exercising. I did a lot of yoga and walking as my cross training.
14. You don’t have to give up alcohol.
I still enjoyed my favorite wines and beers, but not to the same extent. Where two or maybe three drinks used to be normal for me, I would stick to 1 or 1.5.
Mostly wine for the antioxidants 🙂 I’m not an extremist, so I say, enjoy it if you want to.
15. Put together a playlist before the Marathon
Mine included many of my favorite songs and those that I knew could pump me up when I needed it.
I also had a podcast or two downloaded for the beginning, where I didn’t want to come out of the gate too quickly and just wanted to relax.
16. You’ll have awesome days. And then you’ll have bad days too. That’s Normal.
Sometimes, these days could be back to back and your runs could feel so opposite that it’s hard to imagine how you felt the day prior. Totally normal.
There were many times where I felt like I wasn’t as prepared as I “should have” been. I couldn’t imagine running x amount more miles than I had on that day.
17. Changes don’t happen overnight
This is obviously not a sprint. It takes time for your body to change and adapt. Be patient throughout the process.
18. Be consistent.
You want to try to do your speed work (if you are incorporating any) on the same day, your long runs on the same day (ideally the same day as the marathon) and your off days on the same days.
This will help your body adapt and change quicker.
19. The week before your race, focus on complex carbs, sleep and hydration.
Don’t worry about carb loading the night before. Use the two weeks leading up to the race as the time to fill your muscles with glycogen. Refine your marathon nutrition plan.
And drink more water and electrolytes than you think you need that week.
There’s no telling how you’ll react to water during the race. Since our bodies don’t change overnight, giving your body plenty of time for this preparation is essential.
20. Remember All The Hours You Put In
Why did you sign up in the first place? Think about how many sacrifices you’ve made to get to that point, especially when you start to fade.
The early nights to bed, the early mornings to rise, the extra attention to groceries and cooking, skimping out on the late bar nights, and how far you’ve already run in the race.
21. Your Whole Body Will Hurt
Think about those extra pump up songs, or the mantras to repeat to yourself during these times. If you have an idea of when this will happen, plan for your spectators to be at that point in the race.
Find a buddy to run with for a bit, or just focus on staying behind the person you’re behind currently.
Yeah, I get it. You will be hurting. Hard. But, not many people can say they’ve run a marathon.
And rather than thinking about how bad you feel, think about how pretty the course is, how enthusiastic the fans are, how much you love the song you’re listening to.
Or, heck, just think of happy things or your best runs.
23. Often times, the long runs are more about time on your feet rather than pace
I would get discouraged at my long run pace, as I would try to mimic my goal marathon pace. That often didn’t happen for me.
But, I realized that just getting my body used to running for 3 1/2 hours was the important lesson.
24. Remember that nerves are a good thing.
They serve as a reminder that we have feelings and we are anticipating something great to happen. Running a marathon isn’t an easy achievement.
It’s normal to be nervous. Enjoy the nerves – you’re alive.
25. Be appreciative of the support you’ve gotten along the way. You’ll have a chance to pay it forward.
There are so many people and gestures that made a difference for me in my training – my husband’s endless support and having a water and snack prepped for me after a long run, those who wished me luck leading up to the race, my coworkers who put together a goody bag and card for me before the race… take time to thank these people.
A marathon isn’t something we can do alone. My readers who read my posts and commented with well wishes, thank you.
Thank you to all the volunteers throughout the race and the spectators who cheered me on.
The people around you will play a part in your whole experience.
26. Reward yourself after the race!
Pick something you want and reward yourself. For me, it was this little nugget!
PIN it for later
If you’ve run a half or full marathon, or accomplished something you’re proud of, what did you learn throughout the process?
Sarah Schlichter is a Registered Dietitian with a Master’s in Public Health Nutrition. She specializes in family nutrition, sports nutrition and intuitive eating. She also co-hosts the podcast, Nail Your Nutrition.
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Oh wow you have put together an amazing list of lessons after a first marathon. I almost want to go ahead and sign up for another one just after reading this!
You are changed after this distance that is for sure.
I am forever grateful to have experienced one!
I made a list like this for things I wanted to do differently for the next marathon. I ran. Turns out , even after marathon #2 there were still things I needed to work on. I think with each race we are learning something that we need to do differently.
Thank you for sharing, Sarah. I almost hate to comment because you have 26 comments right now. 😀
I just signed up for a 10 miler, which is the further I’ve ever done. I’m kind of nervous, but also really excited because I think this will open the door for me to do half marathons one day!
All of the above 😉 I especially think #2 is point-on…enjoy the sights! I recently ran my 6th marathon, and had some unexpected hip/groin pain for most of the race. Thankfully, there was awesome crowd support, historic homes, and attractions along the way to keep me distracted from my situation…being able to really take in and absorb the experience helped me smile a lot more than I had the energy for LOL
I can relate to a lot of these! I definitely prioritized training and sleep over drinking and staying out late. I would get up early on Saturdays for my long run but knowing I could usually come back and take a nap after. Congrats on your accomplishment! It is a great feeling knowing you put in the hard work, dedication, and effort!
I obviously heart this so hard. SO HARD. I agree with each and every one of them! One to add, and this is the .2= be prepared to learn more about yourself than you thought possible.
I just kept nodding my head reading all these- I could not agree more!! I had tp track calories too simply to make sure I was eating enough to support my workouts- who would have thought haha! Congratulations again 🙂
Honestly, I’ve learned how hard it is to do it all. Like you said, during marathon training your social life definitely suffered. I was the same way. And I was a weight gainer. My hunger was non-stop. I was always so hungry, and I definitely played into that by eating some not so healthy choices.
YES to all of these; and I didn’t observe many of these for my first 2 marathons, but I’ve learned so much from other runners, I would love to take all these tips and apply them to the next one. <3
Great lessons you’ve shared! One more lesson, as we age our needs may change for marathon training. In a way, that makes it harder, but it also keeps it challenging!
This is an amazing round up of lessons. I love how you keep it real and that you didn’t go extreme with your training. You didn’t beat yourself up for sleeping more and knew to listen to your body instead of forcing yourself to do something. I’ve never thought seriously about a race before but this list makes me feel like I could do it if I really wanted to.
Hi Talia! Thanks for your kind words – I really think our bodies are capable of anything if we commit to it! If you do ever consider a race, I hope these tips come in handy.
So much great advice here! There is so much to be learned from marathon training. Each time I have run one I have learned something new! And I have even found that what works for one training cycle may not work for the next.
Yes yes yes ! I trained for 2 marathons last year and so this is the first time in a year where I am NOT training, and have time to do different things. While I loved every minute of it, in hindsight, I missed a lot of the social interaction I couldn’t get because of weekend long runs and everything that goes with them.
I didn’t realize how much I was giving up throughout the training, but now that I’m not, it’s so easy to plan for weekend trips, social gatherings, etc. We give up alot in training!
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Support Bucket List TummyOh wow you have put together an amazing list of lessons after a first marathon. I almost want to go ahead and sign up for another one just after reading this!
You are changed after this distance that is for sure.
I am forever grateful to have experienced one!
You’re so right that we are forever changed by that distance! Thanks Trish!
This is so inspirational! I should get back to jogging at least 🙂
Thanks Yana!
I made a list like this for things I wanted to do differently for the next marathon. I ran. Turns out , even after marathon #2 there were still things I needed to work on. I think with each race we are learning something that we need to do differently.
That’s such a great point. There is nothing stagnant when it comes to our changing bodies and changing conditions.
Thank you for sharing, Sarah. I almost hate to comment because you have 26 comments right now. 😀
I just signed up for a 10 miler, which is the further I’ve ever done. I’m kind of nervous, but also really excited because I think this will open the door for me to do half marathons one day!
That’s so exciting, Kate! What 10 miler? If you can do a 10 miler, you can absolutely do a half marathon 🙂
Awesome post, Sarah….thank you!
Glad you found it helpful!
All of the above 😉 I especially think #2 is point-on…enjoy the sights! I recently ran my 6th marathon, and had some unexpected hip/groin pain for most of the race. Thankfully, there was awesome crowd support, historic homes, and attractions along the way to keep me distracted from my situation…being able to really take in and absorb the experience helped me smile a lot more than I had the energy for LOL
That’s so great that you had awesome crowd support and historic attractions – it makes all the difference!
I can relate to a lot of these! I definitely prioritized training and sleep over drinking and staying out late. I would get up early on Saturdays for my long run but knowing I could usually come back and take a nap after. Congrats on your accomplishment! It is a great feeling knowing you put in the hard work, dedication, and effort!
The anticipation of a nap is the best feeling ever!
All such good advice! I couldn’t have said it any better myself.
Love your reward!
Thanks so much, Wendy!
I obviously heart this so hard. SO HARD. I agree with each and every one of them! One to add, and this is the .2= be prepared to learn more about yourself than you thought possible.
YES!! Love the .2 addition 🙂
I just kept nodding my head reading all these- I could not agree more!! I had tp track calories too simply to make sure I was eating enough to support my workouts- who would have thought haha! Congratulations again 🙂
It can be so deceiving since we feel full or don’t have an appetite but our body needs the energy! Thanks Diana!
Honestly, I’ve learned how hard it is to do it all. Like you said, during marathon training your social life definitely suffered. I was the same way. And I was a weight gainer. My hunger was non-stop. I was always so hungry, and I definitely played into that by eating some not so healthy choices.
Think you’ll run another marathon soon?
Our brains and bodies all react so differently, which is fascinating. I hope to run another one next year. Any suggestions?
YES to all of these; and I didn’t observe many of these for my first 2 marathons, but I’ve learned so much from other runners, I would love to take all these tips and apply them to the next one. <3
I would love to hear about your first two marathons, Emily. So true that we can learn so much from other runners!
I feel inspired by these tips…Thanks for sharing….
Thanks Sunaina!
Great lessons you’ve shared! One more lesson, as we age our needs may change for marathon training. In a way, that makes it harder, but it also keeps it challenging!
That’s a great point, Tina. I’m sure my next marathon training cycle will be completely different! It sure does keep it challenging.
This is an amazing round up of lessons. I love how you keep it real and that you didn’t go extreme with your training. You didn’t beat yourself up for sleeping more and knew to listen to your body instead of forcing yourself to do something. I’ve never thought seriously about a race before but this list makes me feel like I could do it if I really wanted to.
Hi Talia! Thanks for your kind words – I really think our bodies are capable of anything if we commit to it! If you do ever consider a race, I hope these tips come in handy.
I feel like a lot of these tips are great for being active and working out in general as well! 😀
So true! These extend beyond running!
So much great advice here! There is so much to be learned from marathon training. Each time I have run one I have learned something new! And I have even found that what works for one training cycle may not work for the next.
I can imagine that to be true – if I run another marathon, I’m sure many things would be different!
Yes yes yes ! I trained for 2 marathons last year and so this is the first time in a year where I am NOT training, and have time to do different things. While I loved every minute of it, in hindsight, I missed a lot of the social interaction I couldn’t get because of weekend long runs and everything that goes with them.
Great list, thank you !
I didn’t realize how much I was giving up throughout the training, but now that I’m not, it’s so easy to plan for weekend trips, social gatherings, etc. We give up alot in training!
These are such great tips! I’ve never run a marathon before and probably never will have, but I think you always learn from new experiences!
You definitely can learn from each experience, whether it be exercise related or not!
Great advice! I’ll have to bookmark this as I am hopefully gong to be doing my first marathon next year or early 2018!
That’s so exciting!!