Tips for Running Your First Marathon

Running your first marathon? Here are some thoughts for your next run.

By Laura Traferro

So you want to run a marathon? Congratulations! You’re endeavoring to take on an exciting and challenging adventure, both physically and mentally, over the next few months. Simply deciding, “I’m going to do it” is amazing enough. If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re either a runner who wants to take his/her running to the next level or you’re someone who doesn’t run much but who has always dreamed of doing a marathon. You want some guidance and tips on how to get started, do’s and don’ts, should I/shouldn’t I? While you won’t get specifics in this particular article, consider it a reaffirmation of what you’ve decided to take on, and a jumping off point for the months to come.

If you’re already a runner, maybe you participated in your high school and college’s cross country or track teams. And now, you run a few times a week to stay in shape and to clear your mind from life’s business. You love running for the freedom of being able to grab a pair of shoes anywhere, at any time, and go. But you’re ready for something new and challenging to take your running to the next level. If you’re not really a runner, then maybe you’re someone who’s “life list” includes running a marathon – great! Welcome to the wonderful world of running. Chances are you’ve run before, but because you had to. You don’t voluntarily do it on your own. Maybe you don’t like doing sports alone, or you hate how quickly you get out of breath? Regardless, you’ve told yourself to want to do a marathon and you’re going to do it – no if’s, and’s, or’s about it.

Whoever you are and whatever the reasons you’ve decided to do this, give yourself a pat on the back. You are a remarkable individual. So…now what?

I’ll never forget that day, more than two years ago, when I decided to do my first marathon. I’d always been a runner – participating in my high school’s cross country and track teams, running to keep in shape and stay healthy, doing the occasional 5K. After I finished graduate school and started working full-time, I realized it was now or never. No more excuses. I had the time and was in good health. I even had a race in mind – the Big Sur International Marathon. I told myself, “If you’re going to take on this crazy venture, then do it somewhere beautiful, somewhere you really love that will keep you distracted.” So I chose my favorite place in California to go hiking and camping. Figured the scenery alone could keep me going for 26.2 miles. I called up a close girl friend/runner extraordinaire to see if she wanted to join me. She was, thankfully, completely thrilled I’d called her up and excited to finally take her running to the next level as well. We quickly talked it over, agreed to a training plan we’d found on a running website, marked the dates on our calendar for those big runs, discussed getting a hotel in Big Sur, and so on. We even signed up for the race while on the phone with each other – figured we should get it over with and pay the $100 before we got cold feet. (You’d be surprised how motivating actually signing up for a race can be, instead of merely saying you’re going to do it.)

The next day I woke up with a huge smile on my face. I was pumped, confident and so sure that nothing could get in my way. Who cares that the most I’d ever run was nine miles while wearing a cotton t-shirt and old shoes? I had a fresh pair of shoes that I’d been fitted for at a specialty running shop. I diligently commenced my “beginner’s” training plan – 16 weeks of running two mornings per week, a long run on weekends and two-three days of cross-training (cycling and yoga – my other favorites). I checked in with my running partner about once a week to see how she was doing. Since she lived two hours away, we had agreed to train separately and then meet up for some of the longer runs. I also started to do some research about running marathons: what vitamins and nutrients should I be consuming, how much water should I be drinking, what muscles should I be stretching and strengthening? The list went on and on. I found that every article I read sparked new questions and thus, deeper digging. I found myself stocking up on multivitamins, calcium, fish oil (for those much needed omega-3s, of course), pasta, chicken, red meat, carrots, and energy gels.

Things were going really well until the third week of my training when my running partner called me, crying, to tell me she had to drop out. She’d been having knee problems as a result of previous injuries and was going to require surgery. Needless to say, she couldn’t run anymore. I was speechless. Who was going to keep me company during those 15+ mile training runs? Who would listen to me babble about running and marathons non-stop? Who would keep me motivated when I wanted to quit?

Turns out, my running partner’s early resignation was a blessing in disguise. At the end of the day, I was running a marathon for me, to impress myself, and to prove to myself that I could do it. If I couldn’t push myself during the hardest times and keep myself motivated, could I really expect someone else to do it for me? So I kept training: I experienced a minor setback in the form of a foot injury that forced me to solely cross-train for a month, gained and lost weight, ran in extreme heat and windy, cold rain and tested my mental capacity to run alone for 4 hours while tired and hurting. I won’t go into all the details and mishaps of my first marathon as it really was a personal learning experience; furthermore, everything I learned and shared merits an article of its own. Let’s just say that I finished it and that it was one of the greatest days of my entire life. The day after the race, I drove the course in my car, stopping along the way to take pictures and reminisce over the previous day. What had I been feeling at that location the day before? I laughed as I approached some of the tougher sections, remembering my ignorance on race day.

What I will share are a few general – albeit instrumental (in my experience) – pieces of information that I learned in doing my first marathon – consider these a starting off point as you embark on your own adventure:

1. Get fitted for a new pair of running shoes. Go to a specialty running store where they watch you run.
2. Stretch. Make sure you stretch when your muscles are warm…during your run if you like, but definitely after you’ve completed your run. This will help prevent soreness and injury.
3. Do your research! This will be unlike any other race you’ve ever done, and the most difficult part will be the training. Make sure you get the facts on proper hydration, dieting, injury prevention and treatment, appropriate clothing, running in different climates, etc. etc.
4. Don’t forget why you’re doing this! Whatever the reasons, remind yourself of them when you’re exhausted or hurt or not wanting to run.
5. Have fun! After all, no one’s forcing you to do this right?