Marathon Training on My Bucket List? Tales and Tips from a Novice

Run a Marathon? What gave you that crazy idea?

A few years ago, right after going thru my divorce, I sat down to make a bucket list… ideas to build the “best life” I wanted to strive for. It had things common items like visit Niagara Falls and Mt. Rushmore, and everyday things like go to a drive in (I still haven’t done any of this). On the very first page I had “run a 10K”.

OK – 10K… 6.2 miles… Not that crazy.

But I had challenged myself to make a list of 50 items, so once I got around 30 or so, they started getting a little crazy. Somewhere between “win the lottery” and “visit outer space” was this crazy idea of running a marathon.

I didn’t think much of it at the time. Truth be told, that list sat in a drawer for about a year before I started to seriously work towards my best life. But it did plant a seed… one that will blossom this coming Sunday!

I didn’t set out to run a marathon

Some time after making that bucket list, I was getting serious about taking care of myself. I needed to exercise more, eat better and lose weight. I always enjoyed running, so I figured if I signed up for a race it would motivate me to train.

In November 2016 I chose the Independence Half Marathon. What was I thinking? That is twice the 10K I wrote on my bucket list. I had this grand plan that I could run a 10K sometime in the early spring and be ready for the half marathon in May.

Then life happened – tale of “almost failure”

I started off good. I was following a couch to 10K training plan. I was eating more fruits and vegetables, hitting the gym once or twice a week, and

running 3-4 times a week….

Then 2-3 times a week….

Then lucky to get one run in a week…

And then there was the tricks my mind plays

By the time April rolled along, the longest run I had done was a little over 5 miles and I was not training consistently. I wasn’t too worried because a 10K is just 6.2 miles… I would be fine. Then I got the email about package pickup for the Independence Half Marathon and 5K. What? Wait?

Didn’t I sign up for a 10K? I could have sworn it was a 10K! Now what?

I obviously had a few screws loose, as I decided I would try to do it anyways. I knew I could run about 6 miles of it and figured I could walk the rest. I will spare you all the details, but I did run the first 8 miles, pushed thru the last 5 mostly walking, and felt like I was going to die but finished in 3:03:03!

I am too competitive and critical of myself

As the euphoria (and the pain) of completing the half marathon wore off, I started getting mad at those three minutes and three seconds…. So close to being under 3 hours!

That festered for a few months… and I started feeling I had to do it again… I had to get under the 3-hour mark. I had to prove to myself that I had the discipline to actually train for an event.

Tip #1 – Plan

Like any good adventure, endurance training takes planning. It really doesn’t help to just know where you want to get if you don’t have a plan to get there.

I read various articles and a couple books and decided to create my own adaptation of those training plans. I came up with an 18-week plan. I am usually the type to use some app to track things (there is always an app for that). But with this planning exercise I think the act of writing down my plan for all 18 weeks – 126 days of planning – help solidify in my mind that this was something I was going to complete.

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Tip #2 – Have milestones established

As you can see from my medal holder (which I made myself, thank you very much 😊), I set personal records four months in a row in four progressively longer distances. I was lucky to have found a local progressive race series that for a one-time fee you got all four races.

Now I was committed – one race every month. It is hard to slow down when you know you have that next milestone coming up. And one thing I have learned this year, accomplishing my goals is exhilarating. So exhilarating that as April was starting I wanted another challenge. My half marathon would be in a few weeks and then what?

That is when the crazy but serious “I should run a marathon next” came from. Back to tip #1 – I picked a race and made a plan.

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I know not everyone will have the benefit of having a local progressive series, but you can make your own. Set those milestones progressively longer or faster. Whether it be a signing up for races of just setting milestone goals, you will be amazed how far you can really go when the next milestone is just around the corner.

Tip #3 – Tell people

One important step most of us purposefully skip when setting goals for ourselves is creating our own accountability. It is much easier to fail when no one else is watching. Tell your significant other, tell your kids, tell your friends, heck – tell the annoying nosey neighbor. Tell everyone who will listen what you’re striving for.

Believe me – this is scary. This Sunday I am attempting my first marathon. My friends are probably sick of hearing about my training but they all support me. As the big day is getting closer, I almost wish no one knew. Then I could chicken out… then no one would know if failed.

The important thing to remember is everyone around you is proud of you for just starting. All the hard work is done during the long, repetitive hours of training. On race day, just by getting to the starting line you are lapping everyone on the couch!

Tip #4 – Make Yourself a Priority and Learn to Say NO

One thing I was guilty of for years was putting everything and everyone ahead of my plans. I always felt like I was letting my love ones down if I took time for myself when they “needed” me. A large part of my BEST LIFE has been coming to the realization that there is no shame in putting myself first. Of course, not always, but when necessary and appropriate. If I was going to run long distances, training was necessary.

I learned to say no to late night fun with friends on most Friday nights because I had a long run planned Saturday morning. I learned to not feel guilty when dinner was grilled cheese sandwiches or leftovers for days on end. I learned that no one was going to die if I didn’t sweep the floor every day. Most importantly I learned that my family and friends didn’t mind….

Actually, they were proud of me for making myself a priority.
Your loved ones will understand – make yourself a priority in your own life. You owe it to yourself!

Tip #5 – Be flexible

This is going to sound a little contradictory to tip #4, but sometimes you will have other things that have to come before training (or you really just want them to).

Be flexible, change up your plan a bit. Run a shorter distance then planned. Run on a treadmill at night if you miss your morning run. Skip a day if you need to. Skipping a day or two it is not a reason to throw in the towel.
Consistency builds strength and endurance, but one or two days will not make or break your training!

Tip #6 – Listen to your body

I have learned that my body is capable of much more than I gave it credit for, but it does talk to me at times. First, I want to remind you if you have any serious pain or dull pain that will not go away, by all means, go see your doctor. Don’t try to “run it off”.

But sometimes you just feel sore and run down. Typically for me I feel this way when I didn’t get enough sleep. There is no shame is slowing down or even taking a day off. Your body will thank you.

Bonus tip – It’s not all about the finish line – Enjoy and be proud of your journey

Hopefully on Sunday afternoon, I will be celebrating the culmination of all the hard work and training time I have dedicated to preparing for this marathon.

My original goal was to finish in under 6 ½ hours… I would really love under 6. The race cutoff is 8. But even if something unforeseen happens and I don’t finish, I have enjoyed the journey.

I have run in the cold, in the heat, in the rain and in the snow. I have even done 20 miles on a treadmill (I really don’t recommend that). I have gone from struggling to run 3 miles at a time to finishing a half marathon without walking. I have gone from struggling to complete 14 minute miles to consistently running between 12 and 13 minute miles.

Finish or not I have accomplished more than I could have imagined just a year ago.

I didn’t set out to run a marathon, but on Sunday it is exactly what I plan to do.

Please leave your comments or share your running stories below!