5 ways to ensure you survive a marathon

Sunday, Sunday… what a great day huh?  It’s slightly overcast today and the perfect temp for running.  Since I’ve got a few more weeks before I head back to running, Holly’s going to talk to you about her running today — running of marathons.

Hello Fit Mama, Real Food readers! My name is Holly, and I write The Healthy Everythingtarian – a blog about food, exercise and life that my mother and uncle have devotedly read since day #1. They make writing each and every post worth it. Did I mention they also comment all the time under pseudonyms? It’s cute and kinda means the world to me…but really, I am getting totally off topic here.

The reason I am here today is because recently, I ran my 2nd marathon! Better yet, I lived to share a few tips from my experience. Whether you are just a beginning runner or an experienced racer, there are some things you should know if you ever plan on running a marathon.

Ya wanna how I made it through all 26.2 miles? Here we go!

5 Ways to Ensure You Survive A Marathon

(1) Follow your training plan.

Yes, I realize this seems like a no-brainer but it is without a doubt, the single most important thing to do. Trust me, I speak from the experience of not following a training plan at all (hint, hint: running 26.2 miles is 10x more painful than it already is). I am a firm believer that ANYONE can run a marathon…you just gotta stick to a plan! Hal Higdon is great for free marathon training plans as is Runner’s World. Whichever one you choose, make the commitment and prioritize your training. End of story.

(2) Buy good running shoes.

Even better, go to a running store that will find you a shoe to fit YOUR feet! Whether you over-pronate or supinate or have bad arches or flat feet or (d) all of the above, there are shoes to fit your specific needs, and they are worth spending money on. Wearing the wrong shoes AND running 15…16…20 miles is nothing but a recipe for injuries. Buy good shoes. Your toes will thank you.

(3) Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! (And fuel, fuel, fuel!)

The Nashville Rock n’ Roll Marathon was HOT! Like 85 degrees and hot. Water and Gatorade saved me from dying during the race, because hydration is SO important to athletic performance. But don’t only remember to drink fluids during running! Ensuring you are constantly taking in water and hydrating liquids (read: not too much coffee, soda or alcohol) all through the day is equally as important. And also, I had a friend who gained 15 pounds during marathon training. And you know what? She rocked a sub-3:40 marathon! Not everyone gains weight, but you are building lots of muscle, burning lots of calories and using a lot of liquid – so remember to eat and refuel appropriately.*

*Nachos and beer make great post-run replenishment

(4) Find your pacer.

If you do have a time goal in mind, most races have pacers – professional runners who will get you to the finish line in the time you want. My advice is to get just ahead of the pacer you want to follow (i.e. 4:30). Then, as you are racing, you will be able to know if you are coming in below your goal time if your pacer never passes you. If you do see the man with the 4:30 sign creeping up close or even ahead of you, take that as a sign to either (a) speed up or (b) re-evaluate your time goal. There are good and bad days for running, so always be open to adjusting your running plan if needed.

(5) HAVE FUN!

In past races, I’ve forgotten to pack a sports bra and run a 1/2 marathon the day after a wedding and decided it would be a good idea to drink too much beer the night before a race. But my poor decision-making did not keep me from enjoying the race! Laugh. Walk if you need to. Enjoy the crowd. Buy yourself a new running top in celebration of your marathon. Chat with other racers. Cheer. And just enjoy the experience! For many, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime achievement…so soak it in, and take pride in accomplishing this amazing goal.

If you have any marathon questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at healthyeverythingtarian@gmail.com.

Thanks for letting me guest post today – hope to see y’all around the blogosphere!

Holly

Holly is a 20-something Midwestern gal with a penchant for food, wearing swimsuit bottoms as underwear and Jake Gyllenhaal…not necessarily in that order. She’s a communications pro by day and an aspiring writer by night (although, she thinks being a Russian ballerina would be cool too).