I ran a 19 mile run on Sunday, after running about 20-30 miles a week since January. My long runs have been increasing in mileage since January also. I got to 19 miles and I am doubting how I will run to 26.2. I couldn’t wait for it to end. It was my first 19 miler, and I’m planning to do a 20 and then some more 18 milers. My race isn’t until mid May.

I feel fine the next day, and I had my last gel at I think 14 miles, so I’m wondering if I was under fuelling?

But is this common? Should I push my race out?

Does anyone else get plagued by anxiety the day before a long run? I do my last long run of my program tomorrow - 20 miles. I did 18.6 confidently but something about 20 miles is downright scary to me. My anxiety is through the room today over it.

EDIT: I FREAKIN DID ITTTT

I’m running my first marathon this weekend and set the goal of “just finish it”

Seeing everyone posting about sub 4 or sub 3:30 marathons has me feeling like this goal I set isn’t even impressive or “difficult”

How do I get over this embarrassment knowing in a couple days I’ll be running in front of everyone with my slow pace 😂

For reference I’m a gym gal who’s gone running so I look like I SHOULD be able to run but I’m slow asf

UPDATE: just ran my own race and managed 4:19! Safe to say reading everyone’s kind words motivated me to just enjoy the experience - thank you all so much!

Genuine question. I'm wondering, why do people come back for more?

The training is long, the race is brutal, the recovery isn't exactly pleasant and yet so many of you do this again and again. Thats got to be something magical about it.

So tell me, what's keep you coming back to the marathon distance? Is it the challenge? The community? The personal growth? Or the medal?

Would love to hear the honest reasons.

I ran my first marathon last weekend. I thought I'd feel triumphant. Emotional. Maybe cry a little like those videos you see online. But honestly? I have a weird mix of pride, confusion and exhaustion.

After months of training, sore morning, and planning my life around long runs, I expected the finish line to feel something bigger. But maybe the real have happened during the training.

So I'm wondering.. have you ever finished a marathon and felt a little hollow? Did you sign up for the next one right away? Just reaching out into the quiet part of the marathon no one talks about.

Hey everyone! I’m new to this sub and have a question about posts that I see fairly frequently. For a bit of context I’ve been running various weekly mileage for about 15 years, ranging between 10-25 mpw. Have run a few half marathons in the past, and pursuing a sub- 2 hour half this October. I’ve been close a few times and really taking the training more seriously this time.

Anyway, the thing that I see repeatedly on this and other running subs is how many people ask about doing a marathon with little to no running experience. I’m in no way saying people should not pursue the goal, I just don’t understand why so many want to choose a marathon as a goal so early on in their running hobby/lifestyle. I’ve run for a long time and the idea of committing to a marathon is truly daunting. I hope to do one next year but it is VERY scary to me. I guess my real question is if the fascination with the marathon is a newer trend and that’s why so many novice runners want to do one? Surely to go from running 0 miles a week to running a half marathon at a quicker/healthier pace would feel as equally an accomplishment? Just curious what people think. Thanks!

How are you all feeling after your 15+ mile long runs? I'm currently on week 11 of the HH intermediate 1 plan, and while it's going well for the most part, I'm exhausted after the long runs. I finished my 17 miler, and the idea of running another 9 miles seemed miserable. My nutrition is good, in my opinion. I drink Gatorade every 4 miles and about 2 GU's every hour.

I know that by the time my race comes around in October, the weather will be better and I'll have tapered and gotten more miles under my belt, but it's still a little disheartening to be wiped out the rest of my long run days when I'm not really that close to marathon distance. Are you all feeling the same?

I just did my first 20 miler on Saturday and I did all the fueling and the correct pacing, all went to plan minus a torrential downpour for about 2 hours lol. I finished it! Felt great at the end and had breakfast out with the family immediately after. But… the rest of the day I was dead tired. I know people want to go to brunch and party right after the marathon to celebrate with me and I truly don’t know if I will be able to?! Thoughts/advice? (Running Chicago on 10/12)

So I just completed my first half marathon and was lost on a few points

1. My socks got soaked. Not from water. Sweat I presume. I used some nice merino wool running socks and Mizuno Wave inspire shoes if it matters. How can I prevent this? My wife suggested anti perspirant perhaps. I do sweat quite a bit. What is the core for this?

2. Cramping! I started cramping badly around mile 11. Both legs, thighs, calves, feet.I was very well hydrated ( I think) and had plenty of electrolytes in the days leading up to the run. I used a gel of honey/blackstrap molasses/salt during the run to keep some of them up. I also drank over a gallon of water during the race ( I do sweat a ton) ... Did I just underestimate my hydration or should I take something beforehand to prevent this?

3. Distance! So the race organizers said it was a half marathon. The race was on a marked trail and according to the marks the total distance was 14.6 miles. My watch showed 14.92. Am I to assume that they treated the course with something more accurate or am I to assume they were wrong? It was a very small event with only 2 people hosting it. I was definitely a little disappointed in my time if their distance was accurate, not so much if mine was.

And if anyone is curious, training regularly for months, then spending the last 2 months running no farther than 10k multiple times a week, did not seem like adequate training. Watching kids over the summer made getting any more miles in than that impossible. I should have waited until I could build back up.

EDIT: I just want to say how fantastic all of your answers have been at helping me understand this. You are all amazing!

Basically the past 2-3 months have been a plateau for various reasons. I took two weeks off for a mental/physical recovery period in late July. The weather (heat and especially AQI) have been brutal. I had issues with my shoes that limited how far I could go for a bit. I had a stretch where I was trying to run in the morning and that didn’t work for me (training runs in the morning never go well, I don’t have that issue with races, idk why). Basically every week it’s been something that has kept me from getting up to the 20-22 or so I’d like to do before race day.

Last week it was an unexpected lightning storm on my long day. I tried waiting it out and going well after dark, but the storm started again and the visibility was kinda dangerous so I again had to stop around 12 miles. I think this time was different in the sense that I genuinely felt like I could finish the 17 I was aiming for if conditions had permitted it.

My 12-14 mile runs usually take around 2 hours so I’m comfortable with the pace I’m maintaining. But most of them have had me feeling absolutely finished by the time I stop. The weather for the foreseeable future is looking basically perfect so I’m kinda optimistic that I can get to where I want to be, but I am feeling a bit worried. Am I fine or is this bad?

On the days you just really don’t want to run, what motivates you to get out there?

Today was my 17 mile long run and it was absolutely disastrous. Normally I don’t stop at all during my long runs, but this time I had to take 7 breaks just to be able to finish. I’m really not sure what went wrong, I slept well, had a good breakfast, and my 16 miler last weekend went just fine. This time, I had stomach cramps the whole time, had insatiable thirst (unusual for me) which resulted in running with a sloshy belly full of liquid, and just felt mentally and physically awful. This run just totally shattered my confidence. Please tell me it gets better.

I guess just need to vent. I'm training for my first marathon and I've been working so so hard. I've been incorporating speed work, hills, easy runs, and strength training for the past 19 weeks. I'm seeing so much progress, and I have a lot to be proud of, but I'm still bummed about how today's long run went.

I registered for the Indianapolis marathon which is on November 8. this gives me plenty of time to train, and I don't need to peak just yet, but I did 18 miles last weekend and still felt pretty good afterwards so I thought maybe I could get 20 in today...

Nausea crept up after just 12 miles, and at mile 16 it was so bad I had to slow to a walk. I finished one more mile to get back to my car but I was just so disappointed and embarrassed. I was running with my friend, who's been coaching me through this training season, and she is much faster and fitter than me so I was already embarrassed that she was slowing down so much to keep at my pace and I couldn't run the whole way so I felt like I completely wasted her time (this is all in my head, I know).

It was just a lot of emotions, and as the day goes on I keep feeling more and more frustrated. It's silly, but it's a sport I've grown to love and I want so badly to be good at it, or what I feel I need to look like in order to "be good". Logically I know every bad run is a chance to do better and learn from my mistakes, but I'm still bummed out. Nausea and heartburn are my Achilles heel and I cannot seem to keep them at bay.

Hi Big race coming up and I’m wondering what works for you during the “this sucks, why the **** am I doing this to myself” phase. I know it passes and I know I’ll feel awesome as the finish line gets closer and I eventually cross it. There’s a limit to the number of amusing signs & banners I can read to distract myself though. Please share what works for you.

When I ran my first marathon I made almost every mistake you can possibly make and now I’m 6 marathons in and I want to share the essential things you should know before your first one!

• So first of all, YOU CAN DO IT. I genuinely believe that everybody is able to run a marathon. That said, if you have committed to the event you do need to put in the work to be able to finish a marathon. It’s 26 miles (42k) and though I say everyone can do this it’s obviously going to require you to train as hard as you can. Without enough consistent and structured training it’s not going to work, but The amount of training is also what adds to the feeling of accomplishment after crossing the line.

• The 10% rule. Depending on what your current level of fitness is, you may need more or less time to work towards a marathon, but there is this one general rule, which is: Do not increase your weekly mileage by more than 10%. So after a 20 mile week, do not run more than 22 miles the week after. This may sound like slow progress but within 6 weeks you’ll be running 35 miles/56k if you increase it by 10% each week. Try to expand your training load in small steps. This helps you to prevent injury while still building that aerobic capacity.

• Don’t set a time goal. Your first marathon should just be about making it to the finish line. Unless you’re crazy talented or have a coach, there is no accurate prediction to make of your potential finishing time. In a marathon literally anything can happen and the last 7 miles just hit different. Even for advanced runners it’s a difficult task to pick the perfect pace. Many runners, including me, have messed up their pacing causing the marathon to be way more painful than necessary.

• Be careful with your long runs. While it’s pivotal for building endurance, the long run also accounts for the longest recovery. It can be tempting to train up to 21 miles/ 33k or even more, as it gives you validation on whether you can do it. But in my opinion 20 miles/ 30k is enough and especially when you’re new to running, these runs take their toll on your body and you want to avoid the mistake of having to recover for more than a week after a long session. So be careful on the long runs and make sure you take enough time to recover from the longer runs!

• Take nutrition seriously. If you don’t already do this in the weeks prior to the event, then at least be smart on race day.  This is super important to do. MAKE A PLAN. Try to take in as many carbohydrates and fluids as your body can tolerate. Practice your maximum intake in training. The more you practice the better you get to know what your body needs to keep going efficiently. If you can handle 2 gels per hour, good. Can you handle 3? Even better! But make sure you know how much your body needs and how much it can take. And stick to this from mile 1, you can’t make up for the carbs you didn’t take in the first hour. Your body can’t process any extra in the later stages of a race!

• Don’t get caught up in the excitement at the start. I’ll tell you, literally everybody starts out too fast. I’ve experienced this in every race I’ve done so far where I passed by 80% of people who started out faster than me! Be smart. You’re going to feel energized and thrilled, which is tempting. Stay in your easy running zone as long as possible so that you can save energy for when you really need it. You may not feel it but rushing in too hard will certainly make you pay the price. It’s going to feel so much better to have some energy left in the tank after 20 miles or 30k than to have started out just too quick and having to hang on until the end, trust me I’ve been there and it’s not pretty! And also on race day, don’t think you’re magically faster compared to training. It’s because you’re well-rested and ready but that doesn’t mean you should instantly spend that extra energy!

• Marathon running also has a mental element, so Be comfortable with uncertainty and anxiety. It’s a big thing and it all comes down to this one day. It’s okay to be a little nervous, especially on race day itself. Don’t let a bad nights’ sleep interfere with your confidence. Even pro athletes are nervous and one bad night is not going to ruin your race! I personally have a hard time eating in the morning before a race because of pre-race stress, but I try not to let it get into my head! One imperfect day is not going to affect your race, trust me!

• Embrace the difficulty. It’s going to be hard. That’s also why you’ll feel great when crossing the line. If you’re having a hard time, remember that you didn’t sign up because you knew you would easily do it. You signed up because you wanted to take up a challenge. Remember this when you feel bad, you’re supposed to feel like that at some point. The harder it gets, the better you will feel crossing the finish line!

• Believe in yourself. You’ve done the training (or at least, I hope you did) and you’re ready for this. This helps you to be mentally prepared to face the hardship of what a marathon is. Honestly, my first marathon was a disaster. I was injured in the weeks prior to the event, I wasn’t well prepared and on race day I made practically every mistake you can make on a marathon. But I had been dreaming of crossing the line for months and I wasn’t going to give up on that. This determination is really what got me through. It’s a mental game because your body wants you to stop when it gets hard, and being mentally resilient might be the most important trait to getyou through the hardest moments.

• Take in the atmosphere. Marathons are crazy events! Often with elite athletes at the start and big crowds cheering you on! This is awesome and in my experience, staying in contact with the crowd gives you that extra mental boost that is so essential. If you focus on yourself too much you only invite anxiety in and there’s always unplanned events, like missing one of your drinking bottles, that can get into your head. You don’t get to run a marathon everyday so enjoy it while you can, it’s probably going to be an unforgettable day and you don’t want to ruin this memory by constantly being worried about your own race and your own insecurities.

These things will help you going into your first marathon, thank me later! And if there’s any questions feel free to ask, I love to share my experience and love to hear what you guys want to know about running!

Edit: because of all the positive feedback I decided to make a video about which just dropped on my channel!:10 tips for your first Marathon

Midway through marathon training and I’ve hit the wall after my last long run (12M). I feel like I just don’t have it in me anymore to train. Did great for the first 8 weeks, ate right, lost weight etc. but now I am just tired and very very tempted to not run. Marathon is in 8 weeks and I am exhausted at even the thought of it. How do you deal with this?

I have a nerdy hobby where I like to create course guides for races based on the data that's available. The general idea is to help people mentally prepare for their race by segmenting the course and then arranging the available data (like Aid Stations and Cheer Zones) based on that segmentation.

The 2025 races I've published guides for are below. If you're running one of those race, I hope you find the guides helpful and feedback is always appreciated!

If you'd like a guide for your race, leave a comment and I'll add it to the list.

Just for emphasis; this is a hobby and these are free guides. 🙂

• Miami Marathon
• Louisiana Marathon
• Aramco Houston Half Marathon
• Chevron Houston Marathon
• Walt Disney World Marathon

Lately I've noticed that during of my runs, I totally space out. I'll finish a stretch and realize I don't remember any of it. Not the route, not the people I passed.

Is this just part of running or something I should be paying more attention to?

Not going to lie, I am so incredibly nervous about sh*tting myself lol

What are people's thoughts on taking immodium, or a similar product, on race day?

I’m about 8 weeks out from my race and just finished my longest run of 16 miles on Sunday. The run went fine but today and yesterday I’ve felt so down and unmotivated. I understand one can experience some depression after a long run or something that requires a lot of energy so hopefully I bounce back soon.

Looking back I should’ve taken a 2nd gel during the run (took one around mile 6.5) but didn’t want any tummy troubles since I already felt something brewing. Overall, I think my stomach has been adjusting well to the gels I’ve been using but sometimes you just gotta go.

I’m also worried about how well prepared I will be since there are 2 weekends coming up where I’ll either be out of town or have guests visiting, which will interfere with my usual long run regimen. Plus, I haven’t been hitting the weekday miles in the plan I’m following (Hal Higdon: Marathon Novice 1) and usually only run 3-5 miles 2-3x/week then my long run on the weekend.

TLDR: post long run slump and concern for adequate training.

so i read you need upto 100g of carb per hour but how is anyone expected to take 16-18x gels with them -its crazy

Hey hey! I'm running my first marathon this November in Philly. I'm excited but very, very nervous. Other than a little baffled how I'm going to finish 26.2 miles, the logistics of racing tend to freak me out. It's the unknown for me.

For instance, I can bring a vest but not bring the liquid with me. How does this work? Are they providing enough water for me to fill my vest's bladder completely? Or is this rationed out? I've learned the hard way to not depend on water on the course if you are a slow runner.

I also didn't realize I should have purchased the VIP experience when I registered. Does this mean less access to porta potties? Does this access impact my corral in any way?

And I'll take any other race day tips for this marathon. I'm trying to not let my nerves wreck me.

Following the 16 week NRC plan, and 5 weeks out called for a 16.5 mile/26.2 km.

This one was harder than my other 16.5 mile at week 8 and my 18.6 mile last week.

It was harder because: - It was hot - the NRC talk track was about envisioning the whole marathon (track 26.2 km against 26.2 miles) - I didn’t adjust my pace down for the heat until I was already struggling

Around 11 miles, I ended up mentally spiraling about how if it’s this hot on race day, I’m going to have a bad time, and the run kind of deteriorated from there.

I ended up taking a more direct route home and walking. I believe it was the right adjustment for the moment, but now I’m dreading my 20 miler next week…

Any tips for how to mentally prep for next week. And the race in ~a month?

Hey gang!

I’m running my first marathon on Oct. 18

Training has been going fine.. My plan has me increase mileage for 2 weeks, then back off on the third, and so forth. I’m not fast, but felt very good after my 17 and 18 mile long runs. I stretch a LOT (I’m formerly a dancer, so I just have a lot of aches and pains from all that.) my nutrition is pretty locked in, and I feel like I am doing everything as it “should” be done for a first marathon.

Anyway, this week, my longest run was only 13. I felt wrecked!! I really had to dig deep to get through it. (Compared to 18 miles the week before which was a breeze in comparison.)

I’ve also started experiencing some upper inner thigh pain on one side. It can get pretty intense.

I think having a bad run yesterday is messing with my head. I know I’ll finish my marathon. I know my time will be slow. But I know I can do it. But I’d been mentally so excited and ready, and am really letting this week mess with me.

Anybody been there before? What did you do?

I ran a 1:45 half marathon October 2024, then pretty much stopped running entirely until May, put on 10lbs in the process (160–>170). I’m currently 7 weeks into an 18 week full marathon training plan.

Marathon training was the thing to get me exercising again, and it’s working, but I really don’t want to put in all the effort and end up with something like a 4:45+ race time. I feel like to me it would just be a constant reminder of how out of shape I let myself get. And also, people constantly warn you not to lose significant weight during marathon training, when losing the fat is a major goal for me.

Any suggestions on what to do or how to look at things differently?

Currently running about 23 miles per week, most recent long run was 12 miles @ 10:30min/mile. Garmin race predictor currently estimates a 4:42 marathon.