• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Fitness Fatale

Fitness Fatale

Conquering Fitness Goals One at a Time

  • About
    • Press
  • Blog
    • Archives
    • Workout Program Options
      • 21 Day Fix Resources
      • P90X Resources
    • PRs & Race Reports
    • Pregnancy
      • Twin Pregnancy
    • Recipes
  • Coach Business Mentorship For Runners
  • Beachbody Accountability Groups For Runners
  • Show Search
Hide Search

5 Tips for First Time Marathoners

marathon tips for beginners

Every few weeks I meet up with a group of girls training for the Marine Corps Marathon to do one of my long runs for the New York Marathon. We meet in Mission Bay and run a loop, adding on a bit each time to get to the desired mileage. Although I previously only knew one of the girls (my good friend Brooke), I’ve come to know several of them over the course of a lot of miles.

No matter how we start, Crystal and I end up finishing together. We’re both around the same place fitness wise and we stick together. Sometimes we’re pretty quiet in those final miles, but we’ve had plenty of time to get to know each other and our running background. This will be Crystal’s first marathon and over the course of many miles I’ve been able to share my experiences running marathons and give her some tips (I always tell her, don’t listen to me if you don’t want!). The tips are things that I’ve learned along the way training for six marathons that I take for granted – not everyone starts with this knowledge. I thought I’d share some of those tips on the blog today!

From my first ever marathon the 2011 Rock n' Roll San Diego Marathon
From my first ever marathon the 2011 Rock n’ Roll San Diego Marathon

Tips for First Time Marathoners

  1. Plan and practice your race nutrition during long runs. This one may seem obvious to experienced marathoners, but sometimes we forget that Gu is a foreign word to most people. During one of our 18 or 19 milers, I asked Crystal what her nutrition plan for the race was after noticing she didn’t seem to be taking any gels. She didn’t really have one and didn’t know where to start. I told her that I take a Gu every 40 minutes during the race, as well as a gel 15 minutes before the start. I recommended that she practice with various gels (or chomps) during her long runs and decide which one she would want to use on race day (and how often – I once tried taking a Gu every 30 minutes and my body didn’t like it). You probably don’t need a Gu every 40 minutes during a long run energy-wise, but it’s really smart to practice to makes sure your stomach can handle it on race day when you really do need it. If you have a hot race, I recommend taking some sort of electrolyte. My favorite is to take salt pills – I don’t like sweet drinks while I run and swallowing pills doesn’t bother me. No matter what you decide, practicing your nutrition during long runs is key!
  2. Carbo-load but don’t veer too far from your normal diet. Before my first marathon I took carbo-loading to the extreme. I read some ridiculous article that basically said that someone my weight needed to eat 3,000 calories of carbohydrate every day in the three days leading up to the race and I made it a mission to heed this advice. I literally ate three bagels the Friday before my Sunday marathon and when a coworker brought in cookies to the office to support me in my race, I ate too many to count (they were bite sized – the easiest type of cookie to overeat!). However, since I tend to eat whole grains and carbs like quinoa, lentils and fruit, I was putting a lot of food in my body that it wasn’t used to eating, especially in the quantities I was doing so. By race day, I was lethargic and bloated. Don’t do as I do! Up your intake of carbohydrates in the days leading up to the race but don’t go too crazy!
  3. Don’t stop during the race. I’m not talking about walking – you can walk, although I recommend challenging yourself not to outside of aid stations because honestly, walking in those final miles of a marathon is as hard as running. I’m talking about actually stopping, even to stretch. Once you stop and your muscles get used to it, it’ll be WAY harder to get started again. Trust me, if you can, don’t stop!
  4. Raise your arms and shout and cheer at the crowd (even if it’s full of strangers) when you’re starting to feel bad. This tip was given to me a few years ago before one of my BQ attempts by my good friend Brooke. Brooke is one of those incredibly positive and infectiously happy people and this happy little tip has been HUGE for me. I’ve used it in every race since and it makes such a big difference. No matter how far you are into the race – mile 1, mile 10 or mile 26.1, if you are feeling bad, look into the crowd, raise your arms up and get excited. Shout if you can! Pretend your best friend, mom, child or husband is out in the crowd cheering for you. Finishing a marathon is more mental than it is physical, especially in those final miles, and any mental boost you can get is worth it! Trust me, this is an easy one, and probably my favorite tip of all.

    first time marathon tips
    No matter how you feel during the race, PRETEND to be happy!
  5. Know that how you feel in this mile doesn’t predict how you’ll feel in future miles. Live within each mile. It’s easier said than done, but try not to think about the miles you have to go. I’ve felt pretty bad in the early miles of some of my BEST races – often it takes several miles to warm-up and feel good. Don’t give up just because you aren’t feeling fantastic at mile 3 or mile 13. Personally, crossing the half marathon mark has been a tough place for me mentally because I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself to be crossing that half marathon mark under a certain time AND feeling good. But feeling bad at mile 13 doesn’t mean you’ll feel bad at mile 15. This is a lesson I’m still learning myself, but probably one of the most valuable lessons I can pass on to anyone else.

The thing that keeps me coming back to the marathon is that no matter how you prepare, you will encounter challenges on race day and half the fun is figuring out how to solve each problem as it comes. Not all marathons go as planned and unfortunately not all marathon times reflect the effort you put into training. The marathon is truly a torrid love affair – one day it’s hot and heavy, the next day you’re alone in the cold wondering what happened. You’ll never know what the marathon has in store for you that day, but you do know that it will test your limits. And to me, truly living is about testing my limits and seeing what I’m made of. First time marathoners, you’re in for a treat  – I hope that the marathon steals your heart just like it has mine.

Good luck!

What tips would you give to first time marathons? Do you agree or disagree with any of my tips? Why? 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

October 18, 2016 By fitnessfatale 6 Comments

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: first time marathon tips, first time marathoner, new york marathon, San Diego Rock n roll marathon, tips for your first marathon

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Leslie @ Triathlete Treats

    October 18, 2016 at 5:43 am

    All of those are great tips!! I totally agree with all of them. I still try and focus on being “in” the mile you are in. I am always looking forward so in races its hard to stay within the mile!! #workinprogress
    My tip going along with the screaming at the crowd is: wearing your name (big) across your chest at the big races: NYC, MCM, Chicago, etc, the crowd is always screaming your name and its like you are winning the race! 🙂
    Smile even when it hurts. It makes it just a bit more tolerable.

    Reply
    • FitnessFatale

      October 21, 2016 at 3:49 pm

      Great tips!!

      Reply
  2. Jessie

    October 18, 2016 at 12:08 pm

    Thank you, thank you! I’m running my first marathon in a couple of weeks and I’m super nervous!

    Reply
    • FitnessFatale

      October 21, 2016 at 3:49 pm

      You’ll do great! Have so much fun and enjoy!

      Reply
  3. Wendy

    October 18, 2016 at 6:00 pm

    Great tips!! I really like the crowd one and definitely nutrition practice is on point.
    My best tip is to plan and count on it getting super super hard at some point. It will get hard and painful and to work on mental strategies to get through the hurt or work with the hurt. For some reason, this was a lightbulb moment for me before my last marathon. yes, I always knew that marathons are hard–but for some reason I thought when it got super hard it was a reflection on me and my training.

    Reply
    • FitnessFatale

      October 21, 2016 at 3:50 pm

      Yes so true! Knowing that the marathon WILL hurt makes it easier to handle and not freak out when that time comes for sure.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Let’s Get Stronger, Healthier & Faster Together!

I am specialize in working with runners to help them incorporate strength training & nutrition into their running routines.

I am passionate about mindset and love to help people find more joy and success in their running by breaking through mental barriers.

While weight loss is a result of our programs, women in my groups often find that they are running faster, are less injury prone, and have more energy and confidence!

I am the founder of Team Run the World, a group of BODi coaches who love running! I provide mentorship, support and training for women who want to start their own coaching business from home and work flexible hours.

I would love to help support you in reaching your goals!

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Fitness Fatale

 

Loading Comments...