Thinking of Running Your First Marathon? Ask Yourself These Questions First

A fellow half-marathoner and blog reader recently e-mailed me to ask the big question: do I ever think I’ll step up to the full 26.2?

My brilliant answer: um, maybe… definitely NOT soon.

If you’ve achieved half marathon status and are thinking of doubling that distance, here are some questions to ask yourself first.  They’ve helped me decide to table the marathon question until a later point in my life, when I don’t have two preschoolers and barely enough time to meal plan.  (Ahhh, elementary school… what freedoms you promise me!)

Questions Every First Time Marathoner Should Ask Themselves:

Why would I do this?  What feeling am I chasing, and is there a more efficient way to achieve a similar level of satisfaction?

How many miles a week would I need to run, for how many weeks, to safely complete my first marathon?

Do I have time for that type of training?

Is that what I want to do with my free time?

Will I feel accomplished if I need to walk/jog in order to complete the distance, and if not, how much will I need to add to my training to be relatively certain I can run the entire thing?

How long would my 15, 18 and 20 mile training runs take me at my current long run pace, and am I willing to commit that amount of time once a week for several months (depending on the training plan selected)?

When I finish a 2 hour run, do I ever really wish I could keep going?

Can / will my family support me in this time commitment?

Am I doing this for internal joy and personal satisfaction, rather than street creds?

Is this the best time in my life to do this?

Am I risking my health or injury?

How do I feel when someone tells me they’ve run a marathon?  What does that tell me?

Is this a logical next step in my running, or should I consider an intermediate goal first?

—————————————————–

One of the things I’ve learned from observing experienced runners is that there’s always the next goal.  There’s always further, there’s always faster.  Look at me: I went from being happy just to finish my first 5k without a walking break to shooting for time goals in the half marathon.  It’s important to recognize what an achievement even the half marathon is – it’s a big deal to run that far, and most Americans will never do it. I’m proud that I’ve run for over 2 hours without stopping, I think that’s incredible.

I’m not sure I need to ever run for over 4 hours.  Half of me worries that I’d consider the marathon to be the ultimate running challenge, the final hurdle into the in-crowd of runners, only to have someone raise an eyebrow at my finishing time or move into a conversation about how the real test is whether someone can qualify for Boston.  I will never have that kind of time, energy, and experience.  I can guarantee that, because I love too many things besides running.  I am not a talented enough runner to manage life balance and shoot for time goals in the marathon.

I love that I have run 5 half marathons, and it never bothers me that many of my acquaintances have also run them, and run them faster, than me.  But there’s something about the marathon, the insanity of actually running 26.2 miles, that might make it harder to accept when you learn that several people you know have also run them… and faster… than you.  I think if I were to run that freaking far, I would want it to be unique, and the first time I rubbed elbows with an ultra runner at a cocktail party I would be like “NOOOOO!!!!!! NO!!! NO ONE HAS EVER RUN FARTHER THAN I DID I ALMOST DIED HOW COULD YOU!!! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HARD THAT WAS!!! AHHH!!!!!!” and Greg would have to usher me out the back door discreetly while blaming the Dark and Stormys.

But that’s not to say the marathon is not for you.

Maybe your kids are older, or you don’t have kids, or you run twice as fast as I do so you can put in 40 miles a week in the time it takes me to do 25.  Maybe you live for the open road, the meditative qualities of foot to pavement, foot to pavement, breathe, breathe.  Maybe you find your best self in hour 2-3 of your long run.  Maybe you do have time, you would enjoy the extra training, and the satisfaction of having achieved 26.2 would stay with you, the way 13.1 stays with me.

When I hear someone talk about running their most recent marathon, my overwhelming emotion is relief that I stop at 13.1. I don’t feel awe as much as I used to, because I understand how 26.2 is possible with persistent training.  Marathon runners don’t seem like aliens anymore.  I’m incredibly impressed, and I applaud their dedication and determination and the drive that gets them to that finish line after mile 20.  I also know, deep down, that I could join them.  I’m just not sure I want to.

Best wishes as you decide for yourself how running can serve you!