Go back and read part 1 and 2 for more context in how I wrote this, or don't; this will still make sense & be helpful.
Part 1 covers 5K, 8K and 10K
Part 2 covers 15K, 10 miles, Half Marathon
Part 3: Marathon
Marathon: I don’t have any distances between 13.1 and marathon since there aren’t really many races with the distances in between. This doesn’t mean you can’t run them for fun or for training. They’re just not very common (minus some 20 milers that are usually just paid-supported runs for marathon training). I don’t love that there aren’t distances in between because I think it creates the impression that the marathon is just 2x a half marathon.
While, mathematically speaking, that’s correct. It really downplays the difference in the amount of training & strategy that goes into running a marathon.
Sure, you could probably walk a marathon without as much training-but, I’m going to focus on running a marathon.
Like I said in part 1, I think anyone can train for and run a marathon if they’re willing to put in the work. If not, you can probably still cross the finish line; but you’re probably going to really hate a lot of the race and put yourself at risk for injury. You also might not meet the cut off time; so, the course and aid stations could close before you finish. You might not get a medal and you won’t get an official time (minus some races that wait for everyone, like NYC marathon).
I love the marathon. When I was growing up, I remember reading the names of the people who ran the Chicago Marathon in the Chicago Tribune. But, I didn’t know anyone that ran marathons until my 20’s, maybe 30’s? In fact, I remember being told that only ‘crazy people ran marathons.’ Until college, it never crossed my mind that I could ever run one. I never pictured myself doing one.
But, then I went to college and my friend told me we should sign up for a marathon. So, I figured, if she suggested it, it must not be for 'crazy people only.' When I started college, I'd been running consistently for about 2-3 years-but, never anything over 6 miles at a time. Maybe 10 once or twice.
After deciding to run the Chicago Marathon, we mailed in (yes, mailed!) registration forms and I followed a free training plan to a T…until I broke my foot 2 weeks out and couldn’t run it. After that, I suffered a number of other injuries but eventually started running half marathons regularly.
I really fell in love with the distance and stuck with it, not wanting to risk injuring myself again. For years, I told myself that I’m wasn't interested in another marathon, after I'd broken my foot training for one. It again began to seem like a distance ‘other people did,’ not people like me. Whatever that meant.
But, in 2012, my running group at the time, #backonmyfeet, had some charity bibs for the Chicago Marathon and my friend Anne said, "let’s do it." And, so we did.
While I had a ROUGH run starting at mile 21, I finished and realized that, in fact, the marathon wasn’t just for ‘other people;’ it was for everyone.
I could say a lot more about the marathon distance. But, I’ll leave it at this: if you even have an inkling you want to run one, you should.
Yes, you need to train.
Yes, they hurt.
But, yes, the training AND the race will teach you more about yourself than most things you do in this little life we have.
And, to me, that’s a big enough reason.
Longer distances: I don’t have experience, so I won’t speak to those.
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