My alarm went off 6 AM on a Wednesday morning and I groaned. I rolled over and pulled back my blinds to look outside. It was dark and raining and cold. I tried not to think about the outside conditions as I mechanically went through the motions of putting on my running gear, lacing up my running shoes, and pouring a glass of orange juice. I paused before heading out into the cold New England winter weather. Nobody else in his or her right mind would be going for a run this morning. I took a deep breath and reminded myself of my ultimate goal: to run the Boston Marathon in April. I smiled, stepped outside, and began my run.
Training for my first Marathon has been both the most exhilarating and the most painful experience of my life. Although I’ve been “athletic” my whole life, playing sports in high school and throughout college, I had never run more than a 10k. So running 26.2 miles was such a foreign concept to me that I couldn’t help but be intrigued when the prospect first arose. I showed up to the first day of the Tufts Marathon Team “practice”, and the coach convinced me to give it a shot. He had successfully helped thousands of first-time marathoners cross the Boston finish line. My run that day was four miles, and I was sore for a week.
Yet here I am today, just under two weeks before Marathon Monday, and my running routine has paid off! At some point in the past four months, I learned which running apparel was necessary for what weather and how to eat in the middle of a workout. I learned that it is possible to actually enjoy a 15-mile run and be able to walk up the stairs the next day!
Here are a few tips and tricks that I picked up along the way to help you reach your goal, whether it be a 5k or an Ultra Marathon:
1. Find a running group or running buddy. Most mornings I was only able to get out of bed because I knew that someone was waiting for me.
2. Invest in a good pair of running shoes and running apparel. Feeling too cold/too hot can make or break your workout. I personally love the adidas women’s running collection since it doesn’t break the bank. My personal favorites are the Techfit Tank and Supernova Shorts for warmer weather days, and the Supernova Long Sleeve Tee for colder days. The adidas Energy Boost running shoe is a great shoe for those athletes looking to take their running to the next level.
3. Give yourself a little bit of slack. You’re working hard and deserve a break every once in a while. Sometimes, your mind can be your worst enemy and trick you into thinking you’re not training hard enough, but you are! So go ahead and sleep through an alarm or two, just make sure to get back in the grove the next day!
Stay tuned for my next post after the race!
Have you ever run a marathon or long race before? Have any tips to share with me? Leave a comment!