First Marathon - My Story & Learnings
So I did it. After 26 weeks of training, I managed to do it in the Copenhagen Marathon yesterday.
For context, I’ve been running most of my life, but never imagined I could do the full marathon. I’ve always been the unathletic chubby boy.
Before the training block I had 1 half under my belt and did a half during the training block on 1:44.
My training went absolutely brilliant. I was during 5 workouts a week, and everything was going according or exceeding the plan. Until this post I did 2 months ago:
https://www.reddit.com/r/firstmarathon/s/hYSVn0PVj2
I botched a long run and developed some serious IT-band issues.
For the better part of my peak training, I focused on strengthening the glutes and the muscles around my knee. I had to cut my mileage down drastically. I managed to get a 30 km. Done before the run, but off course I got sick and had a fever in the peak week of my training, meaning the taper started 1 week earlier. So I had no real experience of going above 30 km.
Taper went well, and I carb-loaded as I should.
Then came race day. I was a nervous wreck months of training to this single day. I had a race plan prepared which was conservative considering my last part of the training was cut short.
The crowd and atmosphere was amazing. My legs were feeling great after the taper, and off course this got the better of me. I went out too fast. I finally learned what the wall was. After 35 km. I was cooked. I had never tried this feeling before. I didn’t know what to do. I had fueled as per my training (2 gels an hour and drinking at every aid station).
I managed to dig deep and got the last 2 km. Done in a good time and therefore managed to achieve my goal of a sub-4 of 3:59.
Never in my life have I felt more proud of what I had just done. I fucking did it. My legs were done, and I think I’ll loose two toenails, but fuck it.
I will definitely keep training and I’ll go for 3:45, which I think is doable, but as my mind is processing this, the most important learnings from this first marathon and the training block would be:
- An injury or sickness is not necessarily a killer for your training. The way you treat the injury can be.
- Occasionally missing workouts because your body needs it, doesn’t ruin anything in the long run as long as you are consistent in your training 90% of the time.
- Strength training is absolutely a necessity. My hip-problems and IT-band issues would definitely had been helped by a steady strength training routine during the block
- Stay disciplined to your raceplan and for the love of god, do not go out fast
- Respect the marathon. It’s no joke, and sure you’ll during your training think that the extra 8 or 10 km. From your longest run will be easy to add on in race day. It will be painful, no matter how you prepare, and for me it was the longest 8 km. Of my life.
- Fuck comparing yourself, and just be proud that what you are trying to achieve is something that most people are not even remotely capable of.
- Last but certainly not least. Enjoy the race. Don’t go into the race thinking it will be 4-6 hours of hell. Get your friends, or your family together and let them experience this with you as they cheer for you. Take in the atmosphere and remember that you are at the starting line for a reason. The experience of a marathon race day is worth the journey in itself.
Sorry, for the long post. I would just like to give my thoughts and story for the first marathon. That’s all for me, and I hope everybody’s training is going great!
You got this!