Why You Should Run Your First Marathon

I’m totally NOT biased at-all when it comes to running marathons, but I honestly think that they’re the BEST. I love the distance, but I really really love the training. My first marathon- I hated most everything about it, UNTIL that finish line. I couldn’t believe I actually did it. I experienced a million emotions throughout that 26.2 mile journey and really wasn’t sure I could get to that finish line (after hitting the wall around mile 14…lol silly, silly me)!

I also totally respect if you don’t want to run a marathon. You are still a runner- no matter what distance you do (and however long it takes you)! BUT if running a marathon is on your bucket list, then this post is for you.

I thought it would be fun to share what I’ve gained after running my first marathon (which was on my bucketlist and I signed up just before the New Year, so maybe you’re still debating- you have 2025 right around the corner)!

• I gained confidence in myself. If I can accomplish something like a marathon, what else can I do?

• I became stronger. Staying on your feet for long periods really challenges you in a different way.

• Consistency in running.

• A community that I never knew I needed.

• The training grind and covering distances I’ve never done was empowering.

Now, here are a few tips that I would’ve found helpful training for my first marathon:

• It’s going to hurt. Those long training runs have a purpose- don’t skip them.

• Some days are going to be really tough- you’ve got this.

• Follow a training plan

• Missing one or two runs for illness or niggle or conflicts, isn’t a huge deal.

• Find a nutrition plan during long runs and stick with it.

What My Off-Season Actually Looks Like

We’re deep into the off-season around here, so I thought I would ‘normalize’ what the off-season looks like for me! I’m certainly NOT running all the miles, nor am I lounging on the couch everyday. I still love to be active, but those activities look different than when I am in the ‘thick’ of training for a race. I took 11 days off of running after my half last month and then I really started to crave a run, so I went out for a short 35 minute run. I wanted to wait until I was really wanting to run again and if that took me several weeks, I was totally OK with that. I think it’s just as important to give your mind a break, as well as your body. During those two weeks, I wasn’t doing nothing- I did a lot of yoga and used my peloton bike (thanks to these two cuties for playing well when I did want to get in a quick bike session)!

I also started adding back in strength training after 7 days off of running and started with much lighter weights than what I previously used during marathon training. I think I started with 10 and 15 pounds, rather than 15 and 25 pounds. I also enjoyed other things too! I love taking the dog for longer walks and baking more. Homemade bagels from this recipe is what I’m loving right now.

I’ve also used this time to check-in with a PT (virtual sessions from here are a total game-changer), as well as working on my running form. I’ve been sleeping in more, working out during nap times or while the girls play and enjoying other activities too. I’ve painted the girls closet and cleaned areas of the house that have been neglected for way too long (oops). I purposefully wanted to give my body time to rebuild and get stronger before going back into marathon training, so a late June race sounded like the perfect time table.

I am definitely a happier person when I’m able to escape outside in the mornings though (ask Alex if you don’t believe me…), so I’m missing that part of the training the most, but the break from my routine is necessary for me to put everything into the next training cycle. Getting up early to work-out downstairs in our home gym just isn’t the same. The girls wake-up early and if I know that they’re awake, I’m much less likely to finish my workout because I want to see them (mornings are my favorite hour with them ; ) …). I also have NOT been restricting my nutrition during the off-season. I’m still enjoying all the things, but also being conscience of what makes me feel best. I don’t feel great if I eat a ton of processed foods or if I go 4+ hours between meals, so I do what makes me feel best, but I’m also approaching it with flexibility. This approach has really helped me decompress from the intensity that I approach marathon or half marathon training with!

Alex and I also escaped for a long weekend in NYC for a family wedding and it was amazing (mostly- the food and getting away for the weekend)! I also went to a live peloton class (Olivia Amato’s 45min Pop Ride), which was SO fun!

• How do you decompress after a long training season?

• Favorite activities or things to eat when you’re in the off-season?!

My next marathon!

Super excited to be heading to Minnesota in June for Grandma’s Marathon! This will be my third time in MN and first time running this race. This was also a ‘revenge booking’ after my disappointing finish at Wineglass (aka I registered as we were driving home from Wineglass). I’ve heard so many good things about this race and can only hope for good weather (a late June race sounds slightly intimidating)!

I wanted to share a few goals that I’ve been thinking about for race day as training is still several months away.

-I want to have fun. I think I lost that during Wineglass this past Pctober. I love running long distances and I really want to enjoy it.

-I want to get gritty. Like real gritty. I can never remember a time where I’ve crossed the finish line and felt like I had ‘nothing left in the tank’. I want to feel DEPLETED!

-I want to be mentally strong. More mindfulness in training.

-I want to be competitive with myself. I don’t want to shy away from paces that seem out of my comfort zone or back off when it starts to get uncomfortable. I want to really challenge myself with training.

-I want to build a strong foundation NOW for a super successful next year.

Anyone done Grandmas before? Have any suggestions?!? I’m nervous about the weather! My hotel is already booked- I’ve heard hotels can be challenging to find!

Momming & Marathoning

It’s been one of the most frequent questions I get asked when someone finds out I run marathons: “but how do you find the time with twins at home?!”

It’s absolutely not easy and there are many days where I feel guilty for leaving to go for a run. Having childcare a few times a week and a flexible 30 hours a week work schedule absolutely help. I think also knowing that I feel so much better when I run is key, as well as having an amazing supportive partner.

I feel like myself when I’ve had time in the morning to sweat and have some movement. Normally getting up early is my biggest tip. I also am in bed most nights by 9pm and my alarm goes off somewhere between 5-5:30am. I like to be heading out the door or starting my workout by 6-6:30am and home to be with the girls by 7:30am.

I do my longer runs on the days where I don’t work and do have childcare. That is the NUMBER ONE thing that I think helps me train for longer distances with little kids. If I didn’t have that availability, I really am not sure I would be able to get it done. I do a little bit of housework on those days and then the rest of the day is long run, sometimes strength work, recovery fuel, cold water baths into Epsom salt baths, and normally a nap. It’s not something that is necessarily sustainable year-round so I realize in my off-seasons.

I try to be home when the girls get up in the mornings, I might workout earlier to be home in time for them to roll out of bed, or I might do more stroller runs. It’s not a perfect schedule and I’m certainly not the ‘best mom’ when I’m in peak weeks training for my next goal race, but chasing goals outside of being a m and nurse is really important to me.

What helps get you out the door as a parent? How many marathons do you run a year?

Race Recap: New England Half Marathon

I finally FINALLY FINALLY did it -> 1:39:44 half marathon!! Super proud of this one considering that I was fresh off the marathon 2 weeks prior. I knew that I had it in me and this race course is just beautiful (also the weather was totally PR weather). It feels so good to finally say that I ran sub 1:40 in the half. It’s been a goal of mine since 2020 and I FINALLY did it.

Unfortunately though, I did not take many photos. I can HOWEVER give you many details. I did my 500g carb-load the day before (using featherstone nutrition’s carb calculator). I’ve done many carb loads at this point, so I kinda already know what I like to eat before races and what works best for me. Some of my favorites include: bagels (my stomach isn’t overly sensitive so I did cinnamon raisin and sesame), pretzels, grapes, bananas, gatorade, pasta, tart cherry juice, and swedish fish.

I’ve been wanting to do this race for years, but I’ve always had to work, so I was super excited when I signed up for it months ago (gotta plan FAR in advance when you’re a nurse)! The plan was to have Alex, my mom, and the girls drive down to catch my finish and I drove down early by myself. The drive to the race was around an hour. I arrived in Concord around 6:40am, parked super close to the finish line/ where the buses were picking us up, grabbed a porta potty, and got on a bus. Thank goodness for my NYC finishers poncho again saving my butt (it was in the 30s at the start line). I initially thought that this was going to be the time when we got lost on our bus, but thankfully someone knew where to go and directed the bus driver. I love local races and this one had a total small town /new england vibe. I got to the start line around 7:15, used a porta potty again (this race had the MOST I’ve ever seen and my wait time was very little- thank you Millenium Running), decided to drop my bag, and then did some strides/warmed up. The views at the start line were UNREAL.

When we started, I honestly had no idea where to pace myself. I knew that I could do a sub 1:40, but I also had no idea how the overall course was laid out. I knew that there were some hills at mile 4 and 8-9, but otherwise I was just going with the flow. I took a Maurten 15 mintues before the start, a GU caffeine gel at 25 minutes, Maurten gel at 50 minutes, and GU caffeinated 75 minutes. I had about half of my Maurten at 90 minutes. I carried a 12 oz scratch with me (thankfully to miss the water stops), but think I could’ve hydrated better throughout the race-I had about half left when I finished.

For the first few miles (all basically downhill), I stayed conservative and an easy effort. I found a runner pacing her friend and they were running around 7:30s- which felt good to me. My first half splits were: 7:26, 7:07, 7:44 (hill), 8:01 (hill), 7:44, 7:14. I still felt good at this point, so decided to speed it up just a bit.

I powered up the final ‘big’ hill (which I LOVE how they had someone at the top of the hill with a microphone )- my splits for miles 7-10 were: 7:24, 7:44, 7:47, 8:01. Around mile 10 we switched to the bike path and it was all gravel. That was a tough part because there were so many rocks and roots to watch out for- I kept thinking ‘I cannot trip here’.

After I got back on the roads, I knew by runners math that I could finally PR and get my sub 1:40. I felt good and started pushing it a bit to make sure I didn’t have a repeat of my half earlier in the year (missing my goal by 10 seconds!!). My final splits were 7:32, 7:10, 7:17, and 6:35 for the final 0.1 miles. This finish was deceiving because I thought that we ran infront of the state house, but actually we ran a whole block around the backside (not so fun), but I did get to see my support crew around the back before I ran into the finishers shoot. I felt so good for most of the race (definitely had some tired legs and an achy hamstring by the finish), but honestly this gave me so much confidence that I could’ve gone even faster. Can’t wait to chase faster half PRs next year!