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?

Marathon Monday: What I learned during my marathon progression 4:45 ->3:25

It seems slightly surreal that I initially started running marathons at a 10:52 min/mi and recently ran a marathon at a 7:49 min/mi pace. Sometimes I see marathon progressions that say something like “I went from a 5+ hour marathon to BQing!” and they basically went from their first marathon in 5 hours to running a sub 4 hour marathon on the next try and while I think that ANY marathon time and progression is amazing, I’m also really proud of MY journey. It took me many tries just to go sub 4 in the marathon and then remember how I trained my butt off for years trying to get under 3:40?!?

Here’s my marathon times broken down:

1. June 2014 Steamboat Marathon 4:46 10:57min/mi

2. June 2016 Revel Rockies 4:14 9:42 min/mi

3. January 2017 Goofy Challenge 4:34 10:29 min/mi

4. June 2017 Revel Rockies 4:03 9:18min/mi

5. November 2017 Rock n Roll Las Vegas 3:55 9:00min/mi

6. April 2018 Salt Lake City 3:52 8:52 min/mi

7. April 2019 Eugene Marathon 3:51 8:50min/mi

8. October 2019 Loco Marathon 4:05 9:19 min/mi

9. April 2021 Cheap Marathon 3:58 9:06min/mi

10. October 2022 Wineglass Marathon 3:44 8:34min/mi

11. October 2023 Wineglass Marathon 3:36 8:15min/mi

12. November 2023 New York City Marathon 3:51 8:51min/mi

13. May 2024 Revel White Mountains 3:25 7:49min/mi

14. October 2024 Wineglass Marathon 3:42 8:30min/mi

Some of my biggest initial thoughts after looking over the marathons I’ve done:

• I got a running coach

• Doing downhill races gave me confidence

• Fueling more = faster times

• Carb loading made one of the biggest improvements

• Purposeful strength training

• Lifting heavier weights!

• Racing more often (all types of distances)

• Easy running stays easy. I’ve been running the same ‘easy paces’ for at least 5 years. (Nothing faster than 9 minute pace).

• I got surgery for my stage IV endometriosis. I think this honestly helped me feel so much better overall and this is when I saw another big improvement in my running.

• Found an amazing therapist- happy mentally= happy running.

• Found the JOY and GRATITUDE in movement. Nothing makes you appreciate something more than when you can’t do it. Having major abdominal surgery with my c-section really made me appreciate and honor the comeback.

I think it’s also important to note that progress isn’t linear. I didn’t just ‘jump’ from a 4:46 marathon to 3:25 in a few tries. I’ve stayed consistent, dealt with a few injuries over the many years of marathoning, and dabbled in ultras too. I’ve had a twin pregnancy, lost my Dad, moved across the country, and switched careers/ gone back to college full-time. Running has always been there and it WILL always be there even when it feels very far away. I think coming back postpartum has really given me a different perspective of the recovery process. I remember when I started running, I thought that running 9 minute pace WAS fast. I actually never thought that I could even run a sub 4 hour marathon.

These are all things that worked for ME, but I’d love to hear some things that worked for you during your training journey. Has your progress been a slow climb or a fast uphill sprint? Comment below!!