22 No BS Marathon Training Truths

1 3 minutes read

Most of us runners all start out swearing we’d never run a marathon. A mile was a struggle, what crazy person would submit themselves to 26.2?! The truth about running is complicated. no bs marathon training truths Five years in my friends were all aware of my passion for running…

How I swore it had changed my life
How healthy I felt.
How I enjoyed that quiet time on the roads.

So when dear Jake {my 6 foot 5 football sized friend} decided it was time to cross a marathon off his bucket list, he turned to me with big blue eyes that said “this is what friends do for each other”.

Suddenly, in the dead of Kansas City winter, I was running 18 miles in the snow and eating frozen bananas, wearing bright pink knee-high socks and shelling out for my first GPS watch (hey, this was 2005!).

Of course, while you’re training, other runners focus on the positive, and they should!

But a bit like becoming a parent, sometimes it’s nice to get a no BS viewpoint as well.

Table of Contents

22 No BS Marathon Training Truths

This post is a little chuckle for us marathon finishers and an honest look for those considering the journey. These may not all hold true for you…but likely will.

You will be bone tired on some Mondays and still go into work bragging about how great your training is going
You will the week post-race declare this is the worst idea you’ve ever had
You will have to shuffle all kinds of plans to get up early on weekends for hours of running
Your significant other will be very, very…very tired of hearing about your training (it’s why blogs like this exist!)
You will suddenly have more foam rollers than underwear {which is cool because all your shorts have built-in liners, so you need way less}
You’ll always be planning your next meal (especially as runger strikes)
You will overcome every mental barrier you’ve set up (get a coach if you’re still struggling!)
Non-runners will constantly exclaim either: “I could never do that” or “Oh I ran a marathon last weekend“…which you’ll learn means a 5K

marathon training no bs

You’ll choose work clothes that allow you to slip on compression socks or wear flats
People will ask you if it’s true you go to the bathroom in your pants to save time and various other bizarre questions, which you will have to answer with a smile to show how awesome running is
Checking the weather will become your second job and regardless of what it says, you’ll still run
Questions about your ability to complete 26.2 will be only in your mind
You won’t feel like cross training though everyone says you should
You’ll be confused when you start to gain weight after long runs
You’ll get injured from not cross training and then find ways to sneak in PT and core work

running should be fun

Running doesn’t have to be so serious, it’s supposed to be fun…not easy, but fun
Time to think will allow you to solve world hunger and then promptly forget the solution when you get home and your bladder needs the bathroom
Runners come in all shapes and sizes and paces. A 70 year-old will pass you, a mom with a jogging stroller will pass you and you’ll realize how amazing it is that they’re out on the roads with you
Fueling with gels will likely give you the trots – whole foods do work or keep trying til you find one that doesn’t upset your stomach
You’ll talk more about bathroom habits than you ever planned (see above runners trots)
You’ll whine to runner friends, who will tell you to put down the cookie
You will develop an inner knowing that you can do hard things

A lot of what you just read might sound negative, but it’s not.

It’s truly an incredible journey of learning about yourself, learning to prioritize, and maximizing your time. You’ll be stronger, prouder, and healthier for undertaking the journey.