20 Brutally Honest Confessions About Marathon Training
20 Brutally Honest Confessions About Marathon Training
1) I can’t stop talking about it
I swore that I would not be one of those people that didn’t bring up marathon training every 6 minutes. I have LITERALLY BECOME THAT PERSON.
“hey Girl, how are you?” “Girl, this marathon training is kicking my butt.”
“Hey Nellie, can you pass me the salt?” “Yeah, omg, I lose SO MUCH SALT on my long runs”
Help.
2) It’s taken over my life
I plan every single thing around marathon training. Sleep, work, meals, conferences, birthday parties. ALL OF IT.
3) I can’t stop eating
All the things. Not that I’m using the extra miles to eat what I want but I find myself hungry at ALL the random times.
4) I just want to nap
No, really. Since I have To wake up at 4:30am to train, my body is in a constant state of tired. My long runs are usually followed by a day of activity with the kids so yeah.
5) I am unable to commit to anything without checking my training schedule.
“Oh, what time is the birthday party?” “2pm? yeah, I can make it, I should be done with my long run by then.”
6) every training week feels like 6 weeks in one
Now that the miles are rising to around 30 a week, I’m just always running. This used to be my monthly total.
7) I’ve got plenty of social media ammunition
ALL the runfies!
8) It sucks during but then when I take a look at my mileage…?
If you told me last year (WHEN I STARTED RUNNING) that I’d be running 30+ miles a week I would have cackled a long cackle.
9) every week I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be able to do it, then, I do it.
Every Sunday I look at my training plan like: NOPE.
10) I’m jealous of my friends training for half marathons
oh so your long rung is 5 miles this week? I’m so SO jealous.
11) I want my weekends back!
I miss Saturday morning freedom.
12) I still have to be a mommy/wife/employee when the miles are over
My boys don’t get how exhausted I am to.my.core when I finish my long runs on the weekend. I am still expected to run and walk around like normal Mommy.
13) training dominates my thoughts like no other.
How can I get better? What is the weather like for my run tomorrow? Should I start planning my long run route? Constantly. Every day.
14) when someone asks me how marathon training is going I feel relieved because I have got a LOT to say.
See also #1. A special kind of news broadcast happens when someone asks me about it on purpose. If you ask….be prepared to stay a while.
15) Marathon training has become my ultimate excuse for pretty much everything.
Job lunch? Yes, please pass the food because: marathon training!!
16) I question why I committed to this, every damn day.
EVERY. DAY.
17) I live in my marathon groups on fb because they are the only ones that get it.
98.26% of the posts in my timeline are running related. If I haven’t liked my friends posts in a while, that is why. I kinda need to be submerged in daily training updates to know that I am not alone in this madness.
18) I’ve looked at upcoming weeks in my training plan and either a) considered switching plans or b) muttered this can’t be life over and over.
I have looked at literally a million training plans.
19) I’ve registered for pretty much a race every weekend because long runs have just become long torture.
Now that summer streets are over, I am actually responsible for finding somewhere to run 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 & 20 miles on respective weeks. WHAT?! So I’ve registered for races. At some point I have 2 half marathons in a row in back to back weeks.
20) I really, really can’t wait until November 2nd. I’ll be sore, tired but I will be a marathoner.
I’ll do it. I will.
What is your biggest marathon training challenge right now?
For more marathon related posts check out:
5 Inspiring Moments From Des Linden Winning The 2018 Boston Marathon
TCS NYC Marathon 2016 Recap: Second Time Around
6 Amazing Half Marathon & Full Marathon Training Workouts
Hi! I’m Nellie. I am an entrepreneur, a busy mama of 3 and a wife to my high school sweetheart. I have been sharing content for over 12 years about how to cook easy recipes, workout tips and free printables that make life a little bit easier. I have been featured in places like Yahoo, Buzzfeed, What To Expect, Mediavine, Niche Pursuits, HuffPost, BabyCenter, Mom 2.0, Mommy Nearest, Parade, Care.com, and more!
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I just have one thing to say: WELCOME!
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! OMG I’m laughing though this whole thing while shaking my head. I’ve been living this life for so long that I don’t even think about it anymore but this is ALL true!
Just wait – as soon as you cross that finish line…ok, maybe like the next day when you’re sore and beaming with pride and staring at your medal…you will sign up and do it all over again.
Welcome to the running side of life my friend. It’s a wonderful place to be.
No, really…it is.
LAWD. I BRIEFLY thought about a marathon and then looked at the training and thought: nope not gonna happen at this point in my life. LOL. I’m going to get off of my fat tail and start training for the Disney half again soon. I think I’m going to sign up for a 10K somewhere in between and a couple of 5ks. But it’s time to get back in gear!
While I am so not a runner, I truly admire your dedication and interest in running. Seriously you are amazing for this and so much more in my book!! 😉
Oh man! I can’t even imagine! But I’m super impressed with everything that you’ve done with your running and I wish you the best in completing your training and finishing the marathon!!!!
I can’t give up my weekends lol I don’t know how you do it but you get it done. Did you say you plan Birthday parties around it…lawd you got it bad
haha! #1 is hilarious. I’ve been there before, but with other things.
#3 too, but what’s my excuse? No training and I’m not pregnant!
I love that there are FB groups. That sounds fun!
I am just working up to a 5K but love following your training schedule! One day I may do a half but will just cheer on full marathon runners from the sideline.
Thanks girl!! You can definitely do those distances, I’ve only been running for a year!
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA this is everything. Great post! It’s all true. Though I was just saying to my husband the other day, “I don’t even know who that girl was running two marathons two years in a row. I think about running 10 miles on a Wednesday and 16 on a Saturday and I’m like that wasn’t me!” I’m hoping to be able to balance my guy and distance running again eventually. You’re doing great!
thank you for your comment! The struggle is SO real! 10 weeks to go!
Nellie, you NAILED it with this post!!! But isn’t the marathon running community so awesome?? Love you, proud of you, feel free to email/text/call me if you ever want to chit chat running because I love it (and you)!
Every single thing you wrote is true and I lived and breathed marathon training hell last Fall, did the race in Feb. I am now looking forward to *only* running half marathons for now, ha ha. Welcome to the club!!!
omg. I now appreciate half marathon training SO much!! I wish I knew what I was getting into before I did this! Next year I will be better prepared!
I’m doing a marathon on Nov 1st – and yep, everything you say is true! Great post 🙂
Oh, Nellie. I just can’t imagine how sore and tired you are with all of that running. You’re a total rockstar! I should also tell the husband to follow you on twitter or something. He’s begging to run a marathon next year, but his half marathon training still haunts me (specifically, the mid-day Saturday runs that were for 10+ miles).
haha this is awesome. loved reading this!
I just discovered this post thanks to Pinterest — love this! Too funny and all so true… Every single sentence. Welcome to the run side my friend. 😉
So now that it’s over, will you be doing another one? I just ran my first in October and your post is all too true. During training I thought I would never do another one and now I’m back at it.
I think its a great accomplishment and praise you for all your hard work and effort. It is difficult with a family.
I trained for my first marathon and ran it in May 2016. Every. single. one of these confessions I get! And to think I am now starting to train for my second marathon… Haha! Special kind of crazy us runners 😉
Here in holland the netherlands it’s the same. I am running my 2nd one in oktober. And i know that this won’t be my last. I love your article…everything is so true. But remember….you will love yourself more after you finished.