“It should be easy for you now.” If I had a pound for every time someone said this to me, I’d have enough money to sign up for another couple of marathons.  There is a misconception that marathon veterans find these gruelling 26.2 miles a walk in the park. While experience certainly brings valuable insights, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Each race and training cycle is a rollercoaster ride, filled with surprises, challenges, and lessons. So, I’m excited to share what I learned from running 15 marathons! 

So, join me as I explore 15 things I’ve learned from running 15 marathons:

1.Training matters:

While you might get away with winging a 5k, marathons demand meticulous training. Devote time to understanding your body’s limits. Tailoring your training plan, whether it’s speed work, long runs, or recovery days, is essential for preventing injuries and building endurance. Learning to listen to your body and knowing when to ease off comes with experience and is invaluable for every runner.

2. Celebrate Small Wins Along the Way

Don’t focus exclusively on crossing the finish line. Acknowledge the little milestones along the way – those long training runs, those personal bests in shorter races – they’re like the bricks that build your marathon success story.

3. Master Your Math: Pacing and Planning

Be prepared to calculate your pace, remaining distance and gel intake as you go. Then convert the remaining distance into how many parkruns you have left! 

4. Expect the Unexpected

Marathons are unpredictable! From weather changes to course conditions, be ready for anything. Preparing for potential issues—like nutrition mishaps or cramps—can help you adapt when surprises pop up.

5. Pace Yourself: A Marathon Mindset

Remember, a marathon isn’t a sprint! The adrenaline at the start can be overwhelming. Practice controlling your pace to conserve energy for the later miles. Starting too fast can lead to exhaustion—treat it like a long run, not a race.

6. Start line nerves

Even experienced runners face pre-race nerves. Acknowledge the knots in your stomach as part of the marathon tradition. Developing a pre-race routine can help you manage these feelings and focus on your race goals.

7. Embrace the wall

It’s not a marathon until you hit “the wall.” For many, this mental barrier hits around mile 20. Prepare yourself to face it head-on. Strategies like positive self-talk or recalling your training successes can help you push through.

8. Mental resilience matters

Running a marathon is as much a mental challenge as a physical one. Maintaining a positive mindset is crucial. Keep reminding yourself why you signed up for the race and visualise crossing that finish line.

9. Embrace the pain cave:

Marathons are tough, and pain is part of the process. Accepting the challenge rather than shying away from it can help you grow as a runner. Remember, the most rewarding experiences often come from overcoming difficulties.

10. The running community is amazing

Don’t isolate yourself with music throughout the race. Engage with fellow runners – we’re all in this together. Practice your “runner’s nod”, it’s the universal mid-race signal for, “I’m suffering, too, but we’ve got this!”

11. Water station strategy:

Avoid the rush for the first water bottle. Everyone aims for this – we are not here for a water fight! Head further down the line and pick up your water there. You’ve less chance of being elbowed in the face! 

12. Every marathon is a chance to learn:

Every race teaches you something new about yourself. Even your toughest run reminds you of your resilience.

13. Smile you’re on camera:

You’ll learn that race photos can be both hilarious and horrifying. But hey, you’ll have some great throwback Thursday material.

14. You’re stronger than you think

No matter how many marathons you’ve conquered, each finish line is a reminder that you’re capable of more than you ever thought. The joy of seeing the finish line is unparalleled.

15. “Never again” is a lie

Many marathoners say “never again” but keep coming back for more. Treasure the journey, savour the ups and downs, and keep running.

26.2 miles of fun!

Most importantly, remember that it’s just 26.2 miles of pure, exhausting fun! Crossing that finish line is a huge achievement, regardless of your time. Don’t let anyone convince you that marathons become easier with experience; they don’t—and that’s the beauty of them.