running a marathon

Take a look at social media and you may think that running a marathon is all about wearing a matching set, Pure Sport socks, a huge pair of sunglasses and liberally applying leg roll-on. The Sunday coffee runs and pre-run dance videos may look cute, but I’m not going to sugarcoat it – marathon training is tough.

It’s about grit. It’s about determination. It’s about getting out of bed when you don’t want to, dragging yourself out for training runs on cold, dark mornings when your duvet / snooze button is calling your name. It’s about finding out who you truly are at mile 19 when your legs are screaming, your mind is questioning every life choice, and you still have 7.2 miles to go.

Social media is a highlight reel. You see the finish line moments, the medal shots, the post-race smiles. While those moments are real, they don’t tell the full story. So I’m here to tell you the truth – running a marathon is hard. Really hard. But, it will also be one of the best things you will ever do. I should know, I’ve run enough of them!

The hard truth about marathon training

Marathon training is not glamorous. It’s relentless. It takes months of dedication, early mornings, long runs that consume your weekends, and moments of self-doubt. There will be times when you wonder why on earth you signed up. There will be days when a short recovery run feels harder than a long run should. There will definitely be moments when your body aches in places you didn’t even know could ache. Worse, your feet will become unrecognisable and start to look like Monster Munch. Don’t even get me started on the toenails – you might lose a few along the way!

What social media doesn’t show you is the exhaustion that comes from balancing marathon training with work, family, and life. It doesn’t show you the sacrifices – skipping nights out, going to bed early on a Friday so you can wake up for a 6AM long run, or missing social events because you are too tired or your legs are too sore to move.

It doesn’t show the runs where you hit the dreaded “wall” even in training, where your legs turn to concrete, and your mind screams at you to stop. It doesn’t capture the blisters, the chafing, the stomach issues that have you sprinting for the nearest McDonalds loo mid-run.

marathon fatigue

The mental struggle of marathon running

Running a marathon isn’t just a physical challenge – it’s a mental battle. There are days when your motivation is nowhere to be found, when the idea of lacing up your shoes feels impossible. When you start doubting yourself, wondering if you’re even capable of running those 26.2 miles you signed up for.

The hardest part? No one else can do it for you. No amount of encouragement from friends or social media likes will get you through that final 10K on race day. It’s you versus you – and that’s where the real challenge lies.

Marathon training forces you to be disciplined, to push through discomfort, and to find strength when you feel like you have nothing left to give. It teaches you resilience in a way nothing else can.

Race day reality – It’s not all sunshine and cheers

On race day, the excitement is real. The start line energy, the crowds cheering, the first few miles where you feel unstoppable – it’s an adrenaline rush like no other. But what happens when the adrenaline wears off?

What social media doesn’t tell you is that those middle miles can feel never-ending. That your body will start to ache in ways you didn’t think possible. That your mind will play tricks on you, telling you that you can’t do it, that stopping would be easier.

Then comes “the wall.” For many runners, this hits around mile 20. Fuelling helps but sometimes the “wall” is mental. Suddenly, every step feels like a mountain to climb. Your legs are screaming, your energy is depleted, and the finish line still feels impossibly far away. This is the moment that defines a marathon runner – not the medal, not the Instagram post, but the willpower to keep going when you want to stop.

Push through this, and you’ll realise just how tough you really are. This is where you prove to yourself that you’re capable of more than you ever thought possible. You’ll never doubt your own strength again.

woman taking a selfie on a running race

The best thing you’ll ever do

Crossing that finish line is a feeling like nothing else. The sense of achievement, the pride, the overwhelming mix of emotions as you realise you actually did it. That feeling is worth every single early morning, every tired leg, every moment of doubt.

A marathon teaches you more than just how to run for 26.2 miles. It teaches you resilience, discipline, and just how strong you really are. It changes you in ways you never expected.

My advice? Do it anyway

If you’re considering running a marathon but are scared because it looks hard – good. That means you respect the challenge. But don’t let fear hold you back.

Train smart. Listen to your body. Accept that not every run will be perfect. Find joy in the training, even on the tough days. And when race day comes, embrace every moment, the highs, the lows, the crowds, the pain, and the triumph. Soak it in, because this is what you have spent months training for. 

Because yes, a marathon is hard. But it will also be one of the best, most unforgettable things you will ever do. Once you cross that finish line, you’ll understand why so many people do it again and again. Because despite the struggle, despite the pain (and the sheer exhaustion) – it’s worth every single step.

More running tips and marathon advice

If you found this post helpful, check out some of my other marathon training guides: