Running a marathon is a bucket list activity for many people. But that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone—even if you consider yourself a runner. Before running a marathon for the first time, you need to know two things:
- Running a marathon is a serious undertaking.
- Running a Marathon for the first time is a SUPER serious undertaking.
So before you sign up for your novice marathon, you really need to know what you’re getting in to. Make sure that the goal is achievable and healthy before you plunk down your hard-earned cash (or type in those credit card digits) to secure your race registration.
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There are five major considerations you should think about before you decide that running a marathon for the first time is really what you want to do:
- Understanding what a marathon training plan is all about
- Your current fitness level & your body’s needs
- The cost of running a marathon
- The time it takes to train for a marathon
- Finding a marathon support group
1. Be honest about your base fitness level and the time frame in which you want to run a marathon.
Is your marathon goal realistic based on your current running experience? Many injuries result from overuse or trying to do too much too soon. Be realistic with how long you need to prepare your body so you can get to the starting line in full strength.
Most beginner marathon training plans are built around a five month build-up. But before that five months, there is an assumption that you are already running at least 15 miles a week. If you are absolutely starting from scratch, giving yourself a year to run your first marathon is a body-wise choice.
Choosing the right training plan to get you to the starting line injury-free and ready to tackle 26.2 is the first significant step. Knowing how much you want to run and how much you want to cross-train will inform your decision.
How to choose a marathon training plan can help you determine which training plan is right for your goal, capabilities, interests, and timeline.
If you realize that maybe you need a little more time before tackling a marathon, check out these running books for beginners that will help you build up your mileage safely.
2. Is running a marathon for the first time the best thing for your body right now?
Given your current health and fitness level, running a marathon may not actually be good for you! And depending on your phase of life, distance running may actually work against your body and its natural physiology.
There are three conditions when training for a marathon may NOT be the right thing for you.
- Injuries
- Hormone imbalance
- Weather sensitive
Do you have any injuries?
If you are injured right now, it is best to focus on recovering from your injury fully before thinking about undertaking a months-long marathon training cycle. And depending on the type and severity of your injury, it is worth evaluating whether or not a marathon will ever be the right thing for your body. Getting physician clearance before signing up for your first marathon is always a good idea.
Are you in perimenopause?
If you’re a woman 40-50, long distance running may not be what’s best for your body. Distance running creates chronic stress in your body. The stress response your body generates from distance running may exacerbate other unpleasant symptoms related to perimenopause.
It is wise to assess your life and be honest about other sources of stress in your life. If you are struggling with hot flashes or weight gain around the belly, your cortisol levels are likely already high. Adding distance running to your life may make those annoying symptoms of perimenopause even worse. Focusing on shorter distances and running faster will likely work better for your body during this phase of life.
(Not sure if you’re in perimenopause– click here to find out.)
Do you struggle with illness if you run in the heat/cold—when will the bulk of your training be?
Do you suffer from heat stroke when exercising outside in the summer? Or maybe you have exercised-induced cold urticaria. Either way, know how your body reacts to extreme temperatures, and choose a race whose training period best aligns with when your body likes to be outside.
Sure you can do all of your training on a treadmill, but I don’t recommend it. Not only is it dreadfully boring, but you don’t get the varied terrain that you’ll encounter during a road race. Understanding the pros and cons of indoor running vs outdoor running is important.
Running on the road develops small muscles in the lower leg and foot that are important for stabilization. These small muscles become even more important in the late stages of a marathon when the big muscles are tired and your form is compromised. If you have done the bulk of your training on a treadmill, you’ll likely suffer more in the late stages of the marathon.
3. The cost of the marathon entry fee is just the tip of the financial iceberg of running a marathon for the first time.
While you certainly don’t need all the fancy, gorgeous running clothes you see other runners wear, a good pair of shoes is a must. You’ll want at least two pairs of shoes for training and then a third pair of shoes to break in just before the race that you will wear on race day itself. Shoes alone will cost more than $300 over the course of one marathon training cycle.
Add in a few pairs of quality socks, and there’s another $50. Really, don’t cheap out on the socks. Get a good pair like these, and your feet will thank you.
- Hand-linked seamless toe closure; heel tab helps prevent the sock from slipping into your running shoe
(If you don’t choose to follow my advice, here is my best blister recovery protocol. Take care of your feet!)
There is also the cost of training nutrition and bigger grocery bills. You definitely will eat more when training for a marathon! Investing in a meal prep delivery service may be just what you need to meet your nutritional needs in less time.
Obviously, if you are travelling to a race you will have even more expenses. Understand what those are before you commit to the race. Expenses for transportation, lodging, and eating out all add up!
And let’s be honest: there is NO WAY you will run your first marathon and NOT buy the finish line photos. There goes another 50 bucks!
Have a realistic budget for your training period and the race itself. Knowing the costs of running a marathon for the first time before you commit to it can let you know if this is a good time to undertake such an expensive hobby.
4. Time is the biggest cost of training for a marathon. Do you really have the time in your schedule to devote to training?
So, just how can you fit marathoning in to your busy schedule? Be realistic about just how much time it takes to train safely.
Figure an hour a day during the week for your shorter runs, then up to three hours on a weekend day for your long run. (And don’t forget the afternoon nap after your long run!) Training for a marathon will mean shuffling around other priorities.
If you are trading in your weekly golf game to train for your first marathon, then you’re likely good to go. If you’ve never used weekend time for a hobby or personal development project, know that distance running takes a lot of time!
You’ll want to give some consideration to three parts of your life:
- work schedule
- family responsibilities
- volunteer committments
Work schedule
Do you have flexibility in your work schedule to allow for training runs at the time of day you run best? Will your work schedule have you running at a time that is safe for you? Both of these considerations will greatly influence your enjoyment of the months-long training process.
Can you get time off work around your scheduled race? It would be a shame to put in months of training only to get close to race day and find out you can’t get off work for the marathon.
Ensure your work schedule will accommodate your chosen race well before you spend the money to register. It may sound silly, but I know plenty of runners who put in months of training only to find out in the month before the race they couldn’t get away from work.
Family responsibilities
Will your training interfere with your family responsibilities like getting kids ready for school, cooking dinner, or driving soccer carpool on Saturday mornings? Having clear conversations with your family about who does what and when will allow you to schedule your training runs around your family obligations.
It is also useful to include your family in training run outings. Having them emotionally invested in your success will bolster their goodwill towards you when (not if, but when) you get cranky in the week before your race.
Volunteer commitments
Do you have ongoing volunteer commitments that might interfere with your training or race day? If so, give yourself time to consider how you can adjust so that you still meet your commitments while also getting in your training.
5. Because you are spending so much time, energy, and money to prepare yourself for the marathon, it is normal to become rather obsessed with the process.
Do you have support from family and friends to listen to your running triumphs and tribulations? If not, can you find a running group who will support your endless talk about running? While running a marathon for the first time is a significant personal accomplishment, it can create tensions in relationships if one person is not a runner and just doesn’t get why you want to do it.
It’s just the truth—runners love to talk about running. So if you don’t have family support to listen to your endless woes of how running your first marathon is changing your life, make sure you have a group of people who wants to rally around you.
Finding a running group can give you both training partners as well as supportive friends. While it can be restorative to do some runs by yourself, running your first marathon with the support of a training group is a good choice.
Running Your First Marathon: It’s The Best!
Running a marathon for the first time is one of the most exciting things you can do in your life. Even after twenty-plus years of marathoning, that first marathon is still special. Savor the experience by being well prepared before starting your training. Good luck, run safely, and enjoy the road!
Karen Shopoff Rooff is an ACE certified personal trainer and health coach with more than 20 years’ experience running marathons and ultramarathons. The Marathon Finish Line blog is for informational purposes. Please seek advice from a medical practitioner before engaging in a new fitness program.