Today is a Free Topic.

When you are training for a marathon, is there anything else to talk about?

When I ran the NYC Marathon in 2019, it was my first marathon.

I said I was ONE and DONE!!

And I meant it (at the time…)

I mean (besides the training miles and the last 6 miles of the race), I really enjoyed the experience.  And it was practically perfect.

• I loosely followed a training plan but got those long runs done.
• I got support on those runs from my running friends.
• Due to my job, I had free hotel rooms for race weekend.
• I shared the NYC marathon experience with friends (Lacey, my roommate and Cari, fellow blogger.)
• My tennis friends came down and cheered me on (at mile 18).
• The weather was PERFECT!!
• I met my finish time goal (in daylight and under 5:30).
• I felt fine after the race (zero pain.)

I explained my reasons for repeating this experience in 2023: https://wp.me/pel7R-i3n and https://wp.me/pel7R-i3Y

Did the race turn out differently the second time around?

You bet!

I went into the race knowing the challenges:

• I was four years older.
• I hadn’t completed as many long races as I used to due to breaking my foot in February.
• Most of my local running friends were not running the race until 2024.
• My poor feet!! Since then, I had painful bunion, neuroma and hammertoe issues.

And the advantages:

• I had qualified already for 2024 so I could do it again and make amends.
• I was much more relaxed regarding the logistics of the race.
• I was mostly working from home so  better able to fit in my weekday runs.
• I had been doing strength training several times a week thanks to my gym membership.
• I followed the Higdon Novice 1 Plan almost to a T.
• I was more confident in my ability to finish 26.2 miles.

So what happened?

Calf cramps had me walking the last 16 miles!!!

IOW, anything can happen on race day… no matter how prepared you feel.

So how is the third time different?

• My training is much more relaxed… (I am only focusing on getting those 14, 16, 18 & 20 milers completed)

• I have zero expectations on a good finish time.
• I am training and running it with friends.

• We’re staying near the ferry (so a later wake up time and less wait time).
• Although yes, I already qualified for 2025, I only plan to go and support friends. I will not run it.  So this one needs to be FUN!!

Happy Running! Have you run the same full or half marathon more than once? If so, was there anything you did differently? Please share.

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Since today is Tuesday, I’m linking up with Zenaida (The Running Teacher) and Jenn (Runs with Pugs).

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and tomorrow:

I’m also linking up with: co-hosts Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, and Runs with Pugs

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