Thinking About Running Your First Marathon This Fall?

Marathons are gaining popularity, and more runners than ever are starting to wonder: Could I do that?

If training for and running a marathon has crossed your mind — but you’re not sure if you’re ready for the distance or where to even start — this is for you.

So… you think you want to run a marathon?

Before you commit, here are a few important questions to ask yourself:

• Have you been running somewhat consistently for at least a year?(I don’t recommend a complete beginner go for a marathon in their first year of running.)

• Do you have the time and availability to train?Marathon training often requires:

  • at least 3 days per week of running (often around an hour-90 minutes, depending on your pace)

  • plus one longer run on the weekend, which can build up to 2–4+ hours

  Are there any schedule changes or sacrifices you’d need to make to realistically support that?

• Are you currently strength training?Strength work plays a huge role in staying healthy through higher mileage.

• Do you actually want to run the distance — or do you feel like you “should” because everyone else is doing it?

If you answered yes to most (or all) of these, you just might be ready to tackle the challenge.

What Can You Start Doing Today to Prepare?

If you’re eyeing a fall marathon as early as September, that gives you about 6 months to prepare — which is a great amount of time to build your base and set yourself up for success.

Here are a few things you can start doing right now:

1. Run consistently

Consistency is the foundation of marathon training.A strong base will help prepare your cardiovascular system for the demands ahead — and make the training block feel much more manageable.

2. Strength train (or start now)

If you aren’t already strength training, now is the perfect time to begin.

Waiting until marathon training starts to incorporate strength work is often too late — because by then, your body is already dealing with increased mileage.

Start building running-specific strength now so your muscles, tendons, and joints can handle the extra load later.

3. Dial in fueling + nutrition

Marathon training takes a big toll on your body, and you need to fuel well to perform well.

Start practicing now:

• intra-run carbs (fuel)

• sodium

• hydration

That way, it won’t feel like a shock to your system once training ramps up.

Also make sure you’re getting enough carbohydrates before and after runs and workouts to support recovery.

4. Slowly increase your long run and overall mileage

Start increasing your mileage gradually now so that marathon training feels like a progression — not a massive jump.

A simple starting goal:Increase your weekly mileage by 1–3 miles per week, spread out over multiple run days.

Marathon training can feel scary and overwhelming… but it doesn’t have to be. It can be a really fun and meaningful journey — you just have to prepare the right way.

If you feel like you’d benefit from a more personalized approach, don’t hesitate to reach out. We can talk about how to make the transition to marathon training work for you. You don’t have to do it alone.