Number Two :: A hydration belt
On your longer runs the last thing you want to do is carry around bottle of water, but believe me you are going to need water. For some silly reason I put off this purchase for to long and was trying to carry my water with me. Half filled water bottles in your hand will drive you nuts for seven miles. I even tried to use a camelback that I had which ended in a call to Dustin to pick me up because the straps of the bag were rubbing my on my shoulders and I started to bleed.
A good hydration belt will get you through your long runs. Look for is a hydration belt with a pocket to hold you other fuel - such as gels or gummy bears. On your long runs those are going to be your go to! I love the Nathan Trail Mix Hydration belt because there is a zipper pocket which can hold your phone and also rubber chords along the side to hold your gels.
3 :: Be prepared to say no, a lot
Running is going to consume many of your hours. Friends and family are going to ask you to hang out on Friday night but you have a long run the next morning and will need your rest. Don't feel bad about saying no even when they tease you {and they will tease you}. Just know that it is only temporary and you will be so glad the next say when you are out there running with clarity and not exhausted from the previous nights shenanigans.
4 :: Find some good music to keep you going, but also run without the tunes
With out tunes?!? Did I just say that? Yes indeed because a time may come when you are seven miles from home and your phone dies. There you will be in silence and you will have to navigate your way back by the sound of your breathe and the thoughts in your head. Before you get to that moment take some runs without your music and soak in the silence. You will be surprised that you can actually run without music.
However, stack up your playlist with some songs to keep you going. You are inevitably going to encounter hills and that song may be the only thing that helps you get to the top. Find what works for you and turn it up.
5 :: Add hills into your training
They will feel torturous as you try to climb them but you will be thanking those hills on race day for the strength they have given you. Me and Airmount {the hill I usually climb} are not friends at all but it is that beast who has made me strong, even when I first running up it at a snails pace.
6 :: Running is a practice and your only job is to keep showing up
There are no perfect runs or a strict recipe to have the best run ever. Some days you will feel amazing and other days just two miles will feel like torture. All you need to do is keep showing up and putting one foot in front of the other. Do not let the rough times get you down and celebrate the ones that feel great.
7 :: Find a schedule and stick to it, you will be glad you did
Having a schedule will help you stay on track. Unless you have ran a marathon before you will most likely be like me and have no idea where to even start. So seek out a schedule, pin it to your wall, and make sure it fits the days that work for you. You want to set yourself up for success. On the weekends you will be doing one long run . . . if Saturday isn't a good day for you to do that then shift the entire schedule so that it lands on Sunday. It will be so much easier for you to stick to when it works for you.
8 :: You are so much stronger than you think you are
As you begin to train you will start to rack up miles that you didn't ever think you could run. When I first started training running three miles was tough. Then somehow I was running five, seven, ten. It was incredible. The training schedule helps you ease into it and you begin to see that you are so much stronger than you ever thought you were. Be proud of yourself and celebrate the milestones when you hit them.
9 :: Visualize the cheers, it will help get you through
There are going to be times when you are dragging and you won't even want to take one more step. Visualize your friends and family cheering for you up ahead and you will be amazed how much motivation it brings you.
Another thing I do, that I can't actually recommend because it is dangerous ... is close my eyes. When I am running up a hill and struggling I close my eyes for a moment. For some reason it helps me make it up. But please, do this with extreme caution!
10 :: It's going to be challenging, but enjoy it
Training for a marathon is going to test you in ways that you didn't even realize. There will days when it is freezing or down pouring and you have to get out there and put in those miles. The hardest part is going to come in lacing up your sneakers and stepping out the door. Once you are out there you will be so glad that you got off the couch. Remember each mile you put in will make it easier for you come race day.
