After finishing my twenty-mile run, I realized how much of a struggle it is to train for a marathon. They say you never feel the same after running a marathon, and it’s true. I felt like I could accomplish anything after running twenty miles and can’t wait to accomplish twenty-six! I look at running differently now that I’ve gone way over my head and exceeded my previous longest run of nine miles. I love the feel of training and am looking forward to my tapering, but I’ve learned there are also new struggles with the longer distances.
- Thought you understood blisters? Think again.
I used to get blisters when I started running, but they have turned into callouses that toughen my feet. I haven’t gotten blisters since, that is until I started training for the marathon. Blisters will find a way to appear around your callouses and in new places that have never shown blisters. Your callouses don’t protect you from them anymore. They say it’s because your shoes don’t fit, but I’ve had my shoes fitted at the store. The blisters will find you when you least expect it.
2. Avoiding blisters creates blood blisters.
I remember a teammate telling me that if I left the blisters alone, they would just turn into callouses. Wrong. In my experience, they turn into blood blisters, which hurts more and looks worse, if that’s possible. Running really does cause sweat, blood, and tears.
3. Chafing seems unavoidable.
I’ve never chafed while running until I started running over nine miles. I chafe in leggings and in shorts if I’m not careful. I learned that if you put deodorant or glide gel on your legs before a run, you will most likely not chafe. Let me just say that deodorant/glide gel is a life saver because chafing in the middle of a twenty-mile run does not help the time pass by.
4. Toenails can turn black and fall off with the wrong-sized shoes.
My mom told me about the times she’s lost multiple toe nails to marathons over the years. I didn’t know that was a real possibility until I noticed after my first twelve mile run that my toe hurt. The next day, my toe nail actually turned black! I have since painted over it to at least make my feet look less hideous with the callouses and blisters and such. If one of your toe nails turns black, it’s because your shoes are a half size too small. I didn’t think my shoes were too snug until this run, and maybe I move more in my shoes with longer distances. Who knows! I got half-size bigger shoes just in case.
5. Watch out for those sunburns!
That’s right, longer runs means longer time in the sun. It totally passed my mind to wear sunscreen until I finished the run and noticed my face felt hot. Now I have a nice tan line from my tank top and shorts! At least I know for future reference to wear sun screen when I’m out in the sun for a run that could last more than an hour.
6. Hip pain.
This is a new struggle I had to deal with in these longer runs. My mom warned me it would happen, but I didn’t think that would be a big deal because I thought I stretched plenty. No stretching in the world will save you from hip pain when it comes to runs that are over thirteen miles. I wished I followed my mom’s advice and carried Advil with me on the run.
7. Pain is everywhere.
Hip pain comes with a lot of other pain you’ll experience during training. Maybe I’m just recovering from the flu, but I noticed my legs were hurting after mile fourteen. That might be from exhaustion or dehydration, both very possible with long runs. It was also mentally tough to continue and finish with my legs and hips hurting. The pain doesn’t stop there. Once you finish those twenty miles, your legs will continue to hurt as you walk, sit, and stretch. I had to take Advil before bed to get the pain to subside.
8. Losing money to infinite meals.
My appetite has increased greatly with my training. I’ve burned 1500+ calories from running twenty miles; that’s almost three whole meals! So don’t judge me if I have two lunches and two dinners, because I need the calorie intake. This also means I get hungry when my college dining halls aren’t open, so I have to go buy food to appease my appetite; making me a poorer college student unfortunately.
9. Losing time to infinite runs.
My mom also told me training for a marathon is like having a part time job. She was definitely right. With eighteen hours of classes and internships and two jobs on campus, I’m adding 6+ hours of running to the week. I will feel my load lighten once I finish the marathon, but I like a challenge.
10. Feeling like you could sleep for twenty years.
I’m obviously exaggerating, but I can have multiple naps in the day and still want my ten hours of sleep a night. After a run, you feel great, energized and accomplished, but once you’re all settled, exhaustion hits you like a slap in the face. It makes sense since I did run for almost three hours straight. Also a judgement-free zone when it comes to sleeping for most hours of the day (besides eating and running of course).
11. The amount of laundry is endless.
I go through so much laundry since I run practically every day of the week. That doesn’t include the clothes I lift weights in and the clothes I wear to class. I’m going through Tide pods and dryer sheets like hot pockets! I might start a GoFundMe for a college student training for a marathon, then maybe I won’t complain as much.
12. Long trips for long runs.
Another money spender: gas! Thankfully my teammates and I take turns driving to trails, but the money adds up! I do love a good trail, if only my little college town had options! There are only so many trails that go out ten to twenty miles; you have to make the trip if you aren’t lucky enough to have them nearby. Soon, I won’t have to drive to the trails anymore since the marathon is right around the corner and tapering has begun!
13. Losing your social skills due to your early bed time.
Nothing like a good morning run to get you out of any social events! I used to train every morning at 6:15 AM, and let me tell you, my bed time was never past 9:30PM. Those were the days (not really).
I’m sure there are several more struggles with marathon training, but I don’t have time to write a novel; I have a marathon to train for!
