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Nervous for my First Marathon!

ginalclark
ginalclark Posts: 35
edited December 18 in Social Groups
HI everyone! It's my very first full marathon and race I've ever done on this Sunday, May 6th! I am extremely anxious for it and would just love to hear some encouragement on getting through it. I am super slow as I estimated my time to be 6.5 hours and I hope to even do that. My husband thinks I will beat that but honestly I just want to finish. I am a walker/jogger. I just started training and doing exercise the beginning of January. We drove the course on Sunday and it seems so long in the car. haha I have run the last part of it during training, which was nice. Just trying to calm myself down some! Thanks for listening! :)

Replies

  • kelzz193
    kelzz193 Posts: 120 Member
    Gina- YOU ARE GOING TO DO GREAT!!!!!!! Do not focus on time, just focus on finishing! You can do this, you've done the training, now enjoy the journey :)
  • rachel5576
    rachel5576 Posts: 429 Member
    People said this to me but i didn't listen and wish i did, dont worry about your time for your first marathon. Just go and have fun. Enjoy yourself! there are just too many factors that can affect your time.
  • ginalclark
    ginalclark Posts: 35
    Thank you ladies! Makes me feel better to hear not to worry about time because I am already super slow and feel bad about it. Most importantly, I do want to finish no matter what! Thank you again! The encouragement really helps me! :)
  • kelzz193
    kelzz193 Posts: 120 Member
    You must remember "the race in long & in the end it is only with yourself"! Running that marathon is going to take you places physically and mentally you have never dreamed you could go. You will get through each dark spot and come out stronger for it! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • DaveC29
    DaveC29 Posts: 232 Member
    Keep a slow pace in the beginning, middle and end. if you start too fast, you will be really slow and hurting on the back end. I ran a half marathon last weekend and started off a full minute and a half quicker than the pace I had trained for- all excitement and adrenaline. Had to really force myself to slow down! I finished right on pace and had no problem!

    Trust your training and stick with it- enjoy the day!

    Remember its a Marathon... not a sprint! Good luck!
  • ginalclark
    ginalclark Posts: 35
    Thank you guys! Slow and steady wins the race! haha Keep that motto going in my head all the time! :) I also have to remember to breathe! :)
  • kevin3344
    kevin3344 Posts: 702 Member
    I think the number one advice you'll receive is "don't go out too fast". Someone told me if it feels almost too slow at first, that's about right. I split my marathon into 2 and just used the first half as a warmup. My partner thought "wow this feels great" at mile 13-16....it was then that he realized it was a marathon not a sprint! At mile 20 he was panting and at mile 22 my foot almost fell asleep from my shoe being too tight haha...and I had to take off my shoe and stretch.

    Overall, we finished quite well at 4:11 or so. If I could do it over I'd have more gels earlier in the race...and I think we did the right thing by walking through the water/gatorade stops. Our first half was under 2 hrs a bit too fast for us.

    The first half will feel almost too easy, but have in the back of your mind this will be tough. I think at mile 24 it was when I realized I'm either going to quit or I'm going to finish, and I've come too far to quit. Once you see the finish line it will all be worth it. And you'll have something no one can ever take away from you, that you've done "26.2".
  • oyer107
    oyer107 Posts: 1
    Best advice I can give is carbs, carbs and carbs. I'm doing the Flying Pig full in Cincinnati Sunday and started loading Monday. Good luck you'll do great.
  • Kubiastic
    Kubiastic Posts: 20
    Have Fun! I stopped and drank a brewski from a cheerer when I ran the Houston marathon on mile 22.
  • ginalclark
    ginalclark Posts: 35
    Thanks guys!! Believe me, I will be slow! I'm hoping even going slow will help my body accomplish the feat! :) I have been starting to carbo load starting today so I am not over doing it but hoping to get enough in. I like the idea of a beer towards the end so I won't feel the pain so much! haha Good Luck on your marathon oyer 107! You're going to do great too! :)
  • Still_Fluffy
    Still_Fluffy Posts: 341 Member
    I have my 3rd marathon in 2 weeks. Here what I learned from my first 2:

    !) Slow is smooth and smooth is fast
    2)Watch your walk breaks, time them so you don't walk too long
    3) Look ahead of you for someone you think your faster then, then slowly work at over taking them
    4) Double knot your laces
    5) When drinking water, pinch the center of the cup lip so the water only has a smll hole to come through
    6) Every so othen look behind you to see all the people your fatser then
    7) Shake out your arms every mile

    If you done your training you can finish the race. Good Luck.
  • ginalclark
    ginalclark Posts: 35
    Thank you! All of you have given me some really great advice and makes me feel a little less anxious! I really appreciate it!! hohner, have a really great 3rd marathon!! I loved your number 6 advice!! :)
  • arc918
    arc918 Posts: 2,037 Member
    Remember to have fun!
  • ginalclark
    ginalclark Posts: 35
    Yes, I have to have fun!! Take it all in and maybe talk with some fellow runners along my way. :)
  • DaveC29
    DaveC29 Posts: 232 Member
    And don't forget to come back here and tell us all about it! It will be awesome!!
  • ginalclark
    ginalclark Posts: 35
    I promise to come and tell my journey with you all!! Thank you again for your support and advice! :)
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