7 Marathon Training Myths

Hi all! How is it only Wednesday? As expected, this week is trudging along at a snails pace. Between exercising way less than I normally do and some pre-race jitters I am a ball of energy. Have I mentioned I’m running a marathon Sunday? Because I feel the need to bring it up in EVERY conversation. I’m really really really sorry, world. This will end soon.

… I haven’t taken any decent pictures all week so might as well use a cute one from San Francisco, right?

Tonight I met up with a crew of bloggers (Evann, Ashley, Amanda, Meaghan & honorary blogger Ashley) for a post work yoga class at Laughing Lotus and dinner at Sweetgreen. Everyone in attendance has run a marathon minus me. How freaken crazy is that? Another friend of mine has reminded me over and over again that working in the fitness world and being a fitness blogger I know an absurd number of marathoners. Because of this is sometimes feels like “no big deal”, but obviously it still is. It’s a marathon.

Yoga was perfect since I’m only allowed to do low-key workouts right now and it was great to be able to talk about marathon training with a knowledgeable group. Thank you for all the advice, ladies!

 

And awkward segue to… more marathon chit-chat! Having now survived 99% of marathon training, I can confidently say a lot of the things I feared didn’t come true. Exhibit A, my toenails are all looking good! I’m here to debunk some of the marathon training myths I heard and feared.

Myth #1 You will gain weight

Since I don’t own a scale or belong to a gym that has a scale, I rarely weigh myself. I stepped on a scale while I was home for the Jewish holidays in September and then again while I was in San Francisco. Why my hotel bathroom had a scale, I do not know. My weight was just about where it always is– it fluctuates by a few pounds depending on water weight and time of day.

Obviously my body has changed since I started marathon training, my focus has been on endurance and cardio instead of strength. As much as I preach positive body image, I was a little bit nervous about gaining weight because of the insane appetite that goes along with running. I think I’ve lost a tiny bit of muscle (haven’t done a fat test in a while) but nothing too shocking and all my jeans still fit. I just choose to wear yoga pants every day because I can 🙂

 

Myth #2 You will lose weight

I think it’s common knowledge by now that if you’re looking to lose weight, training for a marathon isn’t the fastest, most effective way. Let me put my personal trainer hat on for a second and recommend high intensity interval training, circuit style workouts, lifting heavy weights and eating foods with ingredients you can pronounce if weight loss is your goal.

Obviously I did not sign up for the marathon to lose weight, I’m at a healthy weight for my body and have never worked out with the interest of losing weight. Just pointing this out to manage expectations should you decide to train for a marathon for these misinformed reasons.

 

Myth #3: You will lose some toenails.

I won’t post a picture of my feet because that’s kind of gross, but if there was a contest for best toes + toenails  of soon-to-be marathoner, I would totally win. I’m happy to say all my toenails are intact and my pedicure still looks good enough for me to proudly show my toes in yoga class.

The guy that fit me for my sneakers back in July told me some people are just more prone to losing their toenails than others. I’ve never had an issue while training for a half and apparently lucked out this time around too. Watch after I say this my toenails will bite the dust Sunday…

 

Myth #4 You can’t take group fitness classes

I only run 3 days a week and was really adamant with my coach about keeping it this way as long as it was a safe approach. Many traditional plans call for a lot more running, but that just wouldn’t work for me. Running only 3 days a week meant I never felt burnt out on running– I had my long run, my mid-distance run and a fun day of hill training or intervals. My coach was also able to put together an incredible training schedule for me which incorporated all my favorite group fitness classes… and only 3 days a week of running.

It was a sad realization that I couldn’t take all the group fitness classes like I used, but I was still able to go to Uplift once a week plus take plenty of yoga, spin, pilates and Exceed classes in there as well. FitReserve has been perfect for me because it allows me. Honestly, I don’t think I would feel this calm and confident leading up to the marathon if it wasn’t thanks to FitReserve, Uplift, Exceed and IAMYOU. Those classes kept me strong and injury free!

Just because you’re training for a marathon doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite classes, you just have to be strategic and smart about it.

 

Myth #5 Your social life will suffer

My social life wasn’t that wild and crazy to begin with. I’ve been dating my boyfriend for 4+ years and rarely drink alcohol. Marathon training hasn’t been a huge damper on my social life, it just took some planning. The handful of times I did stay out late with friends on the weekends, I knew better than to schedule a long run for the next day. I also was really careful about planning anything too crazy the evening after my long runs.

Much of my social life and bonding time with friends revolves around getting dinner after work together. Marathon training didn’t ruin that at all so I was still able to get in quality time with my good friends.

 

Myth #6 Your relationship will suffer

Like I said, Jeremy and I have been together for over 4 years. Our relationship is somewhat long distance because he lives an hour away so most of our time together is on weekends in the city. Marathon training hasn’t put too much of a strain on our relationship and he’s been super understanding.

The biggest change has been eating pasta on Friday nights instead of Indian so I can avoid dairy. I do my long runs early in the morning Saturday and always got home with more than enough time for brunch. I’m grateful to have him as a support system, he would send me text messages of encouragement during my long runs and he was here to take care of me after I had my super shitty 20 miler.

 

Myth #7 You have to be a fast runner

People always surprised to find out that not only am I a slow runner, I’m a really slow runner. Strength training is my speciality, friends. Is it going to take me upwards of 5 hours to complete this course? You bet. Did I sometimes spend 4 hours on my weekend long runs? Yup yup. But whatever. I’m not doing this to break a record or even end up in the New York Times marathon results (although that would be cool). I’m doing this to run a marathon, even if it takes me forever. Slow runners can absolutely run a marathon too. It just will take us a bit longer 🙂