What to Expect During Marathon Race

Video Transcript

"I’m Turner an I’m here to talk about what happens during a marathon race. What to expect during the race. Now you’ve heard the gun and you’ve probably started a staggered start. There’s one pace group in front of you and probably another pace group behind you. Depending on how fast you think you’re gonna start this race. Start out running your pace. It cannot be simpler than that. If you want to run a marathon in 3 hours ten minutes, run it a 7:15 pace. Do not run it any faster than that. The marathon is one time when your pace should be absolutely consistent across the board. So, first 5 miles should not be too bad, just run it like you’re running a 10k or something like that. Don’t think too hard about it just keep going your pace. After you’ve gonna bout 8-10 miles, I’d recommend getting some water. Not before then. You should’ve been hydrated before hand and if you haven’t been any water is just going to keep you bloated and take away from your energy. So some water about 8 miles 10 miles or so, you might even be able to do it at 7. So all those people that are stopping at the water stops, they aren’t running their race. After the half marathon, you feel safe taking some energy drink, some PowerAde or Gatorade or whatever they’re dispensing along the sidelines. I know is a huge sugar rush and yes, you will feel drained for a second, but yes, your body needs those electrolytes. If they have electrolyte infused water that they’re giving away, or you take some with you, take that, but chances are you need to take whatever they are giving in those little cups along the side of the race. So bottom line at about half marathon distance, get some electrolytes in your system. At about 15 miles or so, you’re still running your pace, you’re feeling a little worn down but you know you can keep going. This is when I would recommend getting one of those goo bags, energy goos something like that, whatever you want to use, test em out before hand see what you want. Bottom line you cannot run a marathon without building your electrolytes and getting these little energy packets. You’d have to be a really really strong runner, but even then you’re going to get hungry and going to get weak. The biggest thing going through my head during my first marathon was one foot in front of the other. Keep doing it again and again. Do whatever it takes. Find a pace leader. They usually have pace leaders during a marathon. Find a pace leader and see if you can keep up with them. Am I running this guys pace. Can I run a little behind him and keep my pace. Find someone that you know running during the marathon and keep with him. Whatever works. After about 20 miles, you will hit the wall. What is the wall? The wall is the term used by marathon runners to describe when you absolutely break down. When your legs scream at you to stop, your body screams at you to stop. The only thing that’s keeping your legs moving forward is just your will. All those people on the sidelines screaming at you, you’re almost there, They do not know what they are talking about. They will discourage you. They will make you angry. Anger is good, you can use that. Also at 20 miles, I’d recommend getting another little energy snack. You’ll definitely need it. You can get Gatorade or some electrolytes or PowerAde or whatever you can get at this point, because you’re body is going to know what it needs. And it’s going to be draining every cell of every bit of protein, every bit of oxygen, water, electrolytes, energy and anything that’s left in your system. And its going to feel like that at about mile 20 and 21. After 20-22 miles or so, You are feeling worn down, you are feeling like you’re breaking your pace. That’s ok, just keep running. Walk if you have to. Walk and if you know you can pick it up after that, do it. But really, the hardest miles are between 20 and 26.2, the last ten kilometers. If you can make it into the finish then you’ve got it covered. "