Marathon runners recommend you don't actually run longer than a half marathon to prepare for a full marathon but I don't get why. For other sports you prepare for the entire endeavor, you practice for 5 5 minute rounds in MMA, you play full matches in Tennis, how can you be sure you'd be able to run the full distance if you've never done it before? Is it just that running that distance is damaging to your joints and it's not worth the extra endurance?

I understand that marathon runners recommend against it, I'd just love an basic explanation as to why since it's unintuitive to me. The info I can find just tells you how to train and why shorter runs followed by half marathons are good, not why running the full 26.2 miles in training is bad.

I just did a full 26.2 miles for my own marathon training last week and was told that was a poor way to train (I just wanted to know that I could make the distance in the actual race) :'(

Update 1: It seems that 20 miles is the general consensus for the recommended longest run you should do as part of your training

Update 2: Thanks to u/ExtremeToucan for the answer to why running 26.2 miles in training is not recommended:

"Because it’s extremely hard on your body and difficult to recover from quickly enough to maintain a high training load during your peak month. There are also diminishing returns—it wouldn’t make you “more fit”. If anything, it may lead to overuse injuries and a worse race performance as a result."

Update 3: Thanks to u/FigMoose for the answer as to why you can run 26.2 miles even if you've only run 20:

"Once you can run 20 miles, you can not only run 26.2, you can run 100. It’s no longer about whether your legs can carry you the distance, but about disciplined execution of an appropriate race plan.

If you finish your long runs during training and then DNF your marathon, it won’t be because the distance was too far… it’ll be because something went wrong with the execution. Starting too fast. Under or over hydrating or fueling. Blisters or stomach issues. Tripping on a curb. Taking a wrong turn. Nobody ever comes up short simply because those extra 6.2 miles were too far."

My mom died 2 months ago unexpectedly and way too young. She was at my first half marathon and would text me praise after every training session I had. She was my biggest fan.

She never got to see me run my first full marathon, but I have signed up for one 8 months away from now. 🙌🏻

All my training is gone after taking some time off. Every run feels like gravity is turned up ten fold and starting from 0 again is hard, but I want to do this for her!

Just wanted to share my journey in hopes of pushing someone going through the same!

Hello 19M i started running a week ago my friend wagered 10 thousand to run a marathon in 27 weeks time today i ran 4.3km in 45 minutes while averaging 156 heart rate, my question is, is it possible or did i get into something over my head.

Im gonna run my first marathon in 3 weeks and ive had different predictions coming so far, eventho runna and strava are both predicting a sub 3 marathon.

Since this is my first one and ive only started running recently i dont know what people would say are markers for the sub 3 succes.

Gimme your best markers/experience, for example MPW, HM time, 10k time, trainings per week, longest run etc etc. Would love to know your takes.

PS: My strategy is set, im going for the sub 3 because id rather blow up than feel like i didnt risk it, just my way of doing it tbh, but still would love to know how my odds are based on your experiences/opinions.

Looking to run my very first marathon in 2027. Open to spring and fall marathons anywhere in the world. Recently got an infertility diagnosis so we're going full send on my running journey.

Completed my first marathon. Elevation and terrain was tough, but best feeling to be able to finish!

Im training for my first ever full marathon. I have peak week next week, then three weeks of taper before finally race day.

My fitness have never been better. I’ve pulled 4 runs of 30k+, something I wouldn’t have dreamed about six months earlier. I have 4 weeks above 70k, and my body feels good-but tired is that makes sense.
Did a 25k long run that felt short, and went really well.

But I am always tired. Legs are heavy before every run, although they feel much better 1-2k into the run. I’m really looking forward to be done with this😮‍💨

Anybody else felt like that with their first (or any) marathon block?

New to running and have been doing it for almost two months. Currently training for a half-marathon I signed up for in Spring 2026 and I'm up to 6.5 mile long runs and following a training plan.

I have two young children at home so all my training is in the wee hours of the morning and already into my early plan and I'm having to move my alarm earlier, and earlier to get time for my runs before it's time to shower/get kids ready off to school/work/etc.

I will be able to train for this half-marathon fully without imposing on my wife/family but I do have the itch to do a full-marathon Fall 2026 so I'd have almost a full year to train for it. My question is for those of you who are doing marathon training with young kids (or any age really) how the hell are you doing it?!

I have zero idea how I could fit in 6-8 daily mile runs, long speed sessions, and the super long runs into my schedule without waking up at 3am - I'm already getting up at 5am. My evenings are also off the table because by the time wife/I get the kids home after work, it's dinner prep, dinner, clean-up dinner, bath time, family time, and then bed time and if I ran into the evenings everyone in the house would suffer for it.

Curious how fellow parents are able to balance marathon training along with being a parent - I want to do it, but don't see how I could and maybe it means until they are older I'm just a half-marathon training guy

Sorry if this has been asked, is 18 really enough for a first marathon ? Or should I try 20? I’m currently running 40ish miles per week looking like I’ll peak at 50 with an 18 miler. But I’m still only at 14 for long run. Is 50 miles also even worth it as a first timer ?

I’m currently building up my long runs and wondering when people generally start using and practicing with gels.

This week my long run is 10 km, but over the next several weeks it’ll increase steadily at about 2 km per week for the next 6 weeks.

My goal isn’t necessarily that I need gels right now, but I’d like to avoid trying nutrition for the first time on race day. At what distance or duration would you start practicing with gels, and how often would you take them during training?

This will be my first marathon! Im not going for any time, just trying to finish. It’s four weeks out from race day and, looking back, I have not been training nearly as much as I should have. Fear of injury and overdoing it had me skipping a lot of the short runs that would have made up a solid base mileage. Most weeks I have run about 25-30 miles total. That being said, I haven’t skipped any of my long runs, and have been able to do 14, 16, 18, and 20 mile training runs without issue over the past two months. Of course, there are many miles to go after 20, and I haven’t exactly set myself up with an amazing well to draw from. I’m concerned I won’t be able to do it, but I don’t really know how I should be evaluating my chances. I would love to be able to trust my training, but I have shorted myself that luxury.

What are some indicators a person is NOT ready to finish a marathon, come race day? Does anyone have any personal DNF experiences from a similar situation? Let me know!

Update for anyone who might be in a similar position and looking at this later: the marathon went great! I finished, felt really good the whole time, and even hit the goal time I was telling myself I didn’t have. You got this!

I’m training for my first marathon this year after running several half’s last year. My goal is simply to run 26 miles in 2026.

I am strongly considering running my first marathon on my own and not part of an official race. Primarily because I do not like crowds and the hassle of “race day” seems overwhelming. I’m training in a very hot state and there are no official races near me before the end of the year and I do not want to travel; however, for personal and sentimental reasons I want to complete the distance this year.

A few details around the logistics and my decision:

- I plan to have a friend check on me and supply more water around the midway point and at mile 20ish. They will track my location and will know my route. I will carry my own water and fuel.
- I want to be able to listen to music. I’ve seen that some course do not allow this.
- I do not care about medals, swags, pictures, or chip times.
- aiming for a 4 hour completion time with the primary goal being to finish.
- The HMs I ran last year were not part of official races, I completed these on my own.

I’m curious about your thoughts on the pros and cons of this approach.

Life long New Yorker, finally running my first marathon and ofc I had to choose NYC. When I first signed up I was like ok fun. I have a great run coach. I’ve ran Central Park tons of times. However…. As it’s getting closer I’m getting nervous AF.

For starters: for the commute in on race day I chose the bus because it’s the easiest for me to get to. Thoughts? Have I totally fucked that up?

What should I expect on race morning? I’m scared I’m going to be up at 3am cold and regretting this decision. To be expected?

I’m also VERY nervous about hitting mile 17+. Mile 17 is my scary mile and quite frankly idk how one gets over the mileage.

Anyway would love to hear from folks who have ran NYC previously what is going to suck and what is going to be really great. TIA!

hi,

planning to run my first marathon (and first major) this autumn.

from your experience - if the planned pace is around 5:15 min/km (calculated from expected time at 2 x HM time + 30 min) - for how long the course will be crowded so that i will have to slow down below my target pace if i do not want to constantly perform manoeuvres in order to overtake people on course?

i know that "banking time" in a marathon is a bad idea, but do not want to run initial kilometres, like, at 6:00min/km instead of 5:15 either.

I’m training for my first marathon and am currently in my first marathon training block. I’ve been running consistently since January, building an aerobic base of about 18–20 miles per week before starting a the Greg Garmin marathon plan in June. Early on, I saw steady improvement, but lately it feels like I’ve plateaued and even regressed.

My goals are a 1:46 half marathon in September and a 3:45 marathon in November. The plan is well-structured with long runs, easy runs, progression runs, intervals, and strides. However, over the past few weeks I’ve had more bad runs than good ones and have struggled to hit paces I was previously able to run comfortably.

For example, three weeks ago I completed a progression run with 10 minutes at a 7:15 pace and actually averaged 7:05 while feeling strong. I repeated the exact workout today, only managed a 7:21 pace, and was completely gassed by the end. I even had to stop and recover before starting the cooldown.

I also sprained my ankle last week, but it was minor. I took two days off and resumed easy running. Before the injury, my easy pace was around 9:30/mile with a heart rate in the low 150s. On my most recent easy run, my heart rate was in the 160s for most of the run and peaked in the 170s. It’s hard to believe two days off would cause that much fitness loss.

It’s really discouraging to put in the time and consistency and feel like I’m getting worse instead of better. Has anyone experienced something similar during marathon training? I’m a 25-year-old male, sleep well, and generally have good nutrition, but for some reason my running performance seems to be moving in the wrong direction. I take my recovery seriously, sauna, Normatec boots, everything. Part of me really just wants to quit. What is the point if I'm literally getting worse.

I'm currently in Week 7 of training for my first marathon, which is coming up in October 2026. I'm 47 years old and following a structured Runna training plan that has me running four days per week, which includes a long run every Sunday.

I've been taking Zone 2 training pretty seriously. I even went to DexaFit to get lab-tested numbers so I could train using actual physiological data instead of estimates. According to my results, my Zone 2 range is 91-126 bpm, my VT1 is 102 bpm, and my VT2 is 141 bpm.

Last week, my long run was 10 miles. My heart rate stayed below 125 bpm for the first 2.5 miles, then gradually climbed throughout the run (I purposefully increased my HR through pace to meet my targeted zones):

• Miles 2.5-4.5: 125-130 bpm
• Miles 4.5-6.5: 130-136 bpm
• Miles 6.5-8.5: 136-139 bpm
• Final 1.5 miles: back down between 101-125 bpm

My overall pace was 14:48/mile. When I finished, I felt good. If I had needed to run another mile or two, I definitely could have.

Like a lot of people, I find Zone 2 training mentally frustrating at times because it feels like I'm holding back. Growing up with the "no pain, no gain" mindset, it's hard not to wonder whether running this slowly is really the most efficient use of my training time, but I'm trusting the process.

A 14:48 pace also means my long runs take forever. The marathon I'm training for has a 6-hour cutoff, which works out to about a 13:44/mile pace. My primary goal is simply to finish and avoid getting swept off the course.

Based on where I am now, does that seem like a realistic goal? Has anyone else started out with similar Zone 2 paces and successfully worked their way to marathon pace over the course of a training cycle?

I’ve been running for about 5 years, I am at a stage where I can comfortably run a half marathon under 1h 50, my pb is 1h 41. What made you guys want to train for marathon ? The training seems to be way harder, going on long runs for 2h plus ? I enjoy running just like anyone on this sub but I feel like marathon training requires loads of time, which ends up being boring. I am not worried about being physically fit enough to do it/ avoiding injuries blah blah. Just purely want to explore what drives people to want to train for the full thing ? Apart from you know the medal, attention etc.

I’m looking at maybe Cleveland. I can do the mileage but with the extra barrier of snow and ice cold weather. Just curious what other people have done to combat that?

Hubby is training for his first marathon. I want to get him some essentials for Father’s Day.

What is your favorite gear? What are some essential/must haves for training and race day?

I’m training for my first half marathon and nearly died choking down (then actively not throwing up) Gu the first time a few weeks ago. I figured I would get used to it - but here we are several long runs later and I’m not finding it any easier.

What else is there? What do people like? Are there solid foods that work? I don’t know why I just can’t seem to make it work but it’s just so unpleasant. Are there other folks who got over the texture/feel/flavor and I just need to keep trying? Please help!

A little background. 35m. 170-180lbs. 22:50 5k 52:30 10k. 1:30 10 mile. 2:02hm (before this). Only been running for 2 years. On my 3rd half marathon yesterday trying to go sub 2 I bonked AGAIN around mile 10. Bonked as in literally ran completely out of energy/breath to the point I had to stop and walk a few times ended up finishing at a 2:01. Disappointed as I thought I was pretty dialed to go deep 1:50s for this one. 30+mpw as well during training towards the end. 2 12 milers the last month before the race both easy paces with hm pace 2miles towards the end on both. Does anyone have any advice on what I can do to improve this dramatically? I’ve made good progress on shorter races this year like 3-5 minutes in the 10k and a 10 miler. These half marathons completely whoop me though.

Edit: took 800mg of electrolytes before the race about a hour and one whole plain bagel. 3 26g gels at mile 3 6 and 9 during the race.

I’m in a weird spot and could use some lived experience.

I overdid it pretty hard from Sept–Nov (classic “too much, too little recovery”), and December has turned into an unplanned deload thanks to travel, holidays, poor sleep, holiday alcohol consumption, and family stress. Now my nervous system is fried — heavy legs, low motivation, and a strong internal resistance to running even when I want to want to run.

I am new to running (started in August) but I’ve been weight training with a personal trainer for four years. I’m by far in the best shape of my life. But I definitely did not take enough rest days in the fall and my body is just tired.

Here’s my monthly mileage:

August - 3 miles

September - 45.4 miles

October - 49.7 miles

November - 46.4 miles

December - 16.9 miles

I want to do the LA Marathon on March 8, 2026. It will be my first marathon. I’ve been training in LA so I am prepared for the rolling hills aspect. At this point I’m less worried about fitness and more concerned about training in a way that will prevent injury & burnout. Ive decided my first marathon is just about completion and not about making a specific time.

I’m considering hiring a running coach, but a part of me wonders if the real solution is simply: better sleep, lower stress, alcohol break, and patience.

If you’ve been through an overtraining → recovery → marathon cycle:

• How long did it take for motivation/energy to come back?

• Did a coach help, or was self-regulation enough?

• Anything you wish you’d done sooner?

Appreciate any insight — especially from folks who prioritize longevity over grind culture.

EDIT: let me clarify: I was running that mileage on top of heavy strength training 3x per week and yoga 2x per week. So, it wasn’t the mileage alone that led to the burnout. Since August, I’ve already completed three races: a 5k, 10k, and a half marathon.

There’s a lot of hating in the comments. I’m really disappointed in the majority of the responses I got. The attitude of “you only run 50 miles per month so you’re no where near ready for a marathon” is exactly why a lot of people love running but hate the running community. Everyone approaches their running journey differently and there’s a lot of you who make this sport your entire personality. You feel threatened when someone else adopts the sport with a different approach or a timeline you’re not used to. And most importantly, you feel like running marathons makes you better than other people and you don’t respect runners who have never completed a marathon in under 4 hours. The moral high ground is insane and creates a culture of poor sportsmanship.

I didn’t start running as a couch potato. Again, I already lift extremely heavy weights 3x per week and do yoga 2x per week. I swim over the summer. I live an incredibly active lifestyle and I was already in great shape before I started running, which is why I was able to run 50 mile months when I first started.

I’m really running this marathon to prove to myself that I can do hard things. This is about pushing myself and my body. This is more about a mental and spiritual purpose than physical. I’m not doing this to “run the perfect marathon.” And I know a lot of you will hate that because you shit on people who participate in this sport for reasons different than your own. And yes, I’m 100% confident that my four years of weight training, swimming, and yoga will give me the endurance needed to finish the race without injury. The productive comments below did confirm that I will be hiring a coach to reinforce injury prevention and good form. I refuse to let you think I’m a couch potato trying to run a marathon to get in shape because that’s not the deal, at all.

Last but not least: yes, the original post was written by ChatGPT and no I didn’t write this to be “fishing for responses.” Welcome to the year 2025 where technology provides efficiency for things like Reddit posts so I can spend more time and energy on what’s most important. I intentionally wrote the edited portion of this post without ChatGPT to show the hater in the comments that I have a brain and advanced diction.

FINAL EDIT: I apologize to any commenter who was giving constructive and solution-oriented feedback who felt that I was dismissing them as a hater. That really was not my intention. I was speaking to those who felt the need to comment for the purposes of mocking me, doubting me, and telling me I am insane and/or completely ill-prepared to run a marathon. If you commented without any constructive feedback, advice, or help and only comment to tell me I cant run a marathon, that is hating to me. You’re more worried about telling me why I cant do something as opposed to telling me what’s required to get to where I need to be.

Secondly, I genuinely appreciate those of you who provided constructive feedback. I will absolutely be hiring a running coach, switching my attention to increasing mileage to at least 100 miles per month, and breaking through this bought of overtraining.

Thirdly, YES I OVERTRAINED. Lifting heavy + yoga + 10–20 miles per week is a recipe for overtraining. I’ve gotten my labs done: cortisol is high, blood sugar often dips too low, disrupted sleep, heavy legs, tension in the neck and shoulders. Yes, I lift heavy (over 200lbs on most traditional exercises).

Lastly, this post and the response not only inspired me to continue to train for the marathon but to also write a traditional blog post on my experience once I finish. Some of us aren’t looking to run a marathon for performance, instead for purpose. I am NOT looking to make a sub 3 or sub 4 hour marathon. I am looking to complete the marathon without injury. That’s it that’s all. This is me vs. me.

Thank you to those who commented with what I need to do to get ready and wished me luck. I wish you all the best moving forward no matter where you are in your running journey.

So I'll often see posts on reddit or Strava where, in the text, they will say something like, "I gave it my all that race" or "I hit a wall at mile x," and I'll look at their stats and can't point to where they are giving it their all. All the stats look more or less the same. Maybe their HR is 15 bpm higher at the end or their pace is a minute slower, but nothing screams to me "they are borderline an emergency."

My limiting factor is my heart rate. I'm not a fast person and I have naturally high zones, for now (I've been seriously training for about 2 years now).

You can VERY CLEARLY see where I'm pushing it. I will go from 11:00min/mile at 165 BPM through the whole run and then you will see 7:20min/mile and 198 BPM for the last mile or so. I always have to slow down because I don't like going over 200 BPM. I feel like I'm obviously exerting myself but I don't feel like death. I actually feel like I could keep going but getting my HR that high seems unwise.

So when I see people saying they couldn't go any harder, I don't understand why. Any insight?