Is Running a Marathon Hard?

Is running a marathon hard? Yes. Running a marathon is hard.

I suppose I could end the post here. But I doubt google would rank this very high if I did.

If you’ve googled “is running a marathon hard?” I am going to make an assumption about you.

Either you are this type of person: You have never run a marathon, you never plan on running a marathon, but you want to convince yourself that the people who do run them aren’t actually accomplishing much. Wrong. People who run marathons are badass. And we’ll talk about why.

Or you are this type of person: You are thinking about running a marathon and you want to know what you’re in for. I like you. You think running 26.2 miles is an option for you, and that is awesome. Running a marathon is hard, but you will be so freaking proud of yourself.

Whichever type of person you are (I hope you’re not the first. Don’t downplay peoples’ accomplishments, please), you should run a marathon. Absolutely. Do it. Find out for yourself why it’s so hard but also so rewarding.

About Me: I have run 7 marathons. I am not super fast but not super slow either. I have had some good marathons and some truly awful ones. I love running, I love writing about running, and I hope that I inspire even just one person to run or run more.

And I think that running a marathon is hard. Every time. Even when I’ve had good races.

Why Is Running a Marathon Hard?

Let me just list some reasons why running a marathon is hard.

The training counts in this too, by the way.

The absolute minimum amount of time someone runs to finish a marathon is 2ish hours. And that’s like the elite of the elite. The average amount of time it takes to finish a marathon is 4.5 hours. Does running for hours seem easy? No.
If you are a fast runner, running a marathon is hard. It’s very difficult to run at a fast pace for 26.2 miles.
If you are a slow runner, running a marathon is hard. It’s very difficult to be out there running for hours and hours.
The training takes months. I logged over 300 miles training for my most recent marathon. That’s a lot of time dedicated to running.
You burn around 100 calories per mile of running. That means you burn 2,600 calories during a marathon. It’s hard to consume enough nutrition during this long of a run, so your body ends up depleted aka you feel awful.
The last 6 miles can be horrendous. You’re out of energy, you’ve already been running for hours, and you just want to be done. It’s called “bonking” or “hitting the wall,” and it is a terrible feeling.
It takes guts to think you can run a marathon, put in the effort of training, and run one to completion. It’s a hard thing to accomplish.
Only 0.01% of the world population runs a marathon each year. If it was easy, more people would do it.
It’s PAINFUL. Your muscles hurt, your feet hurt, your entire body can hurt during a marathon.

marathon runner at The Colorado Marathon

Is running a marathon hard? Yes, running a marathon is hard.

You Risk Injury When Training For and Running a Marathon

Increasing mileage too quickly, running too fast, or just bad luck can cause injuries.

When I first attempted training for a marathon, I tried to run too much while working 12 hour shifts as a nurse. It was too much for my legs, and I ended up with a stress fracture, effectively halting my marathon training.

Injuries do happen. It makes running a marathon hard.

The Marathon Training Itself Is So Hard

Training for a marathon is arguably harder than running the actual marathon.

You typically train for 12-20 weeks or longer. Months of your life are just consumed by running.

The weekend long runs take hours, and you certainly can’t have any fun drinking or staying out late the nights before them.

If you have kids or a busy job, it’s hard to find time to train. (psst I have a post about training for a marathon with small children at home – it is doable!)

I HIGHLY recommend using halhigdon.com for training plans. He’s like the Marathon God. I swear. I have used his training plans for every one of my 6 marathons. I’ve adjusted them a bit to fit my schedule, but I’m faithful to the weekend long runs he tells me to do.

The training is necessary. Please don’t attempt a marathon with zero training. You could get really hurt.

Running a Marathon Requires Mental Strength too

It’s not just the physical part of running a marathon that’s difficult.

You are going to feel pain while running a marathon. It’s inevitable.

But how you handle that pain and whether or not you keep your feet moving is a lot of mental strength.

Once you’ve been running for hours and once you’re in enough pain, you are going to want to quit. Some people do. But if you can convince your body to keep moving forward, you will accomplish something great.

Quick Tips for Marathon Success

Again, halhigdon.com for training plans.
Find someone to train with and/or to do the marathon with; running is better with others.
Find a running group near you.
Look at the elevation and read about the marathon you sign up for. Pick an easier race for your first marathon.
You don’t need expensive running gear to be a runner.
Do not – I repeat – do not try anything new on race day. No new gels, no new shoes, not even a new sports bra. You must be used to every item that is on you or that will be consumed on race day.
Figure out your why. Why do you want to run a marathon? Hopefully it’s for a good reason, and remind yourself of that reason when the training is hard.
Have a mantra for when the running gets tough, especially during the race. Keep it simple:
- I am strong.
- I am a goddamn cheetah. (Thanks, Glennon Doyle)
- I am crushing this.
- Just keep running.
- For those who watch New Girl, “I CAN DO THIS ALL DAY” is my favorite.
- These were submitted by Adam in the comments, and I love them:
- – One step at a time, keep my head up
  – Strong body, strong will
  – Run your own race, Run your own pace
  – Smooth and strong, light and fast
  – I don’t have to do this, I get to do this
  – Little by little, I travel far
  – I feel happy, I feel strong, I can do this all day long
  – I love running, and running/this race loves me
  – I can, and I will
  – I feel smooth, I feel fine, I’ve been here one thousand times
  – Being here in this location, being now in this moment
Run a race before the marathon. If you’ve never done a race before, do one before the actual marathon. It will help you get used to the feel of race day, using the porta potty before the run, hydration stations, etc.
Try to get a 20 miler in before the marathon. It helps.
Figure out a nutrition plan – you can’t get through a marathon without some nutrition. So figure out if you like gels, gummies, etc. And practice eating them during training runs.
Eat lots of carbs in the days leading up to the marathon 🙂 all.the.pasta.
ENJOY IT. Training for and running a marathon can be a truly remarkable experience. Try to enjoy it, be grateful for your body, and be so so proud of yourself.