6 Marathon Training Mistakes

I asked for Marathon training tips and mistakes across various marathon running forums. I received 230 responses and boiled them into six marathon mistake categories. This 7 minutes video is packed full of running advice and ways you can best prepare for race day. Don't run your first marathon without gaining wisdom from the 230 runners who have come before you.

00:00 Intro
00:46 Marathon Training Tip #6
01:22 Marathon Training Tip #5
02:31 Marathon Training Tip #4
03:26 Marathon Training Tip #3
04:35 Marathon Training Tip #2
05:52 Marathon Training Tip #1
06:34 Summary
06:54 Outro

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[DWNY]

Even as someone who had run 6 marathons (and will be running Berlin next week) it is always helpful to be reminded of these.

[miguelramonmoore]

I found this video really informative and loved that the content was provided by experiences of other runners. If I was to add anything, I think I'd mention race day logistics and timing. Make sure you know where to park, how long it is to walk to the start, availability of toilets!

[robertnorth]

A nice refresher on the basics! I loved some of the comments you received!

[ianmurray]

Great work! For me, I feel under fueling on any long run is an issue. I have to be more aware of fluid intake and what I’m consuming

[everydayultrapodcast]

So much value packed into 7 minutes here! Absolutely love the tips on the mental side of things as well. “Respect the distance” is truly a mantra that saved my life when training for my first ultra marathon, so you nailed it on the head!

[PhobosUSWest]

Great listen, thanks for putting this together!

[VeryBeowulf]

I commented in this post. Glad my advice was able to help!

[TheZulu]

Great video Brodie! I find it interesting that some mistakes are made only once (for example having the wrong socks). However, some keep on repeating the same. And the number 1 has to be pacing - i.e. going out too fast. It is tempting when feeling fresh at the start of a marathon to try and "bank" time. And runners seem to make the same mistake over and over again.

[heatherwinchell]

Such great reminders!! A big mistake of mine was eating at the charity dinner. The food was way too greasy and did not sit right in my stomach. I've brought food or read a million reviews before races now, haha

[edwin]

My biggest mistake was eating a couple of party pies late at my brother's 21st, about 11pm the night before a 6:30am marathon. Extreme GI distress. Nearly pulled out of the race, but decided to at least get back to the half way point (out & back first half of the course - Perth City 2 Surf). Spent 10 mins in the portaloo and emerged a changed man. Finished the race.

It's weird, because on many of my long runs I'll grab a burger from Maccas or KFC, or a 6 inch sub and have no issues.

[bev]

Gosh those are excellent reminders!! With fuelling, I remember being shocked with just how hard it was to eat and drink while running, which I hadn't practiced enough. I also got a lot of painful twinges in the lower back, despite regular strength training, so I've really upped the strength training even more ever since. Thanks for this video Brodie, it's great timing leading up to my second ever marathon next month!!

[NCPhysiotherapy]

With my first marathon upcoming in 3 weeks this video could not be posted at a better time! Took lots of valuable information from this video, and I hope I don't make any of these mistakes during my first ever marathon🤣Excited to see more content in the future💪

[eppmike]

First marathons are such a good learning opportunity. I learned so much from my first.

[edwin]

Another mistake on another marathon - there's a big downhill section around 30km into the course. After doing that course several times I noticed I kept falling apart after that. Initially I thought it was just coz 30km. Next time I did that marathon I counterintuitively walked that section and ended up not falling apart and setting a 30 minute PR.

I think it's coz so deep into the race my legs had lost their shock absorption capabilities, so running it was causing failure in other areas.

[mr.kinesiology]

My biggest mistake in my first marathon was running too hard up a hill on mile 19. I paid for it on the ensuing final miles!

[adrianalessi]

To elaborate it was New York marathon and my friends said they would be on the right side of "5th Street" ( or what ever) which was a bloody long. I think the curve of the side of the road added extra strain to my knee and did my ITB. ( Or also highly likely I under trained haha) Stopped on queens borough bridge behind some pillars to try stretch and a lady came behind there looked at me for 3 seconds then pulled her pants down and peed within 5 Meters of me (she might have some advice for other runners haha) ended up having to stop at about the 32k mark. Went to medical tent where the doctor had literally 20 medical students who he invited to each come and "inspect" my ITB which was about a 8 on pain scale everytime someone touched it.

[ilzewagener]

I run 100 km/milers these mistakes just amplify themselves over the longer distances. A little niggle becomes a nightmare. I am diligent with footcare on route a minute to clean something out your socks on a mountain can save your race in the end

[leonardmilcin]

I personally think not knowing your pace you can maintain on this particular day is the most important problem. This requires being mindful of your own condition and observant during training.
Fuelling... I think the problem and the solution are rather simple and for this reason do not merit #1 on the list.
Basically, you don't want to suddenly change anything on the race day. Suddenly changing your fuelling strategy to something you have never tested and your body is not used to is probably the fastest way out of the race.
In my case as my long runs became longer and closer to 26km I would just make sure to eat a relatively light pasta dish some time before the run and since that's what my body got used to that's what I did on the race day. I would not eat anything during my long runs and so I wasn't about to get my body upset during marathon with suddenly cramming a gel.
If you think you need some calorie help during the race I think it is best to incorporate those (and same kind of) during your long runs once you start running over 20kms to test them out and give your body the time to adjust to it. That's it.

[thejeffinvade]

One mistake, got sick during taper. I got fever during taper in my previous two half marathons.
Aiming to run 3:20 in my first marathon in two weeks. My watch is saying I can run 3:10, and according to my 10K/5K time I can run around 3:08. Both are way too optimistic. 3:20 should be fine, as long as I don’t get sick during the next 12 days. I will be wearing masks from now on. let’s see what happens.

[jenniferpaxton]

Could anyone who responded share what they did to correct their mistakes for the next race? Thank you for sharing!