Lessons from my first marathon (that has nothing to do with running)

I just finished my first marathon (Run the Rome Marathon), and I can confidently say I caught the ‘marathon bug’.  But what surprised me most wasn’t the race itself. It was everything about the experience, outside of running, that taught me about myself and my capabilities.  Maybe it’s seeing months of discipline (5 am wakeups, running in rain or shine) come to life. Or maybe it’s the shared sense of awe with 36,000 runners, each carrying their own story to the same start line. Either way, the marathon turned out to be less about miles and more about mindset, people, and perspective.  

Take Notice of the Journey

“You’ve run hundreds of miles, just 26.2 to go.”  I saw this old Nike ad before I officially started training. It didn’t really resonate with me until after I was standing at the start line, staring at the Colosseum with no idea how my injured hip would hold up. I wasn’t thinking about the race to come, but everything that got me there. In training, there will be good and bad runs. Sometimes you feel like you’re invincible, and other times the miles catch up to you. The journey can be lonely if you’re training by yourself. But here I was, united with strangers who were just as crazy as me to run for hours across Rome. I realized the marathon reveals what had long been built up before race day.  

People Make the Race

  Instead of “good luck on the race,” someone told me to ‘make sure I talk to people’. I needed to deal with my nerves at the start line and remembered the advice. Within minutes, I met another runner who had the exact same injury (and cause) as me: hip pain from pushing too hard on a 20-mile run. We exchanged concerns, but also shared the same quiet determination to try anyway. Later, I met two runners from Norway. They asked about my goal time. “3:30… but I’m trying to be realistic,” I said. “So you’re running a 3:30,” they replied. I laughed and repeated it back: “I’m running a 3:30.” Their encouragement was refreshing. We tend to talk ourselves down a lot for fear of failure, but now was the time to hype myself up. Believing in yourself gets you pretty far and puts you in situations that challenge you, maybe even make you consider giving up.   

Don’t Overlook Your Support System

I also thought of everyone who supported me, leading up to it and on race day. If you’re lucky enough to have friends and family watch you, make sure to thank them for coming. My best friend and boyfriend spent $50 on rented scooters, brought signs, and cheered me the whole way. Another group of friends sent me a video before their 6 am flight, wishing me luck.  

The Finish Line isn’t the Point (although it is pretty great)

Even though I didn’t end up running a 3:30, I will one day. Knowing I could train under the difficult conditions I did, and run a marathon without stopping or giving in to the pain (it really sets in during the last six miles), only makes me want it even more.  Running a marathon teaches you to show up for yourself, no matter what. And it’ll make you keep coming back for more.