Three things I learned from running my first marathon
Today I had 26.2 miles to think, so here are a few life reflections from a former non-runner to current non-runners.
Lesson one
Most marathoners are competing against themselves, not each other. Many sports are zero-sum games, but marathons aren’t. Runners treat the race as a personal challenge — to go farther or faster than before. That creates an electric atmosphere where runners cheer each other on and the crowd roots for everyone. The world could use more of that perspective.
Lesson two
Marathoners come in all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. I saw a wide range of people today, many of whom didn’t fit the stereotypical “runner” mold. It convinced me that most adults can complete a marathon. It takes commitment, time, and continuous learning through many failed training runs. My own race was over three years in the making, through countless long runs and even an ACL surgery, but I crossed that finish line.
Lesson three
Set SMART goals — but remember, every finisher is a champion. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. My official race time was 4:06 (a 9:23 min/mi pace), which I consider perfectly fine for a first marathon. There’s no point comparing myself to Harry Styles, who recently ran one in under 3 hours (true story).
If a marathon is already on your bucket list, let this be your sign to start training. Begin slowly and run short distances, but stay consistent to build the habit. From there, it’s just a matter of scaling up over time. You might surprise yourself — I certainly did.
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- Thomas J. Weinandy, Ph.D.
- 2025-10-19
- ~3 min read