I never thought I would run a marathon, like ever. One day I was struggling to breathe when moving slightly faster than walking pace, and the next moment, well I’d signed up for my first marathon!! You can read my story >>here<<.

Training for a marathon should be so much fun, if you’re not having fun then you seriously >>gotta reach out to me<<.

Here are 3 things (& bonus 4th!) I did that helped me to achieve my marathon goal:

1. Listen to your body. Sounds simple enough right…but are you truly listening? Or maybe you’re listening, but some extra detective work is required to understand why you are thinking/feeling what you are thinking/feeling?
   
   Let me explain.
   
   Post-run you are so tired that all you wanna do is lounge on the sofa all day.
   During your run, you have really heavy legs.
   Post-run you want to eat everything in sight.
   You notice during your runs you’re starting to get aches in your feet and legs.
   
   ALL of these, my friend, are areas to explore. Your body is giving you signs/signals that something isn’t quite right. Some are super easy fixes that can be rectified prior to your next run, and some need a little more exploring.
   
2. Know what your end goal is for the marathon. If it’s your first marathon, then I highly recommend your goal be to finish the race while having a boat load of fun i.e. with no goal finish time. Before you’ve even signed up to your race, be really clear on your goals. Now, these may change over time as you get into your training, but having a clear North Star will keep you showing up run after run.
   
3. Either work with a coach (>>hi, it’s me<<) or use a training plan that is inline with your race goal. I hear it so often that runners wing their training…but if like me, you have a dream/goal for your marathon, then please, do not wing your training.
   
   A training plan (that has been >>created by someone who knows what they are doing<< and not just a freebie off the internet that you’ve no idea who created it!!!) is what’s needed to get you from A to B. A training plan that also includes a guide with ALL the information you need to know regarding fueling, hydration, cross training, pacing, run types, etc. is EVEN BETTER! Pssst, >>check these out<<.
   
4. BONUS – Keep a journal to document not only how your runs went but also how you feel. This is an E-P-I-C way to be able to look back at where you have come from, to see for yourself what you are achieving every single week. It can be hard when you are in the midst of training to see progress being made, so having a journal makes it simple to see.

If you’re unsure of how to go from where you’re at to achieving your marathon goal, >>send me a note<< and I’ll help you out.

Consider joining the >>GMacSpurr Coaching VIP Community<< for weekly hints & tips on running, sports nutrition & athlete mindset.

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