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Anyone can run a marathon…well, I suppose there are a few exceptions.  Understanding the marathon for beginners is to first understand the simplicity of it.  I don’t want to make it sound like no big deal, because it is.  But you can do it!

When the idea of the marathon is taken in small bites, it is very doable.  If you think about 26.2 miles, and the blisters, and maybe some rain, etc., it starts to feel very overwhelming.  I love them, though.  I am a slacker in training.  I don’t take myself too seriously (yet).  I’ve been running with friends so far, so it is like a little party.  One day I will go solo, to see what I can do.

I see the whole thing in phases.  First off, let me say that the marathon for beginners (your first), is very exciting.  It is a little scary because you don’t know if you will finish or if you will die.  The mood in the air at the starting line is always a thrill.  It is like a festival there.  A huge group of people all sharing in an identity that very few people can understand. 

The first 3-8 miles go by in a blur.  You will be so hopped up on adrenaline and enthusiasm, you won’t notice anything.  There is always the guy at mile 2 yelling, “Only 24.2 to go!”  You’ll see people starting to line the streets to cheer you on and yell your name, as it is usually posted on your bib number.  As you hit mile 8, you have reached a milestone — you’ve finished the first third of the marathon (I like to really take it in thirds). 

Now you settle in during miles 9 to 17.  During this time, you might begin to notice some blisters or random knee pain come up.  Hang in there, it will soon go numb.  This is to be expected, it is not ruining your experience–this is your experience.  It is an integral part of the experience.  This is the stuff that will make your story really interesting.  During this segment, you will pass the half– 13.1– and that will bring a smile to your face.  There is usually a pretty big fuss at the half with spectators and a good refreshments station, so enjoy.

I have to say, once I see the marker for mile 18, I feel excited and sad.  I know I am almost there.  My hard work has paid off.  I am a little sad to be almost done, though.  It is such a lesson in life to run a marathon.  The mental dialogue during a marathon makes it or breaks it.  Really this is true for life.  When I reach 18, I don’t ever feel like bummed that I still have more to go because the time seems so short then.  Soon I will reach the 20’s, then I will smell the finish.  Then the medal will be around my neck, and I will hobble back to my car.  Until next time, sweet marathon.

I will see you in Chicago –  10/11/09!

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Here is a excellent list of marathon events across the country for the rest of the year.  Typically races are held in the spring, fall and winter.  Cooler areas of the country do host events in the summer.  Some people like to pick one marathon a year to do.  Others like to pick them strategically throughout the year in order to keep their marathon training on track.

Marathons are a great motivator for getting your body in peak condition.  They are fun events to be a part of.  Most marathoners experience a sense of identity, a feeling of being a member of a special club.  Scan the following list to choose the best marathon for you.  By the end of the year, you can be a member of the club, too!