Great training Sarah, you have succeeded now the marathon will now be enjoyable tough You gave super tips there thanks. My dream is to maintain a good training for next year (not get injured this time) and race my 1st half marathon race . In the new forest if I can afford to pay and for travel. Looking forward to the race report and next video thank you guys happy running
During my last taper phase.... the extra spare time was filled by going to the pub..... loads of fun but with retrospect didn't do much for the cardio....
Just done my second marathon in 4 weeks. Blew up in Brighton by going out too fast so signed up to Manchester to try and redeem myself. Absolutely loved the event, even the last 10k which was difficult. Glad to say that I didn’t stop running once and finished in 3:00:24. Have fun and good luck!
Taper tip: follow the saying "never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, never be awake unless absolutely necessary " pretty much use this day to day too😄
Love how honest and real Sarah gets on her runs. Anna too! Everyone talks about the good runs but not so much about the bad runs. I can absolutely appreciate all of the sides of prepping for a race and have thoroughly enjoyed both Sarah and Anna’s series. Rooting for you Sarah!
Every time I have a ‘bad’ run- i just tell myself, but you did it homie! You got out and ran! And THAT makes it a good one! But is also still feels nice to have good runs too 😂😂 🏃🏻♂️ 💨
Brilliant by Sarah. There's an old timers' formula of allowing at least a mile per day between races, and if I've understood her right she will allow 21 days from her last race (half marathon) to the big event. Should do well. A couple of caramel brownies three hours before the gun also good.
Tapering is mentally one of the most difficult parts of marathon training. The temptation to throw in extra sessions or catch up on missed ones is immense. But there really is nothing that can be added at this stage, the work has already been done! And as for the mind games that I have with myself over the slightest ache or pain - unbelievable. So take it easy, it’s just about keeping your legs turning over.
Sarah, you are not crazy-maranoia is 100% real😆 I ran my fall marathon a couple weeks ago (only my 2nd ever) and I can tell you that I spent my entire taper period thinking about all the training sessions I’d missed and how I would be paying for it come race day…and then I didn’t. I resolved to just enjoy the day and forget about the outcome, and I ended up having a wonderful race. You will too. The taper is the final stage of preparing your body for the marathon-trust it and trust all the hard effort you’ve put in thus far as well! I’m so excited for you as your big day approaches-have a blast in Amsterdam!!! You’ve got this Sarah!!!❤️
i've been training for 6 months without knowing when to race my first marathon, i live in indonesia, and here we still struggling with covid-19, hope next year will be my first marathon. keep the spirit Sarah!
You've progressed so much since you've started the plan, so well done on all the hard work leading up to race day! You are going to perform exceptionally well on your first marathon! Enjoy the experience!
My first marathon was in Amsterdam this time 4 years ago! I did not train for it anywhere near as much or as effectively as I should have done! I have since found the Running Channel and it's really bolstered my running and my technique. Definitely want to try another marathon and prep for it properly just like Sarah. Good luck with it all! You're amazing!!
I've been following your series from the start and it's been really motivating for me! I am also running the Amsterdam Marathon as my first official marathon this Sunday and I'm really looking forward to it. The best of luck to you Sarah, and maybe I'll see you there!
Watching all these marathon training series and actual marathons the last few weeks has been so inspiring! I'm training for my first 5K right now, but the big bucket list race is the Comrades Marathon. Hope to run that in 2023. I'll be watching (only on TV sadly) Cape Town and Amsterdam this weekend. To Sarah and everyone else running. Whether it's your 1st or 50th, sub 3 hours or just to finish, you are an inspiration! Good luck from South Africa
Hey Sarah, been following your preparation for the marathon. I can only dream to run one one day, still struggling with my 5k runs, but you've been an inspiration for me and I wish you best of luck for your run in Amsterdam. I am sure you'll do well, and make sure you enjoy the moment.
Sarah, I keep saying this but you are such a breath of fresh air. I love how open you are about your runs--the good, the bad, and the ugly. As someone who will never do a marathon but struggles with the mind game of racing, it is a relief to see someone who shares the doubts and insecurities, especially someone young and as fit as you. I didn't start running until my late 40s and I was more than 330 pounds. I'm now 50 and keep plugging away towards my best self. My pace is slow, but I'm consistent. What I do and what you do are light years apart, yet somehow, you make me feel like I'm part of the same universe. You have got this and I can't wait to cheer you on from here in the States!
Bucket list Race: South Downs 100 Ultra! It's the goal that I hope to work towards over the next few years as I pass my first half, full, and shorter ultra marathons.
Rotterdam 2022 is on my bucketlist, first marathon for me! (And I'll be 53 then). Sarah, best of luck in Amsterdam next Sunday, I'll be tracking you as you are running! Last week I did the Eindhoven half marathon, what an atmosphere! It's such a positive vibe, everybody cheering you on.
I've neve been good at the taper, definitely one of the hardest parts of a training block. I'll be starting one shortly with the NYC Marathon now about 3 weeks away. Cheers!
Honestly you are so inspirational, I love how real and down to earth you are so much so I’m thinking of doing my first full Marathon and I bet I’m not the only one . I would love to run the London marathon. I absolutely know you will complete your marathon and smash it , enjoy the atmosphere good luck 🤞
Watching you train for your first marathon has been so inspirational! I'm not quite there yet, as I have only ran my first 10K a few months ago, but I'm already dreaming of the day I will run my first (half) marathon thanks to you!
I’ve just managed my first 5k and I really want to run the London Parks half marathon in 2022. It’s the one I always thought would be epic to do and I guess it’s why I’ve started running (finally) 🤩
You're going to do great, I can't wait to see the video of your awesome race! Marathonoia is real!! Being an aspiring endurance rider and beginner ultra runner, I'd love to run AND ride in the Man V Horse back to back. My bucket list race is the Glen Coe Skyline in Scotland. I took a deep dive into TH-cam during lockdown and got my ultra fire lit, and went from couch to 50k in 2020. (I run 5 and 10ks every year, then take 4-5 months off every icy winter.) so I only gave myself 2 years to get in mountain ultra shape and get my rusty rock scrambling skills back... eek!! I'm still aiming for 2022, fingers crossed!!
"That run was a bit of a 'blah'" Yes Sara... I totally get that! That was me after my last long run on my Sunday Long Run. I was somewhat disappointed after the run frankly put off by the whole thing. But it happens. Which means the good runs will be even more appreciated. Best of luck on your journey.
Thank you for the great tips and reminders. Im approaching my 7th marathon and after 10 years of this, I am just minutes away from BQ. So, with that said… bucket list race is Boston! :)
I felt the exact same after watching the London marathon footage- I had my last long run of 12 miles that day ahead of my own first marathon on the 17th too and after watching the footage just felt overwhelmed by “I cannot do that!” 😬😬😬 You’ll rock Amsterdam! You’ve got such great training and support behind you.
I just started my taper for my first marathon in San Diego 11 days from now. So good luck on your race - you’re one week ahead of me. So far my training went pretty well w/o an injury or bigger niggles but I had to take a week off 3 weeks before the racce due to a cold which turned my last long run into a mental and physical struggle. The race makes me feel excited and nervous at the same time so I take ‘one step at a time'
Well done on completing all your training Sarah! I’ve been watching all your videos as well as some other great ones from the running channel. I’ve been training for my first marathon, Manchester marathon which I ran last Sunday. It was so helpful to watch these videos in the run up to the big day and know that some of the things I was experiencing were completely normal. I had a good taper period that made me really paranoid but it worked out so great. I was well rested for the day and able to give it my best. I had the most amazing time. I hope you have a wonderful time on the day! Can’t wait to see the video of how you get on x
You’re doing an amazing job, Sarah!! I know how frustrating it is to miss/shorten a session at the end of your training cycle…but you just need to remind yourself that overall you’ve put in soooo much hard work that for sure has prepared you to run an amazing race! I’m tapering right now as well (for me second half). We are so close! Keep it up! 👍👍
Your heartfelt honesty about the highs & lows is something I think many will appreciate. I am certain the next 2 weeks will allow your leg soreness to sort itself out and you’ll be flying to Amsterdam brimming with confidence that you can get it done. We’re all pulling for you Sarah. Go do it!🏃🏻♂️
Just did my first half marathon and struggling to get back into the swing of things but following this I've definitely been excited to try and do a marathon next year.. signed up for the London marathon ballot! So thanks for the inspo. I'm sure your smash it
Great series. I love the honesty, all the misery that you feel is very relatable for me. Best of luck in your race. Can’t wait to see the next video and cheer for you when you cross the finish line.👍🏻
I always find it slightly annoying when people say well meaning things like "you'll smash it" or "you'll do it easily" . Part of me thinks , " how the frig do you know - you've never run a marathon" . Truth is there's lots that can go wrong , and you may not achieve your goal . That's why it's a marathon - it's not easy , and if you do hit your target ,it's a huge achievement . My best advice would be set your GPS watch to show your current pace , and stick to your target pace . It's so easy to get caught up in the excitement , at the start of the race , go off to quickly ,and blow out at 18 miles . Good luck . You'll smash it 🤣🤣
After watching these videos of you getting ready for your first marathon I feel so much better about my first marathon which is in 12 days. I didn’t know that what I was going through was normal. Thank you for being honest about your process and and so making mine better.
I am also running my first marathon the same day as Sarah and it has been awesome and so helpful following along this series. I have also struggled on some of my long runs, when just the previous week I had a great one so I love how relatable this is and how open Sarah is with her struggles. Best of luck in Amsterdam, you'll crush it! My bucket list would be NYC!
I love this series and I really hope the race goes well for you. My tips would be to respect the distance, but don't be affraid of it. You can do it, you've certainly put in the work. It's really important to stick to your pace from the start and find your groove, it's easy to get carried away with fresh legs and the atmosphere, the longer you can save your reserves and postpone the hard patches the better. Accept and appreciate that it will be tough at times, that is part and also the charm of marathon. Try to prepare mental solutions for when it does get tough ... and then prepare some more backup options and maybe backups to backups :) Chances are you may need to pick yourself up mentally more times and/or for longer duration than you expect right now. Good news is it's also not as bad as your brain will have you believe in that moment. So preparation in this area will make it a far more enjoyable experience. Good luck! We'll be rooting for you on Sunday!
Sarah -the emotions (and physical niggles) you are feeling are totally normal. Overall, it sounds like you are in the right mental space for the training, taper and upcoming race. You've totally got this!
I've absolutely loved this series, I was in training for a half marathon but I've been delayed by injury. This series has got me eager to get back out there as soon as possible. Best of luck for your race! You're amazing!
During my taper for the Chester Marathon I looked for some sports mediation sessions on TH-cam & listened to them several times in the week before. They really helped me - I felt so much calmer on the day than I expected & I am sure it is because of these sessions. The other thing I did was work out my race strategy; how would I feel at each stage mile including when it got difficult. For difficult periods I turned up my music, had a big drink, repeated my mantra & forced myself to smile!
Everything you are and feeling now is perfectly normal Sarah, just keep calm and focused and you will be just fine! Good luck for race day, I hope everything goes your way but regardless of what happens, enjoy it! It's an unforgettable experience! Thank you for the series, have really enjoyed watching and can't wait to see the final episode.
I’ve really enjoyed this series as I start to think about doing my first marathon. Bucket list race: The Green Man Ultra in Bristol. 45 miles and run twice a year in opposite directions. I’d love to get my hands on a buckle for doing it twice in the same year! Good luck in Amsterdam Sarah!
You've got this! Wishing you the best of luck for the marathon. I popped in, as I'm in recovery week after my first half-marathon (it was a blast), because your vlogs are enjoyable, real, and encouraging. I do notice here that your running style looks so much more fluid and strong than in your early videos (I missed quite a few, so your improvements are even more noticeable, like a kid you haven't seen for a year who is now a foot taller!). Wow! Your run may have been "blah" but you looked very fit and ready for your marathon. Yes, I certainly got very nervous before my race. Why do we put pressure on ourselves, or is this fear of pain😊? What helped me was focussing on being relaxed, pacing behind other runners, sometimes imagining someone was "towing" me, and feeling so grateful for the experience. Well, Sarah, you look amazingly strong. Good luck!
Another lovely video, Sarah - well done! My London Marathon did not go as planned - 1:50 for the first half, 2:30 for the second!!! Lots of pain from Mile 18 to the finish. I guess the lesson is that EVERYTHING has to go well for you to hit your "A Goal" so do prepare for things not to be perfect. Very best of luck! We'll be watching.
Good luck Sarah! I'm training to run my first half marathon in December (not race) and then I will start my training for a full marathon race in April. Feel like i've taken a bit much on, however your commitment and the experiences you share, keeps me going! Lots of love
Thanks for sharing your training journey with us Sarah. Just had a quick google and realised that the marathon is this weekend! Massive good luck, I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine. Remember it's your victory lap and you can do hard things xxx
Absolute best of luck with the marathon Sarah, I am hoping we can all track you on race day. I ran my first marathon in 2019 when I was 47, and I can honestly say that the sense of achievement was the best feeling ever - so few people comparatively run a marathon. Trust the work you have done, and try and enjoy every minute of it - even at mile 20 when it gets tough!
Like most average runners I split my runs into 3 basic categories of "the good, the bad and the ugly". And it's nice to see a TH-cam channel that reflects the realities that for most runners it's ups and downs on an almost daily basis. So well done all at the Running Channel. Keeping it real, really helps. Top tip(s) for your first marathon is to stay relaxed and enjoy it. You're going to set a PB whatever you do so just live in the moment, soak up the atmosphere, smile, wave at the spectators and enjoy the scenery. Just don't fall into a canal 😆 You're ready and I know you'll smash it.
Good luck! I’m entering my taper now too in preparation for the NYC marathon. I’m totally in agreement about the maranoia. I’m staring at every crack in my path and giving them broad leeway.
I'm just watching this now but I can relate to everything you're saying so much!! Ran my first ever marathon last Sunday in Amsterdam too and it was such a great experience and went really well but the two weeks before I didn't feel good and stressed so much about everything and also tried hard not to get a cold or something. But all the four months of training were so worth it! Can't wait for your video of last Sunday!!
Good luck Sarah. My lovely son is studying in Amsterdam. I will tell him to cheer you on! Finishing a marathon is the most awesome feeling and I am glad you will experience it! My bucket list marathon is in fact the ultra marathon distance in Co Antrim, N.Ireland where I was born - the Causeway marathon. I intend to pop home from my adopted city of Leipzig to run it on my 50th birthday next year!
I’m doing a short taper for a HM this weekend, feels like such a treat to be doing short runs with easy, fun intervals. Running well inside the comfort zone. Hope you enjoy your last taper week. Well done Sarah, good luck and leave it on the course!
I’ve got quite a while before I get to my taper as I’m not running until Edinburgh 22; however, it’s what I’m most nervous about! Watching you go through training for your first marathon has been so helpful. Thank you for taking us along!
Loch Ness is awesome! Did it for my first marathon, beautiful course, hills near the end but great finish and the organisation and atmosphere are fantastic. Hope you get to do it.
Awesome effort, such a great series to watch. My own tips for what they’re worth in Taperville. 1. Focus on the miles in the legs. Look at the monthly/weekly graphs on your watch/device/app. Don’t go into detail, just keep looking at the numbers and lines go up, and go “yeah, I did that”. 2. Pick your best long run (you decide what is meant by best) and just look at the splits, the map, and mentally take yourself back to memories of this run. Daydream about it relentlessly. 3. Maranoia is normal, we all have. Literally all of us. Welcome to the club. 4. Decide what gorgeously unhealthy thing you’ll eat at the other side of the finish line. 5. Check the weather forecast for the day x10 per day. C’mon, we all do it. Totally normal. 6. Pick your mantra for when the inner demons hit on the day (because they will). Keep it short, because you won’t remember anything complicated when you’re exhausted. Shout out to Anna for mine during London, something she said in her NYC video. “Watch me”. Worked a treat. Good luck young lady. You’ve so got this 👍🏻
Massively rooting for you Sarah! Top of my bucket list is Boston, followed by Berlin! I ran London on the 3rd as my first one and the atmosphere of the day carried me far more than a extra 5k on my taper weeks would have. You've got this!
It was a pleasure meeting you at the Adidas run. You have so got this, so enjoy your first marathon and soak up the whole experience. I'm looking forward to running the 2022 Berlin Marathon with my son for my 60th so that can be ticked off my bucket list x
Go Sarah! I hope everything goes well until race day! How exciting it must be! I just hope in one year’s time I’ll be able to do my first marathon as well - before I turn 40! Hard to find the time with small kids around, but this year I’m determined not to pause running through the winter. Which is a challenge, being in Canada and all :)) Big thanks to you and your friends at The Running Channel for the videos! I find them very insightful and inspiring! Keep it up!!! Claudiu P.
Hi runningmates! I actually started running because of the coronavirus, because you couldn't do much else from sports (gyms were closed, contact sports were not allowed, ...). I started very slowly and gradually built up. I couldn't even run 5 km straight. But recently I even ran 20 km from Brussels and the 10 miles from Antwerp... (in Belgium) I'm happy with what I've already been able to achieve on my own, so maybe one day a marathon who knows! :) Good luck in advance Sarah, I'm sure you will be able to do this! You've got this!! ;) Videos from the Runningchannel are therefore very inspiring for me to keep going and to get tips about running in general! Like it a lot!! Keep up the good work!! :)
Good luck with the marathon Sarah! I've really enjoyed following your journey in this series - you've inspired me start training for my first marathon 🏃
Glad to see another video! Tapering is very strange - lots of extra time, and the anxiety can run rampant. I'm having a very difficult time trusting my training. I am so excited to hear how your race goes! Best wishes!
I was gearing up for a marathon next year. I'm old and started old, so I have to take it really slow, and after a couple of half marathons my foot got real cranky (My self diagnosis is problem with the plantar fascia and posterior tibialis). Eventually I'll probably go to a doctor or something, but I'm too stubborn to give up just yet. Cautious training and monitoring for rehab. Now I feel I have been set back a long ways. Watching this makes the mental battle seem a bit more doable, so thank you!
Best of luck this Sunday! With some of my mantras I try to convince myself 'I'm light as a feather' and 'I'm zooming along this course' in the hopes it puts an extra spring in my step.
Good luck for the race Sarah. I've got 2 mantras I like "one foot in front of the other" for boring sections when the legs feel heavy and "don't be shit" which I heard on a running channel video and is good for hills.
Good luck for Sunday Sarah - be excited and relax - you can only do something for the first time once. I am currently tapering for my first marathon on 23 October (Beachy Head). I am fitter now than I have been since I was a teenager, which feels amazing (having only started running with a very wheezy and gradual couch to 5k in mid-2020 in recovery from long 'you know what'). This is definitely the victory lap and I intend to enjoy it. Enjoy your adventure in Amsterdam.
Good luck Sarah. You’ll smash it. ❤️ Marathon mantras....I live by. “My race, my pace” “Finish lines not finish times” “If you think your going slow at the start....go slower” “Beware it gets addictive”...I just completed Chester marathon on 3rd October which I highly recommend....which was Marathon no 7....now considering another in 2022 now that my legs are working again 😁.
Well done Sarah, I did my first marathon a few weeks ago. I found the first week of the taper the hardest, I was still really tired and struggled with the runs. By the middle of the second week I started to feel really good and wanted to run longer and faster then my plan. Resist this temptation at all costs!!
I had been looking forward to this video as I wanted to learn about how best to approach tapering. Found this very useful and watched it twice, (although that's partly because I spent the first half of the video realising I recognised the park and enjoy going through it as part of my long runs). Best of luck.
Excited for you! No matter how much I run, my length and volume, I am totally intimidated by the marathon and seriously struggling to commit. But it’s all in my head…I excited to see how you get on with race day….it’s an amazing mental and physical feat!
Love these marathon training series. Thanks so much Sarah. I am just getting started at 60 but it inspires me to boldly go there one day - but still got a long way to go. First 10k, then half and then who knows. (Anything is possible - William Shatner - Captain Kirk just went to space at 90...) Right now, all my runs are less-than-tapering.
My bucket list is the NY Marathon. I am a New Yorker and I really would love to run in my home city. I am training for my first in Los Angeles. Thank you for sharing your training with us. It has been really helpful. Loved seeing all of it. Thank you!
Hey Sarah! Look at it this way: You have AMAZING runners and coaches around you, no doubt your training plan was as good as anyone could hope for. So, trust the training you've done, trust your race plan...the hard work is behind you...go out there, leave it all on the course and HAVE FUN! Between yours and Anna's marathon journeys, I have learned so much about my own running (things I excel at and, most notably, things I should be doing better), so thank you for being so brave and strong and for bringing this content to us! We're all behind you every step of the way...
@@runningchannel TRC videos are the highlight of my running week! I always learn something valuable from you guys. Andy is a hero of mine, Manny always has great inserts, Anna/Kate/Sarah are so relatable from the everyday runner's perspective and Rick ALWAYS has me in stitches...you guys have the perfect recipe! Best running channel on TH-cam, hands down. 💥
Are you training for a marathon? Got any race day tips for Sarah? Let us know in the comments below! ↓
Just treat it as a long run Sarah, with lots of people following you!
Do not go out too fast! If you manage to do this let me know, I never manage to do that!
Great training Sarah, you have succeeded now the marathon will now be enjoyable tough
You gave super tips there thanks. My dream is to maintain a good training for next year (not get injured this time) and race my 1st half marathon race . In the new forest if I can afford to pay and for travel.
Looking forward to the race report and next video thank you guys happy running
During my last taper phase.... the extra spare time was filled by going to the pub..... loads of fun but with retrospect didn't do much for the cardio....
Just done my second marathon in 4 weeks. Blew up in Brighton by going out too fast so signed up to Manchester to try and redeem myself. Absolutely loved the event, even the last 10k which was difficult. Glad to say that I didn’t stop running once and finished in 3:00:24. Have fun and good luck!
Taper tip: follow the saying "never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, never be awake unless absolutely necessary " pretty much use this day to day too😄
Remember, it's just a 10K with a 20 mile warmup! Run Happy, smile through the pain, and cherish the miles as they tic by. Congrats in advance!
Love how honest and real Sarah gets on her runs. Anna too! Everyone talks about the good runs but not so much about the bad runs. I can absolutely appreciate all of the sides of prepping for a race and have thoroughly enjoyed both Sarah and Anna’s series.
Rooting for you Sarah!
Sarah is definitely not average in any way. Adorable!
Every time I have a ‘bad’ run- i just tell myself, but you did it homie! You got out and ran! And THAT makes it a good one!
But is also still feels nice to have good runs too 😂😂 🏃🏻♂️ 💨
Brilliant by Sarah. There's an old timers' formula of allowing at least a mile per day between races, and if I've understood her right she will allow 21 days from her last race (half marathon) to the big event. Should do well. A couple of caramel brownies three hours before the gun also good.
Tapering is mentally one of the most difficult parts of marathon training. The temptation to throw in extra sessions or catch up on missed ones is immense. But there really is nothing that can be added at this stage, the work has already been done! And as for the mind games that I have with myself over the slightest ache or pain - unbelievable. So take it easy, it’s just about keeping your legs turning over.
Sarah, you are not crazy-maranoia is 100% real😆 I ran my fall marathon a couple weeks ago (only my 2nd ever) and I can tell you that I spent my entire taper period thinking about all the training sessions I’d missed and how I would be paying for it come race day…and then I didn’t. I resolved to just enjoy the day and forget about the outcome, and I ended up having a wonderful race. You will too. The taper is the final stage of preparing your body for the marathon-trust it and trust all the hard effort you’ve put in thus far as well! I’m so excited for you as your big day approaches-have a blast in Amsterdam!!! You’ve got this Sarah!!!❤️
Thanks so much Lisa, this is really helpful! Congrats on finishing your second marathon as well!
i've been training for 6 months without knowing when to race my first marathon, i live in indonesia, and here we still struggling with covid-19, hope next year will be my first marathon. keep the spirit Sarah!
You've progressed so much since you've started the plan, so well done on all the hard work leading up to race day! You are going to perform exceptionally well on your first marathon! Enjoy the experience!
Thanks Denny!
I used Sarah’s positive attitude and energy to help me focus and finish my first marathon last weekend…thank you Sarah!
My first marathon was in Amsterdam this time 4 years ago! I did not train for it anywhere near as much or as effectively as I should have done! I have since found the Running Channel and it's really bolstered my running and my technique. Definitely want to try another marathon and prep for it properly just like Sarah. Good luck with it all! You're amazing!!
Awww thanks so much Monica! 🙂
I've been following your series from the start and it's been really motivating for me! I am also running the Amsterdam Marathon as my first official marathon this Sunday and I'm really looking forward to it. The best of luck to you Sarah, and maybe I'll see you there!
Thanks for your support Sophie! Hope Sunday goes well for you too!
Watching all these marathon training series and actual marathons the last few weeks has been so inspiring!
I'm training for my first 5K right now, but the big bucket list race is the Comrades Marathon. Hope to run that in 2023.
I'll be watching (only on TV sadly) Cape Town and Amsterdam this weekend. To Sarah and everyone else running. Whether it's your 1st or 50th, sub 3 hours or just to finish, you are an inspiration! Good luck from South Africa
Hey Sarah, been following your preparation for the marathon. I can only dream to run one one day, still struggling with my 5k runs, but you've been an inspiration for me and I wish you best of luck for your run in Amsterdam. I am sure you'll do well, and make sure you enjoy the moment.
You can make it!! Takes it step by step
Sarah, I keep saying this but you are such a breath of fresh air. I love how open you are about your runs--the good, the bad, and the ugly. As someone who will never do a marathon but struggles with the mind game of racing, it is a relief to see someone who shares the doubts and insecurities, especially someone young and as fit as you. I didn't start running until my late 40s and I was more than 330 pounds. I'm now 50 and keep plugging away towards my best self. My pace is slow, but I'm consistent. What I do and what you do are light years apart, yet somehow, you make me feel like I'm part of the same universe. You have got this and I can't wait to cheer you on from here in the States!
Bucket list Race: South Downs 100 Ultra! It's the goal that I hope to work towards over the next few years as I pass my first half, full, and shorter ultra marathons.
Rotterdam 2022 is on my bucketlist, first marathon for me! (And I'll be 53 then). Sarah, best of luck in Amsterdam next Sunday, I'll be tracking you as you are running! Last week I did the Eindhoven half marathon, what an atmosphere! It's such a positive vibe, everybody cheering you on.
I've neve been good at the taper, definitely one of the hardest parts of a training block. I'll be starting one shortly with the NYC Marathon now about 3 weeks away. Cheers!
Good luck sera
Good luck at New York! I've done it twice and it's amazing!
Honestly you are so inspirational, I love how real and down to earth you are so much so I’m thinking of doing my first full Marathon and I bet I’m not the only one . I would love to run the London marathon. I absolutely know you will complete your marathon and smash it , enjoy the atmosphere good luck 🤞
Watching you train for your first marathon has been so inspirational! I'm not quite there yet, as I have only ran my first 10K a few months ago, but I'm already dreaming of the day I will run my first (half) marathon thanks to you!
Sarah, you got this! Your journey to this moment is inspiring. Enjoy your 26.2 mile victory lap in Amsterdam. Well learned.
I’ve just managed my first 5k and I really want to run the London Parks half marathon in 2022. It’s the one I always thought would be epic to do and I guess it’s why I’ve started running (finally) 🤩
You're going to do great, I can't wait to see the video of your awesome race! Marathonoia is real!! Being an aspiring endurance rider and beginner ultra runner, I'd love to run AND ride in the Man V Horse back to back. My bucket list race is the Glen Coe Skyline in Scotland. I took a deep dive into TH-cam during lockdown and got my ultra fire lit, and went from couch to 50k in 2020. (I run 5 and 10ks every year, then take 4-5 months off every icy winter.) so I only gave myself 2 years to get in mountain ultra shape and get my rusty rock scrambling skills back... eek!! I'm still aiming for 2022, fingers crossed!!
"That run was a bit of a 'blah'" Yes Sara... I totally get that! That was me after my last long run on my Sunday Long Run. I was somewhat disappointed after the run frankly put off by the whole thing. But it happens. Which means the good runs will be even more appreciated. Best of luck on your journey.
Thank you for the great tips and reminders. Im approaching my 7th marathon and after 10 years of this, I am just minutes away from BQ. So, with that said… bucket list race is Boston! :)
Thanks so much for watching Doug! Fingers crossed for that unicorn!
Love this series! So helpful to hear you talk about tapering and ups and downs of mentally preparing!
I felt the exact same after watching the London marathon footage- I had my last long run of 12 miles that day ahead of my own first marathon on the 17th too and after watching the footage just felt overwhelmed by “I cannot do that!” 😬😬😬
You’ll rock Amsterdam! You’ve got such great training and support behind you.
I just started my taper for my first marathon in San Diego 11 days from now. So good luck on your race - you’re one week ahead of me.
So far my training went pretty well w/o an injury or bigger niggles but I had to take a week off 3 weeks before the racce due to a cold which turned my last long run into a mental and physical struggle. The race makes me feel excited and nervous at the same time so I take ‘one step at a time'
Well done on completing all your training Sarah! I’ve been watching all your videos as well as some other great ones from the running channel. I’ve been training for my first marathon, Manchester marathon which I ran last Sunday. It was so helpful to watch these videos in the run up to the big day and know that some of the things I was experiencing were completely normal. I had a good taper period that made me really paranoid but it worked out so great. I was well rested for the day and able to give it my best. I had the most amazing time. I hope you have a wonderful time on the day! Can’t wait to see the video of how you get on x
You’re doing an amazing job, Sarah!! I know how frustrating it is to miss/shorten a session at the end of your training cycle…but you just need to remind yourself that overall you’ve put in soooo much hard work that for sure has prepared you to run an amazing race! I’m tapering right now as well (for me second half). We are so close! Keep it up! 👍👍
Your heartfelt honesty about the highs & lows is something I think many will appreciate. I am certain the next 2 weeks will allow your leg soreness to sort itself out and you’ll be flying to Amsterdam brimming with confidence that you can get it done. We’re all pulling for you Sarah. Go do it!🏃🏻♂️
Just did my first half marathon and struggling to get back into the swing of things but following this I've definitely been excited to try and do a marathon next year.. signed up for the London marathon ballot! So thanks for the inspo. I'm sure your smash it
Loved this series! Looking forward to seeing your actual race now! Good luck!
My first marathon mantra was "Run Faster, Done Faster." :)
Very nice :D The founder of the beer brand Mikkeller has a similar one: Start out hard, then speed up gradually, and sprint to the finish!
I'm usually 'done' at 20 miles :)
Great series. I love the honesty, all the misery that you feel is very relatable for me. Best of luck in your race. Can’t wait to see the next video and cheer for you when you cross the finish line.👍🏻
You’ve got this! All the training you have done has been the toughest part. Now just enjoy the day, the atmosphere & the run when it comes.
I always find it slightly annoying when people say well meaning things like "you'll smash it" or "you'll do it easily" . Part of me thinks , " how the frig do you know - you've never run a marathon" . Truth is there's lots that can go wrong , and you may not achieve your goal . That's why it's a marathon - it's not easy , and if you do hit your target ,it's a huge achievement . My best advice would be set your GPS watch to show your current pace , and stick to your target pace . It's so easy to get caught up in the excitement , at the start of the race , go off to quickly ,and blow out at 18 miles . Good luck . You'll smash it 🤣🤣
After watching these videos of you getting ready for your first marathon I feel so much better about my first marathon which is in 12 days. I didn’t know that what I was going through was normal. Thank you for being honest about your process and and so making mine better.
How did it go?
I've really enjoyed watching this series. So honest and encouraging.
I am also running my first marathon the same day as Sarah and it has been awesome and so helpful following along this series. I have also struggled on some of my long runs, when just the previous week I had a great one so I love how relatable this is and how open Sarah is with her struggles. Best of luck in Amsterdam, you'll crush it! My bucket list would be NYC!
I love this series and I really hope the race goes well for you.
My tips would be to respect the distance, but don't be affraid of it. You can do it, you've certainly put in the work. It's really important to stick to your pace from the start and find your groove, it's easy to get carried away with fresh legs and the atmosphere, the longer you can save your reserves and postpone the hard patches the better.
Accept and appreciate that it will be tough at times, that is part and also the charm of marathon. Try to prepare mental solutions for when it does get tough ... and then prepare some more backup options and maybe backups to backups :) Chances are you may need to pick yourself up mentally more times and/or for longer duration than you expect right now. Good news is it's also not as bad as your brain will have you believe in that moment. So preparation in this area will make it a far more enjoyable experience.
Good luck! We'll be rooting for you on Sunday!
Sarah -the emotions (and physical niggles) you are feeling are totally normal. Overall, it sounds like you are in the right mental space for the training, taper and upcoming race. You've totally got this!
I've absolutely loved this series, I was in training for a half marathon but I've been delayed by injury. This series has got me eager to get back out there as soon as possible. Best of luck for your race! You're amazing!
During my taper for the Chester Marathon I looked for some sports mediation sessions on TH-cam & listened to them several times in the week before. They really helped me - I felt so much calmer on the day than I expected & I am sure it is because of these sessions. The other thing I did was work out my race strategy; how would I feel at each stage mile including when it got difficult. For difficult periods I turned up my music, had a big drink, repeated my mantra & forced myself to smile!
Everything you are and feeling now is perfectly normal Sarah, just keep calm and focused and you will be just fine! Good luck for race day, I hope everything goes your way but regardless of what happens, enjoy it! It's an unforgettable experience! Thank you for the series, have really enjoyed watching and can't wait to see the final episode.
I’ve really enjoyed this series as I start to think about doing my first marathon. Bucket list race: The Green Man Ultra in Bristol. 45 miles and run twice a year in opposite directions. I’d love to get my hands on a buckle for doing it twice in the same year! Good luck in Amsterdam Sarah!
Great series. Really has inspired me to build my running. Managed a half marathon. Next target is marathon. Bucket list would be London and New York
You've got this! Wishing you the best of luck for the marathon. I popped in, as I'm in recovery week after my first half-marathon (it was a blast), because your vlogs are enjoyable, real, and encouraging. I do notice here that your running style looks so much more fluid and strong than in your early videos (I missed quite a few, so your improvements are even more noticeable, like a kid you haven't seen for a year who is now a foot taller!). Wow! Your run may have been "blah" but you looked very fit and ready for your marathon. Yes, I certainly got very nervous before my race. Why do we put pressure on ourselves, or is this fear of pain😊? What helped me was focussing on being relaxed, pacing behind other runners, sometimes imagining someone was "towing" me, and feeling so grateful for the experience. Well, Sarah, you look amazingly strong. Good luck!
Just started training for my first 5k in 20 years , loving all the advice and videos.
Good luck for Sunday!!! You’ve got this!!!
I appreciate your honesty about your process😃 I do relate and it’s helpful to know that I am not the only one who feels this way sometimes
Another lovely video, Sarah - well done!
My London Marathon did not go as planned - 1:50 for the first half, 2:30 for the second!!! Lots of pain from Mile 18 to the finish.
I guess the lesson is that EVERYTHING has to go well for you to hit your "A Goal" so do prepare for things not to be perfect.
Very best of luck! We'll be watching.
Good luck Sarah! I'm training to run my first half marathon in December (not race) and then I will start my training for a full marathon race in April. Feel like i've taken a bit much on, however your commitment and the experiences you share, keeps me going! Lots of love
Thanks for sharing your training journey with us Sarah. Just had a quick google and realised that the marathon is this weekend! Massive good luck, I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine. Remember it's your victory lap and you can do hard things xxx
Absolute best of luck with the marathon Sarah, I am hoping we can all track you on race day. I ran my first marathon in 2019 when I was 47, and I can honestly say that the sense of achievement was the best feeling ever - so few people comparatively run a marathon. Trust the work you have done, and try and enjoy every minute of it - even at mile 20 when it gets tough!
Thanks so much Kim!
loved following your progress,
I've been training along side you for my first Marathon in york on the 17th October.
Good luck with Amsterdam 👍
Awesome! Thank you! Good luck to you too!
I love you Sarah!! I started running last year, August 8th, and now I am training for my very 1st half! Best of luck! I believe in you
Thank you Hannah! All the best for your half marathon training!
Like most average runners I split my runs into 3 basic categories of "the good, the bad and the ugly". And it's nice to see a TH-cam channel that reflects the realities that for most runners it's ups and downs on an almost daily basis. So well done all at the Running Channel. Keeping it real, really helps.
Top tip(s) for your first marathon is to stay relaxed and enjoy it. You're going to set a PB whatever you do so just live in the moment, soak up the atmosphere, smile, wave at the spectators and enjoy the scenery. Just don't fall into a canal 😆 You're ready and I know you'll smash it.
Best of luck on Sunday!! You will do great!
I am still looking forward to do my first marathon
you're gonna do great Sarah, it's been such an inspiration to watch your training!
Thank you so much!!
So excited for you!! Best of luck!! I know you’ll do great!
Good luck! I’m entering my taper now too in preparation for the NYC marathon. I’m totally in agreement about the maranoia. I’m staring at every crack in my path and giving them broad leeway.
I'm just watching this now but I can relate to everything you're saying so much!! Ran my first ever marathon last Sunday in Amsterdam too and it was such a great experience and went really well but the two weeks before I didn't feel good and stressed so much about everything and also tried hard not to get a cold or something. But all the four months of training were so worth it! Can't wait for your video of last Sunday!!
Good luck Sarah. My lovely son is studying in Amsterdam. I will tell him to cheer you on! Finishing a marathon is the most awesome feeling and I am glad you will experience it! My bucket list marathon is in fact the ultra marathon distance in Co Antrim, N.Ireland where I was born - the Causeway marathon. I intend to pop home from my adopted city of Leipzig to run it on my 50th birthday next year!
Good luck for Sunday Sarah, you’ve got this 👊🏻
Very inspiring and real. Thanks for sharing. Good luck Sarah
Thanks for the tapering tips! I’ve loved following along with this whole series
I’m doing a short taper for a HM this weekend, feels like such a treat to be doing short runs with easy, fun intervals. Running well inside the comfort zone.
Hope you enjoy your last taper week.
Well done Sarah, good luck and leave it on the course!
Thanks Sean! Good luck with your half marathon!
I’ve got quite a while before I get to my taper as I’m not running until Edinburgh 22; however, it’s what I’m most nervous about!
Watching you go through training for your first marathon has been so helpful. Thank you for taking us along!
Well done! Beware of those "phantom" pains while you're tapering. My bucket list race now would be the Loch Ness Marathon up in Scotland.
Loch Ness is awesome! Did it for my first marathon, beautiful course, hills near the end but great finish and the organisation and atmosphere are fantastic. Hope you get to do it.
Awesome effort, such a great series to watch.
My own tips for what they’re worth in Taperville.
1. Focus on the miles in the legs. Look at the monthly/weekly graphs on your watch/device/app. Don’t go into detail, just keep looking at the numbers and lines go up, and go “yeah, I did that”.
2. Pick your best long run (you decide what is meant by best) and just look at the splits, the map, and mentally take yourself back to memories of this run. Daydream about it relentlessly.
3. Maranoia is normal, we all have. Literally all of us. Welcome to the club.
4. Decide what gorgeously unhealthy thing you’ll eat at the other side of the finish line.
5. Check the weather forecast for the day x10 per day. C’mon, we all do it. Totally normal.
6. Pick your mantra for when the inner demons hit on the day (because they will). Keep it short, because you won’t remember anything complicated when you’re exhausted. Shout out to Anna for mine during London, something she said in her NYC video. “Watch me”. Worked a treat.
Good luck young lady. You’ve so got this 👍🏻
Thanks so much Ian, these are all really great tips!
Massively rooting for you Sarah! Top of my bucket list is Boston, followed by Berlin! I ran London on the 3rd as my first one and the atmosphere of the day carried me far more than a extra 5k on my taper weeks would have. You've got this!
It was a pleasure meeting you at the Adidas run. You have so got this, so enjoy your first marathon and soak up the whole experience.
I'm looking forward to running the 2022 Berlin Marathon with my son for my 60th so that can be ticked off my bucket list x
Love following your journey!
Go Sarah! I hope everything goes well until race day! How exciting it must be! I just hope in one year’s time I’ll be able to do my first marathon as well - before I turn 40! Hard to find the time with small kids around, but this year I’m determined not to pause running through the winter. Which is a challenge, being in Canada and all :))
Big thanks to you and your friends at The Running Channel for the videos! I find them very insightful and inspiring! Keep it up!!! Claudiu P.
Hi runningmates! I actually started running because of the coronavirus, because you couldn't do much else from sports (gyms were closed, contact sports were not allowed, ...). I started very slowly and gradually built up. I couldn't even run 5 km straight. But recently I even ran 20 km from Brussels and the 10 miles from Antwerp... (in Belgium) I'm happy with what I've already been able to achieve on my own, so maybe one day a marathon who knows! :) Good luck in advance Sarah, I'm sure you will be able to do this! You've got this!! ;) Videos from the Runningchannel are therefore very inspiring for me to keep going and to get tips about running in general! Like it a lot!! Keep up the good work!! :)
Good luck with the marathon Sarah! I've really enjoyed following your journey in this series - you've inspired me start training for my first marathon 🏃
Glad to see another video! Tapering is very strange - lots of extra time, and the anxiety can run rampant. I'm having a very difficult time trusting my training. I am so excited to hear how your race goes! Best wishes!
Good luck with the marathon - you got this!
Bucket list race is actually a marathon for me.
I was gearing up for a marathon next year. I'm old and started old, so I have to take it really slow, and after a couple of half marathons my foot got real cranky (My self diagnosis is problem with the plantar fascia and posterior tibialis). Eventually I'll probably go to a doctor or something, but I'm too stubborn to give up just yet. Cautious training and monitoring for rehab. Now I feel I have been set back a long ways. Watching this makes the mental battle seem a bit more doable, so thank you!
Best of luck this Sunday! With some of my mantras I try to convince myself 'I'm light as a feather' and 'I'm zooming along this course' in the hopes it puts an extra spring in my step.
Good luck for the race Sarah. I've got 2 mantras I like "one foot in front of the other" for boring sections when the legs feel heavy and "don't be shit" which I heard on a running channel video and is good for hills.
I love the "Don't be shit" too. Also Jens Voight's "Shut up legs!"
Have very much enjoyed this series of videos, wishing you lots of luck for Amsterdam!
So exciting to see you getting ready for Amsterdam Marathon. Go enjoy every moment of it!
Good luck with the marathon Sarah!
On my bucket list is the Bordeaux marathon around the vineyards and jumping in the lake to finish.
You’ve got this! Thanks for sharing your journey!
Good luck Sarah! You and Anna have inspired me to run a half marathon on the weekend!
That's great! Good luck Lauren!
Good luck for Sunday Sarah - be excited and relax - you can only do something for the first time once. I am currently tapering for my first marathon on 23 October (Beachy Head). I am fitter now than I have been since I was a teenager, which feels amazing (having only started running with a very wheezy and gradual couch to 5k in mid-2020 in recovery from long 'you know what'). This is definitely the victory lap and I intend to enjoy it. Enjoy your adventure in Amsterdam.
Good luck Sarah. You’ll smash it. ❤️
Marathon mantras....I live by.
“My race, my pace”
“Finish lines not finish times”
“If you think your going slow at the start....go slower”
“Beware it gets addictive”...I just completed Chester marathon on 3rd October which I highly recommend....which was Marathon no 7....now considering another in 2022 now that my legs are working again 😁.
Thanks so much Gary!
Well done Sarah, I did my first marathon a few weeks ago. I found the first week of the taper the hardest, I was still really tired and struggled with the runs. By the middle of the second week I started to feel really good and wanted to run longer and faster then my plan. Resist this temptation at all costs!!
Thank you so much! Well done on your first marathon 💪
Also the fact you have filmed while you are training is amazing!
Have just done my first marathon at Manchester and am still absorbing all the info I can so that I can be even more ready for my next one!
Congrats Sarah for your 14 weeks of training. It is now time for the race, you earned it !
Good luck for your first marathon ! 🤞
I had been looking forward to this video as I wanted to learn about how best to approach tapering. Found this very useful and watched it twice, (although that's partly because I spent the first half of the video realising I recognised the park and enjoy going through it as part of my long runs). Best of luck.
You are inspiring. Run strong. Run fast. Good luck at the race.
It's been great watching this series. You're definitely ready for race day! Go and enjoy the marathon
Thanks Nathan!
Excited for you! No matter how much I run, my length and volume, I am totally intimidated by the marathon and seriously struggling to commit. But it’s all in my head…I excited to see how you get on with race day….it’s an amazing mental and physical feat!
Thanks so much Michael! Appreciate your support 🙂
Love these marathon training series. Thanks so much Sarah. I am just getting started at 60 but it inspires me to boldly go there one day - but still got a long way to go. First 10k, then half and then who knows. (Anything is possible - William Shatner - Captain Kirk just went to space at 90...) Right now, all my runs are less-than-tapering.
My bucket list is the NY Marathon. I am a New Yorker and I really would love to run in my home city. I am training for my first in Los Angeles. Thank you for sharing your training with us. It has been really helpful. Loved seeing all of it. Thank you!
See you in Amsterdam! It's gonna be my first marathon as well, I'm very excited
Awesome! See you there and good luck!
Hey Sarah! Look at it this way: You have AMAZING runners and coaches around you, no doubt your training plan was as good as anyone could hope for. So, trust the training you've done, trust your race plan...the hard work is behind you...go out there, leave it all on the course and HAVE FUN! Between yours and Anna's marathon journeys, I have learned so much about my own running (things I excel at and, most notably, things I should be doing better), so thank you for being so brave and strong and for bringing this content to us! We're all behind you every step of the way...
Thank you so much Graham! Great to hear you've learned lots from our recent videos - that's why we make them 😀
@@runningchannel TRC videos are the highlight of my running week! I always learn something valuable from you guys. Andy is a hero of mine, Manny always has great inserts, Anna/Kate/Sarah are so relatable from the everyday runner's perspective and Rick ALWAYS has me in stitches...you guys have the perfect recipe! Best running channel on TH-cam, hands down. 💥