I just want to say a big thank you to you Jane, I watched a lot of your videos before running my first marathon last Sunday (York - England) listening to your advice ! was able to let go of any pace ideas, I ran on how I felt, got to the end in 4 hours 11 minutes and enjoyed the whole run, for the last 6 miles I ran the mile I was in, it worked, so thank you again you helped so much
My pleasure truly - so glad you found the video helpful during your training! 4:11 is an amazing time for a first marathon, but most of all the fact that you enjoyed the whole experience is the most important part! CONGRATS!
Advice about effort is spot on. I am also running my first NYC (7th overall). I studied how my Strava connections who ran it before fared. Biggest things to look out for specific to the NYC course are: 1) Starting too fast with the uphill 1st mile on the bridge, and/or too fast to make up time on the 2nd downhill mile. 2) You see a lot of fear mongering about the 59th St Bridge but in general most people seem to handle it OK. If you are feeling tired at this point you need to slow down a bit 3) Multiple people sped up considerably when they hit 1st Ave, and they slowed down significantly from 20-26. 4) just after Mile 23 there is a hill on 5th Ave which is not big but it gives people trouble late in the race
I also want to thank you. I watch all your videos. Broke my BQ attempt into thirds “Be smart, be smooth, be brave,” and got a 5:08 cushion for Boston 2026.
That is AWESOME Paul!! With the new standards and that cushion I'm confident you'll be in! Love to hear you used that mantra through your race and that it helped you conquer the day.
Little do you know how you have been my coach for my first marathon. I am nervous but this really helped me so much!!!! I have had to throw my ego out the door when I decided to tackle my first marathon and realize I am going to be slow (I am 63. I think it's ok). Your videos have helped a lot!!! I did 11 today at my local park and it is still hot in Fort Worth Texas. It was a challenge to keep the heart rate down and finish, but I did and I have over 4 months to go. I feel really good about it so far with the help of all your advice!!!
I love that - so glad I can offer guidance this way! I love that you are 63 and doing your first marathon - you're going to do great!! Checking the ego and letting effort be your guide is huge. And if that means walk breaks to manage the effort over the long runs also great! Keep going!
YAY, Carlos!! How lucky are we?! Look for the comment from someone here who left some great specific advice about conquering the hills in NYC. Wishing you all the best!!
@@davidamiss7122 Hi David! Would love to connect. Please visit our coaching services page where you'll find a 1:1 coaching interest form to fill out: readysetmarathon.com/run-coaching-services/ Thanks!
Very helpful to think about RPE instead of obsessing over pace, thank you for this framing! I was injured during my first marathon because I ramped up training too quick, so I'm definitely going to keep your advice in mind for my "do-over" marathon this Sunday🤞
Listen to this woman people!! Jane, I have a running club that I train with but I watched all your videos and followed so much of your advice, especially the mental parts. I needed 4:05 to qualify for Boston (wouldn't get me in), was hoping to possibly get under 4:00. I ran 3:53:29!! 1 hour and 2 minutes faster than my only other marathon (where I did everything wrong). So thank you!!
I'm SO SO happy for you, Kevin!! You're going to Boston wahoooo!! Was it Indy?? Thank you for coming back here and sharing your experience and the kind words!! Way to work your tail off and get it done!
@@runningwithjane Yup Indy. Coming from the hills here in Cincinnati, I wanted something flatter. Weather was perfect, which was a huge factor for me. I'm Canadian and I've never adjusted to humidity. I tried Carmel earlier in the year and bailed after half since I knew it was too hot. I used so many of the things you've said in your videos. This one was front and center as I ran. I stayed with 4:00 pace group through 12, then I kind of got ahead at a water stop, so I started a bit of a push. I was thinking about your effort levels. Trust me when I say I was at a 10 in the last mile. I crossed the line, stopped, everything spun and they wheeled me to the medical tent. Nothing serious, just my blood pressure plummeting. When I knew I was going to make it, I started thinking about getting on here to let you know since you've encouraged me often when I've commented. Thanks for all you do. I'll keep viewing every video.
Big thank you to you and your videos. This year I did my first marathon at 3:34:33 then 5 months later my second marathon in a storm at 3:21:50 Great to know your hitting another one soon 💪 looking forward to it , good luck
Heck yes!! That is an awesome debut and amazing progress! Appreciate the kind words - means everything to play a small part in people's marathon journeys. Thanks for the well wishes, I'm excited to HAVE FUN on the streets of NYC!
Thanks for another awesome vlog, Jane! Nearly every point that you noted here is something that I experienced on my 20-miler last Sunday. It was my most successful long training run to date (and the last, before the big day on 3 November - same as you!), and because I was solo, all of the monitoring that you mentioned was easier to do without the same couple of regulars with whom I train most weekends. The weather was awesome, and I think that rather than pace, which when running in a group is more of a central focus, the concept of "R.P.E." was foremost in my mind. I was well within my goal time-frame by the end, and I definitely had more miles to give that morning. Your advice has always been spot-on, but I think that it just having been me, my music, and the miles ahead forced me to run with the utmost longevity scheme in mind, and to accept what marathon "race pace" really is for me. I am truly ready for this race and experience, thanks in no small part to your presentations, and on an infinitesimal side note, I'll hope to see you on race day (or the expo) among 60,000 other runners that weekend (ha ha)! May you have a great race for yourself!
Great to hear your last 20-miler went so well! I love running with my friends, but I love the control I have on the long runs when I'm alone and prefer that. Less pressure on myself in general and really allows me to pay attention to how I feel. So I 100% know exactly what you mean!! Love how ready you feel...real trust in your training is the best feeling. Knowing you can't control everything on race day, but that you are going in as prepared as you possibly could be. I know it's a long shot but yes, PLEASE say hi if you happen to see me!! Have an AWESOME race!!
Best of luck at MCM, Erik! We have a few athletes on our team racing that also...weather is looking good, too. Hope it's an awesome experience for you!
Thanks so much for this! Also training for NYC, and it will be my first marathon. I am largely self-coached so always looking for tips-especially now that I’m tapering and second-guessing every decision :) Good luck next Sunday!
Absolutely true! You mentioning this makes me realize how as a swimmer I was able to naturally do this better than when I became a runner. I think it has a lot to do with our fixation of staring at a pace and not letting effort be the guide...when you're swimming you just can't do that.
Aghhhh!! Please say hi if you happen to see me! I'll be around the expo on Sat. morning - I'll be in Blue Wave 3 a little behind you. Let's have the mostest fun ever!
my watch broke down during yesterdays marathon. it was showing 170-180 bpm only 10 km into the race, I was freaking out thinking that it was due to me being ill several days before the race. It took a while to figure out what was going on. finally I decided to trust myself and continue based on perceived effort. Risky choice that had me thinking but I never hit the wall and finished strong.
Good luck in NYC - one day I might be able to run that one, too. I am running a 2-loop half as marathon in Santa Clarita in 2 1/2 weeks. Since my second marathon I developed a good sense of what I am capable of while running Half and Full Marathons and so after a few miles I roughly know where I end up. Right now I feel slightly slower than in June but this one is pretty flat compared to San Diego RnR and so I might be able to run the same time or slightly better. Next year I am shooting for a sub-4 marathon to see if I can hit Boston Qualifying time.
It feels good to get to that spot to just know your body and what you can do! That's definitely a sign of tapping into understanding how to run by effort. Hope you have an excellent race coming up! Do you have a course in mind for next year to go for the BQ?
@@runningwithjane I registered again for San Diego RnR but I might only do the Half there if I feel confident to hit BQ goal and look for a flatter marathon. The only issue I have with San Diego RnR is that it is too late into the Summer to go for Chicago or NYC. It all depends on how I do in Santa Clarita.
Hi Jason! This is a great request...I need to do more HM content and am looking for some topics where I could tackle some shorter videos and this would be a good one. Would you like a balance of how to manage effort and pace?
@@runningwithjane Yes, sounds great! Any tips you have at all about what goal to set, how it should feel at different points in the race, whether it feels like tempo or threshold runs, what's your HR data look like afterwards, etc.
Thanks so much, Tim!! I'm running for the Kidney Foundation and with an athlete of mine who gave a kidney to his son in 2021, ran for NKF in 2022 and then suffered a very serious accident during his first triathlon unknowing what the future held...but he is back and running and his training has gone so amazing! Here is a video with the story if you want to watch...I keep meaning to put the link out on the community tab... th-cam.com/video/6Ut7J2l9_y0/w-d-xo.html
Hi! Someone else asked me to do a video on this, so that's going to be my next one after my NYC Marathon Race Recap I think. But generally yes...ease in, find goal pace through the middle and go for it at the end!
So yes, great question, Scott. Since it's effort based, think about "slower on the ups, faster on the downs." Obvi don't be crazy on the downhills, but play the uphill smart, and you get to ride the downhill and get back some of that pace you lost. Whether flat, up or down...idea is to match the effort.
Do you ever feel tightness in your chest or deltoid during a long run? I just did my last long run if 18 miles and experienced some pressure… now tapering till Nov 16
Hi Ryan, I've personally never felt that and not sure I've heard it from any of my athletes before either. Did you do any different strength training that week or anything else you could have done that caused it? How are you feeling now with your marathon 1.5 weeks out?
thanks for your reply. I am feeling fine but for a few days I continued to feel that pressure. I am doing three Hansons beginner plan, which is higher mileage, my first time doing this type of plan. They have you go up to 16 miles a few times as peak long run, but since my peak week was over 60miles I decided to up it and do 18. I think my mistake might have been that I did the run at a faster pace, as I was using the run as a ‘simulator’, targeting 3:45, and my overall pace for the workout ended up being 8:33 unintentionally, which had some miles slower at long run pace and some at race pace/faster based on the hills near me. This chest tightness only appeared the last few miles at around 16, when I started a pickup. I now wish I had not done that as my mental is thrown off… aside from that Richmond looks to have great weather in the forecast 😊
Chicago was my first LARGE Marathon. Since I won my sponsored entry, I was placed in the last corral. I didn’t expect people to be walking right out of the gate. 🫤 I used a lot of energy weaving around runners/walkers. I DID expect the long morning wait and the extremely long bathroom lines, but I didn’t expect a half hour walk time just to get up to the start. I much prefer the more rural, country miles. 😊
Congrats on Chi! Oh gosh, yes it would be tough to get a rhythm through all that! I prefer the mid-size races myself...Houston and CIM were a great size...pretty smooth start, enough crowd support and you can find your people pretty quickly at the end. How did you win a sponsored entry...that's really awesome!
Looking for 1:1 Coaching, custom plan or 1-hour call to lock race day strategy? Start here 👉 readysetmarathon.com/run-coaching-services/
I just want to say a big thank you to you Jane, I watched a lot of your videos before running my first marathon last Sunday (York - England) listening to your advice ! was able to let go of any pace ideas, I ran on how I felt, got to the end in 4 hours 11 minutes and enjoyed the whole run, for the last 6 miles I ran the mile I was in, it worked, so thank you again you helped so much
My pleasure truly - so glad you found the video helpful during your training! 4:11 is an amazing time for a first marathon, but most of all the fact that you enjoyed the whole experience is the most important part! CONGRATS!
Advice about effort is spot on. I am also running my first NYC (7th overall). I studied how my Strava connections who ran it before fared. Biggest things to look out for specific to the NYC course are:
1) Starting too fast with the uphill 1st mile on the bridge, and/or too fast to make up time on the 2nd downhill mile.
2) You see a lot of fear mongering about the 59th St Bridge but in general most people seem to handle it OK. If you are feeling tired at this point you need to slow down a bit
3) Multiple people sped up considerably when they hit 1st Ave, and they slowed down significantly from 20-26.
4) just after Mile 23 there is a hill on 5th Ave which is not big but it gives people trouble late in the race
Looovvvee this info!! Thank you for sharing!! Mile one I am going SLOOOWWW! Best of luck - let's have the MOST FUN!
I also want to thank you. I watch all your videos. Broke my BQ attempt into thirds “Be smart, be smooth, be brave,” and got a 5:08 cushion for Boston 2026.
That is AWESOME Paul!! With the new standards and that cushion I'm confident you'll be in! Love to hear you used that mantra through your race and that it helped you conquer the day.
Little do you know how you have been my coach for my first marathon. I am nervous but this really helped me so much!!!! I have had to throw my ego out the door when I decided to tackle my first marathon and realize I am going to be slow (I am 63. I think it's ok). Your videos have helped a lot!!! I did 11 today at my local park and it is still hot in Fort Worth Texas. It was a challenge to keep the heart rate down and finish, but I did and I have over 4 months to go. I feel really good about it so far with the help of all your advice!!!
I love that - so glad I can offer guidance this way! I love that you are 63 and doing your first marathon - you're going to do great!! Checking the ego and letting effort be your guide is huge. And if that means walk breaks to manage the effort over the long runs also great! Keep going!
Perfect video. I am running my first marathon in NYC 2024 and I will definitely follow this. Thanks!
YAY, Carlos!! How lucky are we?! Look for the comment from someone here who left some great specific advice about conquering the hills in NYC. Wishing you all the best!!
@@runningwithjane thanks!!! Just saw the comment and it is really helpful. Wishing you the best too! :). Can’t wait!
I’m interested in receiving coaching. What are the next steps?
@@davidamiss7122 Hi David! Would love to connect. Please visit our coaching services page where you'll find a 1:1 coaching interest form to fill out: readysetmarathon.com/run-coaching-services/ Thanks!
Very helpful to think about RPE instead of obsessing over pace, thank you for this framing! I was injured during my first marathon because I ramped up training too quick, so I'm definitely going to keep your advice in mind for my "do-over" marathon this Sunday🤞
Wishing you best of luck in this next marathon...I like to call it the "level up marathon!" Which one are you racing?
Just ran my first marathon - Detroit - after having watched many of your videos. Thank you for the tips and encouragement!
Big congrats, John! How was your experience there? I had a couple of athletes run it last year and loved that race.
Thanks Jane! Good summary of RPE.
Glad it was helpful! Appreciate you watching and commenting!
Listen to this woman people!! Jane, I have a running club that I train with but I watched all your videos and followed so much of your advice, especially the mental parts. I needed 4:05 to qualify for Boston (wouldn't get me in), was hoping to possibly get under 4:00. I ran 3:53:29!! 1 hour and 2 minutes faster than my only other marathon (where I did everything wrong). So thank you!!
I'm SO SO happy for you, Kevin!! You're going to Boston wahoooo!! Was it Indy?? Thank you for coming back here and sharing your experience and the kind words!! Way to work your tail off and get it done!
@@runningwithjane Yup Indy. Coming from the hills here in Cincinnati, I wanted something flatter. Weather was perfect, which was a huge factor for me. I'm Canadian and I've never adjusted to humidity. I tried Carmel earlier in the year and bailed after half since I knew it was too hot. I used so many of the things you've said in your videos. This one was front and center as I ran. I stayed with 4:00 pace group through 12, then I kind of got ahead at a water stop, so I started a bit of a push. I was thinking about your effort levels. Trust me when I say I was at a 10 in the last mile. I crossed the line, stopped, everything spun and they wheeled me to the medical tent. Nothing serious, just my blood pressure plummeting. When I knew I was going to make it, I started thinking about getting on here to let you know since you've encouraged me often when I've commented. Thanks for all you do. I'll keep viewing every video.
I love how clean, easy and clear you share these critical tips with us. Thanks for sharing 💙
I appreciate that kind feedback! I think 12 years as a teacher prepped me well for this TH-cam coaching role LOL.
Big thank you to you and your videos. This year I did my first marathon at 3:34:33 then 5 months later my second marathon in a storm at 3:21:50
Great to know your hitting another one soon 💪 looking forward to it , good luck
Heck yes!! That is an awesome debut and amazing progress! Appreciate the kind words - means everything to play a small part in people's marathon journeys. Thanks for the well wishes, I'm excited to HAVE FUN on the streets of NYC!
Good advice, thanks.
I’m running NYC too. Good luck! 👍
YAY!! I'm sure it's unlikely LOL, but please say hi if you happen to see me! Best of luck and HAVE FUN!
Love this. Thank you. It really gives me hope.
You got this, Kevin!
Thanks for another awesome vlog, Jane! Nearly every point that you noted here is something that I experienced on my 20-miler last Sunday. It was my most successful long training run to date (and the last, before the big day on 3 November - same as you!), and because I was solo, all of the monitoring that you mentioned was easier to do without the same couple of regulars with whom I train most weekends. The weather was awesome, and I think that rather than pace, which when running in a group is more of a central focus, the concept of "R.P.E." was foremost in my mind. I was well within my goal time-frame by the end, and I definitely had more miles to give that morning. Your advice has always been spot-on, but I think that it just having been me, my music, and the miles ahead forced me to run with the utmost longevity scheme in mind, and to accept what marathon "race pace" really is for me. I am truly ready for this race and experience, thanks in no small part to your presentations, and on an infinitesimal side note, I'll hope to see you on race day (or the expo) among 60,000 other runners that weekend (ha ha)! May you have a great race for yourself!
Great to hear your last 20-miler went so well! I love running with my friends, but I love the control I have on the long runs when I'm alone and prefer that. Less pressure on myself in general and really allows me to pay attention to how I feel. So I 100% know exactly what you mean!! Love how ready you feel...real trust in your training is the best feeling. Knowing you can't control everything on race day, but that you are going in as prepared as you possibly could be. I know it's a long shot but yes, PLEASE say hi if you happen to see me!! Have an AWESOME race!!
Great stuff! On my way to DC for the Marine Corps Marathon…my first!
Best of luck at MCM, Erik! We have a few athletes on our team racing that also...weather is looking good, too. Hope it's an awesome experience for you!
@@runningwithjane it sure was!
Thanks so much for this! Also training for NYC, and it will be my first marathon. I am largely self-coached so always looking for tips-especially now that I’m tapering and second-guessing every decision :)
Good luck next Sunday!
Almost go time!!! Glad to hear you found the video helpful, Frank, and best of luck to you, too! NYC for you first one is pretty awesome!
Great advice! Gonna use this for a 12 hour race next weekend - good luck in NYC!
Best of luck, Trevor!! Love to hear you're still out crushing it!
Good advice for most endurance events regardless of sport or distance.
Absolutely true! You mentioning this makes me realize how as a swimmer I was able to naturally do this better than when I became a runner. I think it has a lot to do with our fixation of staring at a pace and not letting effort be the guide...when you're swimming you just can't do that.
Hope to see you in NYC next week! GLGL! Orange wave 2 this yr for me
Aghhhh!! Please say hi if you happen to see me! I'll be around the expo on Sat. morning - I'll be in Blue Wave 3 a little behind you. Let's have the mostest fun ever!
@@runningwithjane aiming to do expo n bag drop stuff on Friday. Saturday will be spent rest and eating 😁
my watch broke down during yesterdays marathon. it was showing 170-180 bpm only 10 km into the race, I was freaking out thinking that it was due to me being ill several days before the race. It took a while to figure out what was going on. finally I decided to trust myself and continue based on perceived effort. Risky choice that had me thinking but I never hit the wall and finished strong.
Thanks for the advice! I got my first marathon next Sunday.
Best of luck, Ramon! I hope you have the best experience. Which one are you doing?
Local race here in Fresno CA.
Two cities marathon.
@@ramonhernandez2761 Oh awesome! One of the other coach's athletes is running that one!
Good luck in NYC - one day I might be able to run that one, too. I am running a 2-loop half as marathon in Santa Clarita in 2 1/2 weeks. Since my second marathon I developed a good sense of what I am capable of while running Half and Full Marathons and so after a few miles I roughly know where I end up. Right now I feel slightly slower than in June but this one is pretty flat compared to San Diego RnR and so I might be able to run the same time or slightly better.
Next year I am shooting for a sub-4 marathon to see if I can hit Boston Qualifying time.
It feels good to get to that spot to just know your body and what you can do! That's definitely a sign of tapping into understanding how to run by effort. Hope you have an excellent race coming up! Do you have a course in mind for next year to go for the BQ?
@@runningwithjane I registered again for San Diego RnR but I might only do the Half there if I feel confident to hit BQ goal and look for a flatter marathon. The only issue I have with San Diego RnR is that it is too late into the Summer to go for Chicago or NYC. It all depends on how I do in Santa Clarita.
Thanks for the info! Would love to see a pacing strategy for HM as well.
Hi Jason! This is a great request...I need to do more HM content and am looking for some topics where I could tackle some shorter videos and this would be a good one. Would you like a balance of how to manage effort and pace?
@@runningwithjane Yes, sounds great! Any tips you have at all about what goal to set, how it should feel at different points in the race, whether it feels like tempo or threshold runs, what's your HR data look like afterwards, etc.
Best of luck in NYC!
Thanks so much, Tim!! I'm running for the Kidney Foundation and with an athlete of mine who gave a kidney to his son in 2021, ran for NKF in 2022 and then suffered a very serious accident during his first triathlon unknowing what the future held...but he is back and running and his training has gone so amazing! Here is a video with the story if you want to watch...I keep meaning to put the link out on the community tab... th-cam.com/video/6Ut7J2l9_y0/w-d-xo.html
Really helpful description of a good race strategy. Could I apply the same principle to a half marathon, or would you suggest some alterations?
Hi! Someone else asked me to do a video on this, so that's going to be my next one after my NYC Marathon Race Recap I think. But generally yes...ease in, find goal pace through the middle and go for it at the end!
Good luck in NY!
GAH!! Thank you so much - I'm beyond excited!
What do you think about going a little faster during the downhill portions? Since it would be less effort going downhill. Good luck in NYC!
So yes, great question, Scott. Since it's effort based, think about "slower on the ups, faster on the downs." Obvi don't be crazy on the downhills, but play the uphill smart, and you get to ride the downhill and get back some of that pace you lost. Whether flat, up or down...idea is to match the effort.
Do you ever feel tightness in your chest or deltoid during a long run? I just did my last long run if 18 miles and experienced some pressure… now tapering till Nov 16
Hi Ryan, I've personally never felt that and not sure I've heard it from any of my athletes before either. Did you do any different strength training that week or anything else you could have done that caused it? How are you feeling now with your marathon 1.5 weeks out?
thanks for your reply. I am feeling fine but for a few days I continued to feel that pressure. I am doing three Hansons beginner plan, which is higher mileage, my first time doing this type of plan. They have you go up to 16 miles a few times as peak long run, but since my peak week was over 60miles I decided to up it and do 18. I think my mistake might have been that I did the run at a faster pace, as I was using the run as a ‘simulator’, targeting 3:45, and my overall pace for the workout ended up being 8:33 unintentionally, which had some miles slower at long run pace and some at race pace/faster based on the hills near me. This chest tightness only appeared the last few miles at around 16, when I started a pickup. I now wish I had not done that as my mental is thrown off… aside from that Richmond looks to have great weather in the forecast 😊
Chicago was my first LARGE Marathon. Since I won my sponsored entry, I was placed in the last corral. I didn’t expect people to be walking right out of the gate. 🫤 I used a lot of energy weaving around runners/walkers. I DID expect the long morning wait and the extremely long bathroom lines, but I didn’t expect a half hour walk time just to get up to the start. I much prefer the more rural, country miles. 😊
Congrats on Chi! Oh gosh, yes it would be tough to get a rhythm through all that! I prefer the mid-size races myself...Houston and CIM were a great size...pretty smooth start, enough crowd support and you can find your people pretty quickly at the end. How did you win a sponsored entry...that's really awesome!
@@runningwithjane My employer is a CHI sponsor. They had a drawing. 😊