I’ve done it! I have finally made a decision about my first marathon. Newport it will be!
I am not a good decision maker. I agonize. I research and I plan and I debate with myself until I’m exhausted. Just when I think I’ve made a decision, I second guess myself and begin to pick it apart. Deciding on which marathon to select as my first was no different.
There are so many factors to consider and I just wanted to make sure my decision was a good one. The right one. The best one possible.
No pressure or anything.
In the end, it came down to two primary factors:
- Location – I didn’t want to travel too far. Newport is only a couple hours by car. I can easily travel there the day before the race and have plenty of time to rest after arriving.
- Timing – The idea of running the local Portland Marathon as my first was very tempting, but I just didn’t want to wait until October. While I still have training to do, I really don’t think I need quite that much time to prepare and the extra wait felt a bit painful to think about.
The Newport Marathon is a smaller event, capping out at 900 runners, but after much research I have found it to be generally well-reviewed by other runners. It has a pattern of being well-organized and is a mostly flat course. I think June will be ideal as far as weather is concerned and it’s not so small that I’ll feel too lonely (I hope).
So, with just a bit under 5 months to go, the training plan is being finalized so I that I can stay focused through the rest of winter and spring. Having run a personal distance PR of 17.5 miles last weekend, I’m feeling good about being ready come June 1st.
If any of you seasoned marathoners out there have any tips or advice, I gladly welcome them. I am both incredibly excited and somewhat terrified all at once – but that’s what conquering new personal challenges is all about, right?
Congratulations! Planning on running my first marathon in 2013, too, so no tips or advice, but I look forward to following your training!
Thank you! I appreciate the support!
Good on you for entering! I did my first marathon in October last year and had a fantastic experience. I ran an undulating course, with 16500 other runners so a bit different to your planned race. The training takes a lot of your time….and be sure to get those long runs done in the weeks leading up to your taper….and make sure you taper properly, it is so important. I think having a time in mind, but not being too strict with it helps. it’s such a long time to be running, and anything can happen on the day. I trawled the web for advice and a site that helped was http://www.marathontraining.com/ I found his advice really good
Good luck and I look forward to reading about your journey
Thank you for your support and advice! I will look through that website – the more information I can have, the better.
I am definitely trying not to be too fixated on a time (though, of course, I have some time-related goals in mind). I know, though, that just finishing my first one will be a huge accomplishment in and of itself!
Congrats on signing up for your first full! I haven’t completed one yet – want too – just working up the nerve. Good luck, can’t wait to hear your progress!
Thank you! Getting over the nerves is a HUGE part of it. I had a bundle of them!
aaaah congrats and best of luck!!
Thank you!!!
I like your marathon choice. I haven’t run Newport, but I love marathons near the water. Respect the long runs and the taper and don’t panic if you miss a training run or two.
Thanks, Mary Lou – I really appreciate that advice!
Hal Higdon!
Ha! That’s so great. I’m reading his book ‘Marathon’ right now! And, will be sorting through his online information, too. Thanks!
Good choice with the marathon close to home. I find this strategy eliminates one level of stress (travel stress), where you can just focus on your event. My favorite races are those close to home where it’s a short car ride away. Enjoy your experience. The first marathon is special. Have fun
Thanks, Debbie! I really appreciate that feedback.
I’m not a runner, but I have spent so much time in Newport (I learned to walk there and last year I went on my honeymoon there
), and I think you will really enjoy yourself there. It’s so beautiful.
Yay – that’s great news! Thanks!
[...] . . frankly, it’s a bit overwhelming. I mentioned previously that I committed to running my first marathon. So once that decision was made, I logically moved on to the next step in the process, which is [...]
Good for you!! I live in Spokane Washington and will also be running the Newport marathon for my first ever full marathon.
i finally worked up the guts to sign up for a full. I’m really looking forward to it and have been following the Hal higdon training schedule. Good luck!
That’s fantastic! I guess we’re in it together – even if we’re training in different places! Good luck in Newport!