Given how complex and overwhelming training for a marathon can seem, particularly for a
first marathon, it is easy to end up making some common training mistakes that can hinder or, even worse, derail your marathon training altogether.  Below are seven of the most common marathon training mistakes (in no particular order).  If you find yourself making these errors, it is easy to get back on track simply by taking the suggested corrective action.

Marathon Training Mistake #1: Focus on how hard the training may be, rather than focusing on the training process.  Many beginners are hyper-focused on how “hard” a marathon might be due in part because they have never done one before.  That’s a mistake.  The marathon is the easy part.  If you do it correctly, your training day in and day out and the sacrifices you’ll have to make to stay consistent in your training is actually the hard part.  Do the training and you’ll see that the marathon will be simply a celebration of your fitness.

Marathon Training Mistake #2: Focus on weight loss.  You may or may NOT lose weight when training for a marathon.  Don’t focus on your weight, focus on getting your training done correctly, eating well, and sleeping a full night’s sleep every night. Your body is going through a lot of stress already when training for a marathon, don’t stress it more by trying to lose weight.

Marathon Training Mistake #3: Building up mileage too quickly.  People often look at their marathon training schedule and say, “well my long runs only increase by a mile or two each week…I can run a little more than that.”  The mistake lies in the fact that mileage buildup is a progression that over time, if done incorrectly, can lead to injury or illness later on down the road.  (Click here to see how the phases of marathon training work.)  You may very well be able to run a little further for your long run or mid week runs, but if you do, you may also very well get injured or sick and derail your training.

Marathon Training Mistake #4: “Racing” your friends during your training runs.  Training is not a race.  Run all your runs at YOUR pace; not your friend’s pace, not your brother’s pace, and not your “wish” pace.  If you train with too much intensity (run too fast during training) bad things will happen…trust me.  Save “racing” your friends for marathon race day.

Marathon Training Mistake #5: Not “testing” what you will wear on race day.  Many beginners don’t test out the majority of their clothing before race day either because they just don’t know what they’ll wear on race day or they just don’t think about it.  It’s best to figure out if that run skirt or those “cool socks” with the individual toes chafe or cause blisters on your training runs rather than during the race.

Marathon Training Mistake #6: Not consistently getting enough sleep every night.  It’s imperative to sleep!  Aim for at 8hrs as often and as consistently as you can.  We are all busy people and with the added commitment of training for a marathon, sleep can sometimes be the first thing to go.  Don’t allow it to happen.  Be religious, almost selfish, about getting your proper sleep.  Again, like with your training, consistency is the key.  It will have an immediate benefit to your training and overall health if you do.

Marathon Training Mistake #7: Not drinking enough water.  You need to ensure you are drinking water during the day.  12oz per hour for every waking hour is a good beginning benchmark to try and follow.  If you currently don’t do this, you’ll find yourself going to the bathroom constantly. Don’t worry, as your body begins to get used to the new water intake, this will subside.  Your individual amount of proper water intake does vary somewhat significantly and varies depending on your gender, weight, sweat rate, etc. but over time you’ll find what works for you based on this beginning benchmark.