We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and me for another Fit Five Friday link-up!

I ran my first marathon in 2006.  Since then I’ve run 7 more marathons.  Throughout the years I’ve learned a couple of things here and there about training and running a marathon.  

• Have fun.  Running a marathon is one big party.  Take in everything that the crowd offers – from fruit, water, candy, and maybe the alcoholic drinks.  Just kidding.  Maybe.  

• Be prepared for anything.  I prepare as best as I can but race day doesn’t always go as we expect it to go.  Things such as weather, feeling nervous, bathroom issues, etc. happen.

• Don’t stress too much about the weather.  There isn’t much we can do about the weather except to be ready for it.  I will always remember the hot weather at the 2007 Chicago Marathon.  It was so hot that the race was cancelled.

• Rest and recover.  Training for a marathon is a lot on the body.  The body needs to recover.  We need to sleep and rest to continue to run/train for the marathon.

• Do the long runs.  I remember Bart Yasso saying this one time I went to hear him speak a few weeks before the Chicago Marathon.  He said that if you are going to skip/miss a run, don’t skip the long run.

The topic for next week – Runfessions with Marcia.  We hope you’ll link up with us!