"42.195 km Changed My Life"
— What I Learned from Running My First Marathon
⏰ It Started as a Crazy Idea, But It Became Life-Changing
It was spring 2022 when I signed up for a full marathon on a whim. I wasn’t a gym regular. I hadn’t trained. I just clicked "Register" one day.
But the process of preparing — and eventually finishing — that marathon changed my routine, my health, and my mindset forever.
✅ 5 Reasons You Should Run a Marathon
| Reason | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Builds consistency | Gives you a goal. You have a reason to run daily. |
| 2. Strengthens mentality | After 30 km, it’s a battle of willpower more than legs. |
| 3. Improves health | My LDL cholesterol dropped from 130 to 98. |
| 4. Resets your routine | I started waking up at 6AM naturally. |
| 5. Teaches real goal setting | Plan → Train → Finish → Feel pride → Confidence boost |
⚠️ Downsides of Marathon Training (If You’re Unprepared)
| Challenge | How to Handle |
|---|---|
| Knee/ankle injuries | Use proper running shoes + cushion socks + correct landing |
| Time-consuming | 10 km takes at least 1 hour — plan ahead |
| Feeling lonely | Join a running crew or local race club |
| Motivation burnout | Don’t obsess over time — keep moving consistently |
| Energy depletion | Balance carbs, protein, and hydration |
🔄 Pre-Marathon Warm-up Routine (10 Minutes)
I got injured early on — simply because I skipped stretching. Since then, this became my go-to warm-up before every run. And I finished injury-free.
🔻 3-Step Warm-up
- Hamstring Stretch (20 sec) — Stand and bend forward to stretch the back of your thighs
- Quad Stretch (20 sec/leg) — Grab one foot behind while balancing on the other
- Calf Stretch (20 sec/leg) — Lean into a wall, push the heel of the back leg to the ground
👉 You can also view this as an image guide below!
🏃♀️ Running Form: Don’t Focus on Speed — Focus on Form
At first, I only cared about speed. But once a coach corrected my form, my knee pain disappeared.
| Body Part | Correct Posture |
|---|---|
| Head | Look forward, tuck your chin slightly |
| Shoulders | Stay relaxed, avoid swinging too much |
| Arms | Keep at 90 degrees, swing beside torso |
| Feet | Land heel → midfoot → toe in sequence |
| Breathing | Inhale through nose, exhale through mouth — try 3-2 rhythm |
💬 Final Thoughts: 42.195 km for a Better Me
Marathon isn’t about beating others. It’s about becoming a better version of yourself.
- I didn’t quit at 5 km even when I was out of breath
- I didn’t stop at 25 km even when my thighs were burning
- I cried crossing the finish line — it was real, and it meant everything
It’s not just a number. 42.195 is a journey worth taking at least once in your life.
