29 Oct One (Undertrained) PT’s Experience Running a Marathon

By: Dr. Jessica Hull

Very few times in life do you get the opportunity to brag about running a marathon, least of all running a marathon all the way to Canada and back! 

As a seasoned half marathon (13.1 miles) runner, I thought for years that the next step in my (very mediocre) running career would be to tackle that ultimate distance… the marathon (26.2 miles)! After a couple years of consideration, I chose the Detroit Free Press Marathon for the opportunity to run across the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit into Windsor, Canada, and then return via the “Underwater Mile” through the Windsor Tunnel, before finishing up the final stretch back in Detroit. I worked on building my strength about twelve months prior to crossing the start line, started building my base mileage about eight months prior, and at eighteen weeks to go I officially started my run training program with the help of a popular running app. 

For several weeks, the training went nearly exactly as planned. I built myself up to the half marathon distance and found that what had previously been my further distance and most monumental effort was now just a long Saturday morning run! However, this is when the wrench was thrown into my plans… For the next two weeks, the weather was blazingly hot (training in summer for a fall marathon is no joke) and I found excuses to avoid my longer runs. Then three weekends of traveling piled up – no time to run when life is so fun (and busy)! Once those five weeks of limited training had passed, I felt defeated about my plan and sort of gave up on training, only running the bare minimum and keeping runs very short. I took my goal from thriving to surviving and from competing to just completing. 

Just last weekend, I toed the start line of the marathon, knowing that my training was not up to snuff, but willing my body to cooperate anyway. I crossed the finish line in one piece, having found a reserve of energy and will that I didn’t know my body even possessed. I felt so proud of myself and the effort I gave. That being said… it came with an unfortunate side effect! I am now nursing a right foot injury, likely brought on by repetitive stress that my body was not prepared to handle. Reflecting on my situation, there are things I am proud of myself for, and things that I would change if I did it again. I would also use this insight if I were coaching one of my patients through marathon training. 

Things I Did Right: 

• Strength trained with a focus on muscles and movements that would serve me well while running. This is something a PT can help customize to the weak links in your body and in your running form – and we provide free running screenings to get started on that process here at Body One! 

• Started building my base mileage before starting my official training program, so that my body was more ready to take on the load of higher mileage weeks. 

• Followed a training protocol that was pre-designed, but allowed myself some flexibility to avoid overloading my body and let the plan adjust to my normal life. 

• Practiced fueling during my training so I knew how to execute eating while running on race day. 

• Prioritized rest and recovery following the event to allow my body to heal and avoid further injury. I even utilized some tools that we offer in our Recovery Plus packages geared toward athletic recovery, including foam rolling, Thera-gun use, and consistently using the Normatec recovery compression boots – which helped a ton for post-marathon soreness! 

• Surrounded myself with a supportive crew, before race day and on race day, so I knew I had people in my corner when things got tough! 

Things I Could Have Done Better: 

• Followed through on my training protocol, even if I had to take a month-long break due to other commitments. I can’t say for sure, but I think my foot injury may have been avoided if I had exposed my body to more gradual stress to build my tolerance in the months before the race. 

• They say doctors make the worst patients and it’s probably true! I have pushed the limits of the foot injury even after the marathon (in denial of having an actual injury). This might set me up for recurring issues in the future. 

• Continued to strength train 1-2 days per week at a lower capacity to keep my muscles fresh and happy while increasing my load. 

• Incorporating mobility exercises into my routine, like yoga or Pilates, to allow my joints to build strength in all ranges of motion and build my stability and core strength. 

• Recorded myself running and performed a video gait analysis of my running. If my form had been more efficient, I might have made the long distance effort a little less taxing on myself. This is also something we offer here at Body One as part of our full running assessment in the Running Performance Program, and it can have a big impact on pain, running economy, and even help you get faster! 

Ultimately, even being a physical therapist couldn’t save me from falling into some training potholes, but I’m lucky I came out alive and can now call myself a marathoner! 

If you are looking to train for a distance running event and would like to avoid some of the errors that I made, seeing a physical therapist for a free run screening to get started on some exercises or diving into a full running assessment that includes video gait analysis may help you start your run on the right foot!