When a former classmate convinced me to sign up for my first half marathon, I didnāt exactly think it through. I only had about a month to prepare. I was cocky back then. I figured, āIāll be fine.ā Spoiler alert: I wasnāt. At least, not in the way I thought.
š Race Day: The Wake-Up Call
Race day came, and I barely slept the night before. Still, I laced up my shoes and got my family out the door so they could cheer me on. My first half marathon was the Marine Corps Historic Half, and the energy at the start line was electric.
The first few miles felt amazingāI actually believed I could finish in around 2 hours and 30 minutes. But then came the hills. Big ones. Hills I hadnāt prepared for.
āHospital Hill felt like Mount Everest after mile 10. I almost cried, but I kept moving.ā
For those who have run the Historic Half, you already know that Hospital Hill is a monster. Trying to tackle it after 10 miles nearly broke me. I walked several times during that raceāsomething I never planned on doing. By the end, I had lost a toenail. I could barely walk for days. I realized just how much I had underestimated what I signed up for.
And yetāI finished. And that finish line changed me.
š” Lesson 1: Consistency Beats Confidence
My biggest mistake? Thinking confidence could replace training. I skipped workouts, ignored mileage, and assumed ābeing young and fit enoughā would carry me through. Hospital Hill proved otherwise. Consistency, not bravado, is what builds endurance.
š¤ Lesson 2: Rest Is Part of the Process
In my rush to train, I thought running hard every day would make me stronger. Instead, my legs were screaming by race week. Hospital Hill showed me that recovery is fuel. Rest isnāt lazinessāitās training.
š„ Lesson 3: Nutrition Matters
By mile 9, I had nothing left in the tank. I hadnāt fueled properly, and it showed. That race taught me that food isnāt just fuelāitās survival. Oatmeal, bananas, and water became my essentials for future runs.
š§ Lesson 4: The Mental Game Is Everything
When my body wanted to quit, my mind had to take over.
āAt mile 10, my legs were done. My mind had to run the race for me.ā
Repeating mantras like āone step at a timeā helped me push up Hospital Hill. Running is as much mental as it is physical. Another mantra that kept me going was, “pain is weakness leaving the body”. Something I picked up from my Drill Sergeants back in the day. The body can do almost anything your mind wills it to.
š Lesson 5: Gear Can Save You
Blisters, sore feet, and losing a toenail taught me the hard way that the right shoes and socks matter. Gear canāt do the running for you, but it can make the journey bearable. Back then I wasn’t wise enough to know that your shoe size for running matters. I was naive about running shoes. I didn’t know that long-distance runners need to get their shoes 1/2 size larger than their regular everyday shoes. I learned that lesson the hard way and I had to learn it again…apparently I didn’t learn it well enough the first time.
š Lesson 6: Celebrate the FinishāEven If Itās Messy
By the time I crossed the finish line, I wasnāt runningāI was surviving. But I finished. That medal means more to me than any āperfectā run ever could. One of my favorite memories from that race is the picture I took with my family at the finish line. I also remember thinking that I wanted to run that race again immediately after I crossed the finish line. I can’t explain it but most long distance runners will tell you that.
āØ Final Thoughts
My first half marathon humbled me, but it also transformed me. I went in overconfident. I was under-prepared. I came out with a new respect for the distance, for training, and for myself.
If youāre thinking about running your first half marathon, hereās my advice:
- Train smart.
- Give yourself time.
- Respect the distance.
And if your race doesnāt go perfectly? Celebrate anyway. Every finish line is a victory.
š¬ Your Turn: Have you ever jumped into a challenge unprepared? Drop your story in the commentsāIād love to cheer you on!
Luluisthatgirl 