marathon training is like trying lose weight

How Marathon Training is Like Trying to Lose Weight

While I have, at times in my life, worked to lose five pounds that got blown out of proportion in my own mind, I admit I’ve never had the experience of trying to lose weight in a serious way.

However, I have worked with a lot of men and women who have been on that journey, and while I know it’s not the same, it’s enough to be able to see some similarities between trying to lose weight and training for marathon–which I’ve been doing for the last four months.

It Requires a Long-Term Commitment

I’ve seen a lot of people get frustrated and even give up on trying to lose weight when the results didn’t show up right away. Let me tell you: when I was running nine miles my first week, it was hard to imagine a day when I would be able to run 26.2. But you know what? I didn’t have to run that far that day. I had to run nine, and I did. I didn’t look any different. I didn’t feel any different. But I had to trust that those miles were built on what I did earlier that week, and they were preparing me for what was ahead.

There Will Be Setbacks

Right in the middle of training, I got sick and ended up taking a week off. A month before the marathon, I took a five-day rest because my knees were hurting. Missing a day (or even a week) of workouts or eating one (or two) pieces of cake isn’t the end of the world, as long as you pick up where you left off as soon as you can.

There Will Be Hard Days

One week, I ran 15 miles and it felt great! A couple weeks later, I ran a slow and painful eight and wanted to cry when I got home. I even said to my boyfriend, “What was I thinking?” Not every day is going to be your best day, but what matters is that you trust the process, get out there, and do it anyway. Tomorrow will be better.

It Needs to Become a Part of Your Entire Life

Running 15 miles would have been partly wasted if I went out and drank three margaritas afterward. I wouldn’t have done well on 20 miles if I hadn’t had a good sleep the night before. Lots of non-running related decisions were made based on the fact that the marathon was just a few weeks (or even months) away.

Taking care of my body became even more important: I wanted each training run to be as useful as possible, I wanted to stay healthy, and I wanted to make sure I would be ready for 26.2. When you make your weight loss and fitness journey a part of your entire life, you make good choices throughout the day that support your goals.

One Day It Hits You: Your Body Has Changed

trying to lose weightAfter a few weeks, my legs were tighter and stronger. I was leaner. My boobs were smaller.

Much more importantly, my body was capable of more. 10 miles didn’t get easier overnight, but then one day you finish running that far and you think, “Wow, no problem.” That’s the most incredible change. I didn’t see any of these changes happening, but they happened.

The Benefits Carry Over

Marathon training has required discipline and patience, and the whole process has strengthened my confidence and resolve. Even if you feel strong in these areas, as I generally did, you’ll find that your weight loss efforts and successes impact your whole life in ways you might not have imagined.

You Fall More in Love With Your Own Body

The more you realize what your body can do, the more you love it. As you’re trying to lose weight, you’ll get to rejoice in the pounds coming off, but you’ll also celebrate the new things your body learns to do in the process. You can’t help but be impressed with it as it pushes boundaries, grows stronger, and changes shape and size. I’m so happy with what my body has done for me throughout this whole marathon training process.

Have you ever trained for a marathon or gone through a weight loss journey? Did you notice any of these things?