11 lessons on running a marathon, from Coach Mandy trying to run 50

Coach Mandy, head of Fleet Feet Syracuse's distance programs, shares a few tidbits she's learned on her quest to run 50 marathons in 50 states. 

1) DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) is a real thing. Doing laundry in your basement a couple days afterward can sometimes be harder than the race itself.

2) When spectators remark how strong I look in the last miles of a marathon, it means more to me than any fast times I’ve run in the past.

3) At mile 20, if you run smart, you will pass all the fools that zoomed by you at mile 3.

4) If there isn’t chocolate milk at the end of the race, I will surely remark it in the survey. 

5) Spectators and volunteers can make or break your experience. Say thank-you to all of them. 

6) Instead of looking down at your watch like everyone around you, take in the sites and scenery you're running past. You might not ever see it again.

7) Miles 1 through 15 feel like a normal training run, I feel strongest during 15 to 18 because I’m running consistent and not whining yet. Miles 18 to 22 just suck, because you are so close but not really close at all. The hardest miles (for me) are 22 to 25 because every step, every muscle hurts and I just want to sit down and drink a chocolate milk. Then miraculously, during 25 to 26.2 I am a beast and nobody can catch me.

8) The training we do doesn’t make the race any easier. It only prepares you to ignore the suck and keep pushing. 

9) My first inclination after finishing is to hug the guy or gal that puts the medal around my neck. But I don’t, because I’m sweaty and gross. In my head we are best friends though. 

10) Don’t underestimate the power of distraction. During one marathon I had to go to the bathroom for 7 miles and looking for the next porta-potty made those miles fly by.

11) It’s never enough Bodyglide.