I Ran the New York City Marathon for the First Time Last Weekend. Here’s What I Learned

Last weekend, I ran my very first marathon in New York City—a place I have called home for nearly a decade and a city I have loved since I was a little kid. I have always enjoyed running, but running 26.2 consecutive miles wasn’t on my bucket list until I experienced the magic of the New York City Marathon a few years ago. Marathon Sunday is one of the best days to be a New Yorker—or, one of the best days to just be in New York. The whole city gets out of bed ready to cheer on complete strangers for hours and hours, with bars overflowing into the streets and city blocks turning into dance parties. I knew that one day I wanted to be a part of it.

One day turned out to be this past Sunday, when I ran through all five boroughs and finished the race just before the sun set. While I had trained fairly consistently since June and read as many blogs and articles as I could find to prepare for the big day, there were a few things that I didn’t expect until I actually ran the marathon myself. Here is my advice for anyone running (or considering running!) the New York City Marathon next year.

1. Make a Training Schedule That You Can (Mostly) Stick To

There are so many training schedules you can find online, each progressing in mileage over a different amount of time. Look through the options and pick one that suits your fitness level and lifestyle.

My own (rather optimistic) plans were quickly derailed by summer travel and weekend trips, last-minute commitments, and some wild New York City weather. But if your schedule changes, don’t panic! The important thing is to keep training and to prioritize taking care of yourself, whatever that looks like. My own journey took me to different states and even different countries (I ran a few miles in the lovely Hyde Park during Vogue World!), so unless you are running to compete, my advice is to go with the flow and have fun with it.

2. Don’t Skip the Stretching

Stretching after every run is just as important as the run itself. In fact, it may even be more important when you consider how many weeks you’ll be preparing for the big race. Any time I missed a stretch, especially after a long run, the recovery took far more time and was way more painful. Even if you are exhausted, squeeze in a quick five-minute stretch—you will thank yourself the next day!

It’s also critical to mix in some strength training to ensure the rest of your body is strong enough to support your legs across 26.2 miles. I took several Peleton yoga classes to balance out the running, plus some runner-specific strength classes on the Peleton app. Though the marathon is a running race, don’t underestimate the role the rest of your body plays in getting you over that finish line.

3. Listen to Your Body

My number one goal for the marathon was to avoid getting injured during training and during the race itself. A few years ago, I broke my foot when I landed at a weird angle on a sidewalk in Brooklyn (do people ever break their feet doing something interesting?). I tried to push through the pain, thinking it was just twisted or sprained, but that only made things worse in the long run. The lesson being: I now know always to listen to my body, and force myself to slow down or stop when something feels off. Learn from my mistakes!

4. Try Everything Before Race Day

Whatever you do, don’t get something new for the race without trying it first. This includes shoes, socks, clothing, belt bags, energy gels, protein bars—literally anything you plan to put on or in your body. It may be tempting to get a flashy new outfit for race day or grab the first energy gel offered to you during the race, but if something doesn’t agree with you, your race day dreams may be doomed.

5. Make a Race Day Schedule

A good strategy is the key to a successful race day. The day before the marathon, I sat down and mapped out the full course: I took note of the places where my friends and family would be waiting with signs, and where I would need to refuel with carbs and caffeine. It made a world of difference while I was running—I was motivated knowing that I would soon be getting hugs, high fives, and words of encouragement (besides a peanut butter and jelly sandwich from my partner-turned-running-coach).

6. Add Personal Touches

Seeing familiar faces along the course was one of my favorite parts of the race—but the aforementioned words of encouragement were almost constant during my five-and-a-half-hour trek through the five boroughs. New York does not mess around, and almost every mile was lined with people cheering and holding up signs that kept me smiling through the pain. A piece of advice I got from a friend who completed the marathon last year: Put your name on your shirt. That way, the tens of thousands of people who come out to watch can cheer you on by name, which kind of makes you feel like a celebrity walking (read: running) an extremely long red carpet for the day.

7. Layer Up

The weather in New York can be quite unpredictable, so wearing several layers is essential. The “Runners Village” area ahead of the start line has several donation bins set up, so you can easily bundle up on the way over and shed a few layers before getting to the starting line. (I saw several people in fluffy, colorful bathrobes which looked way cozier than my old frayed hoodie.)