Kathy and the girls caught one of my favorite images just before the finish line of the Boston Marathon in 2022.

I’ve kind of been singularly focused on the Chicago Marathon and unable to think about much else lately.

But I need to make sure I have enough posts here through the marathon.

So I figured I could combine my efforts and write about what I’ve been thinking about - marathon running.

There were different formats I played with - I was thinking I could just re-summarize each of the marathons I’ve run - but I worried I would lose steam with each successive post.

Also, those do exist in different places on this website somewhere and you can find them if you dive deep.

So I thought this might do the trick - different takeaways and highlights from each of the marathons I’ve run, and then next week maybe we’ll lead into Chicago 2025 with a quick reflection about Chicago 2023.

The Chicago Marathon will be my sixth marathon.

I certainly learned a lot each time I’ve run one - here are some lessons I’ve taken away from each of the marathons I’ve run:

Boston, 2021

This was my first marathon and everything was a learning experience. I should have rested my legs better leading into it. I shouldn't go out too fast. (Some lessons I learned more than once.) I learned hills can crush my legs. I learned I kind of loved the whole process.

Boston, 2022

I learned how to enjoy a race. This may have been my favorite marathon because I really took the time to soak it all in and enjoy it. I learned the October Boston Marathon was good, but nothing beats the April Boston Marathon.

Wilmington, 2023

I learned that the weather isn’t worth stressing about. It poured the night before the marathon and it seemed like it might rain all day during the race but it cleared up and actually got warm. And I was overdressed….and I tired more quickly than I would have otherwise. I learned that I will definitely warm up as the run goes on, so I shouldn’t overdress. (And then I proceeded to make the same mistake at the New Bedford Half Marathon a year later.)

Chicago, 2023

I learned that there is no such thing as an ‘easy’ marathon. “Oh, Chicago is such an easy course,” people like to say. It may be less hilly than other marathons, but nothing is easy when you talk about running 26.2 miles. Chicago is challenging. All marathons are challenging.

I also learned that just because it’s a major marathon doesn’t mean it has great licensed swag. In fact, sometimes it’s terrible. Well, wearable swag in this case. The post-race bag introduced me to Muscle Milk, which I’ve been drinking ever since. I also learned I have no interest in drinking a post-race beer.

New York, 2024

I learned what plantar fasciitis can feel like…and that if I had a minor case, I don’t ever want a major case. I learned that the New York route is probably harder than Boston. I learned that I might need to work a little harder and be more disciplined on race day if I’m going to break 5 hours.

We’re about a week away from finding out if I can apply what I’ve learned.