Running a marathon is a physical feat. It is also very much a mental feat. Taking on 26.2 miles not only takes a toll on the body, but also the mind. To make a marathon more manageable, I break it down into three parts.

Part 1: The first 10 miles. The first ten miles of a marathon I consider a warm up. I take it easy and make sure I don’t go out too hard. I enjoy the crowds and take look at my surroundings and neighborhoods.

Part 2: The race. I consider the second ten miles of a marathon the race. This is where I run a little harder. I push myself. I make sure I keep a consistent pace during part 2.

Part 3: The final 10k. At this point, I know that I will finish and the last 10k is the mental part. I know that the end is in sight, and I will be collecting my medal.

For an article that goes into how we manage the mental aspect of a marathon read this- The Mental Marathon  Even though it is an older article, it has value to it.

And at the end of a marathon, take a moment and be proud of what you have accomplished. It is something that very few people have accomplished!