159: What’s Harder: Your First Marathon or Your Fastest Marathon?
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The Running Channel Podcast
This episode is titled:
159: What’s Harder: Your First Marathon or Your Fastest Marathon?
Notable Quotes
"I would wager that 95 to 100 percent of the athletes would pick an Olympic gold medal over a world record."
"Don't aim for a target. Don't look at pace; the only reason you should be looking at pace is to slow yourself down."
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Get More InsightsEpisode Summary
The podcast opens with a promotion for GiveStar, encouraging listeners to fundraise for marathons, offering a £100 voucher once they raise £200 with the promo code MARATHON2026. The hosts then share their personal marathon experiences—Sarah is a six-time marathoner currently training for a PB in Rotterdam, Andy has run two marathons, and Rick is preparing for his marathon PB in London.
A discussion ensues about the difficulties of marathon fundraising as well as the physical and mental preparations needed for the race. The team shares amusing anecdotes from their own training experiences and offers insights on training plans.
The highlight of the episode is a detailed debate on whether running your first marathon or your fastest is harder. Sarah states that the first marathon is more challenging due to the fear of the unknown, while Andy believes that trying to achieve a personal best presents its own unique pressures. Rick adds that the mental expectations and the physical toll during a record attempt can create a different kind of challenge.
As the discussion continues, the hosts consider the impact of experience and self-imposed pressure on performance, revisiting their first marathon experiences versus their best ones. They emphasize the importance of recognizing personal achievements regardless of timing.
Towards the end, they cover some running news, including Megan Keith's European 10k record and the challenges in such races, followed by a listener's voice note inquiry about the performance impact of running in very old trainers. The episode concludes with a shout-out to a listener preparing for a significant ultra-marathon challenge and a light-hearted take on the naming of half marathons.
A discussion ensues about the difficulties of marathon fundraising as well as the physical and mental preparations needed for the race. The team shares amusing anecdotes from their own training experiences and offers insights on training plans.
The highlight of the episode is a detailed debate on whether running your first marathon or your fastest is harder. Sarah states that the first marathon is more challenging due to the fear of the unknown, while Andy believes that trying to achieve a personal best presents its own unique pressures. Rick adds that the mental expectations and the physical toll during a record attempt can create a different kind of challenge.
As the discussion continues, the hosts consider the impact of experience and self-imposed pressure on performance, revisiting their first marathon experiences versus their best ones. They emphasize the importance of recognizing personal achievements regardless of timing.
Towards the end, they cover some running news, including Megan Keith's European 10k record and the challenges in such races, followed by a listener's voice note inquiry about the performance impact of running in very old trainers. The episode concludes with a shout-out to a listener preparing for a significant ultra-marathon challenge and a light-hearted take on the naming of half marathons.
Key Takeaways
- The mental and physical challenges differ between running your first and fastest marathon.
- Fundraising for marathons can be facilitated using platforms like GiveStar.
- Proper shoe maintenance is essential for optimal performance.
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