Thinking of Doing a Marathon? 3 Things To Consider First
Global marathon participation continued its upward trajectory in 2024, with the number of finishers increasing by an estimated 15%. The momentum has carried into 2025, as marathon events continue to proliferate across the Philippines. It’s clear evidence that the country’s “running era” is not only strong but consistently accelerating. This sustained surge has also inspired a new wave of first-time runners, many of whom are now setting their sights on completing one of the sport’s most celebrated milestones: the marathon.
But before you jump into the whole “marathon journey” trend you see on social media, consider 3 things first.
1. The N+1 Rule
At RSC, we follow a simple guiding principle for beginner marathoners: if you’re a fresh runner who just thought of doing your first marathon this year, do it next year. While it’s possible for a new runner to finish a marathon within their first year of running, the difference in preparation quality between those who rush and those who give themselves an extra year is hugely significant. That additional time allows for gradual mileage buildup, stronger connective tissues, improved running economy, and the development of consistent training habits, all of which lay a safer, more effective foundation for marathon success.
Base mileage is the cornerstone of marathon preparation. It drives the aerobic and musculoskeletal adaptations essential for endurance, from increased mitochondrial density to enhanced fatigue resistance. This takes a long and arduous process. While some gains can be made in a few months, they cannot match the cumulative adaptations developed over a year or more of consistent running. Experience matters too, not just the lessons learned about pacing, fueling, and race-day strategy, but also the progressive adaptations your body undergoes with consistent, long-term training.
Give yourself a year to grow first and find your way into the sport.
2. Beginners Must Commit At Least 4 Days a Week… for 7 Months
For recreational runners, juggling a marathon goal with work, family, and personal commitments is often the biggest challenge. Determination, grit, and dedication are easy to talk about, but when life gets busy, marathon training can quickly slip down the list of priorities. It’s still important, but rarely the most important thing.
Building a good aerobic foundation alone for beginners takes at least 12-16 weeks of consistent training to develop performance-level adaptations in the long term. That doesn’t include the other phases of development yet. Extending the preparation period allows for gradual increases in weekly mileage and long-run distances, provides room for mistakes, reduces injury risk, and ensures your body is ready for the demands of 42 kilometers. You also have to account for the possibility of getting sick and allotting a recovery period before returning to play. Seven months strikes the right balance, enough time for your aerobic system to optimally develop while leaving room for safe, progressive marathon training.
Runners who have built a foundation of consistent training in the years leading up to their marathon season can typically perform well even with comparatively shorter, more concentrated training cycles. Their prior mileage, neuromuscular conditioning, and developed aerobic base provide a reliable platform for efficient marathon preparation.
For true beginners, however, the equation is different. Without an established endurance baseline, they generally require a longer, more progressive training horizon to minimize injury risk, build durability, and develop the physiological adaptations necessary for marathon performance.
In short: experience shortens the runway; beginners need the full length.
So you want to attempt a marathon without waiting an extra year? Plan to run at least four days a week. While some programs suggest that three days can suffice, that represents the bare minimum to see meaningful development. Progress will be slower, building mileage safely becomes harder, and preparation remains limited. Training at the bare minimum almost guarantees bare-minimum results.
Attempting a marathon with minimal preparation is essentially a gamble with your body. Without sufficient mileage, strength, and endurance, every long run and every kilometer on race day carries a heightened risk. You might finish the race, but injury, burnout, or a miserable experience becomes more likely. Proper preparation does not eliminate all risks, but it dramatically reduces them. Skipping that work is like running with the deck stacked against you.
3. You Have an Emotionally Strong “Why”.
Running a marathon is as much emotional as it is physical. Emotions drive motivation, and motivation drives consistent actions. Consistent actions lead to a stronger sense of discipline and grit.
Your legs, lungs, and heart can be trained, but without a deep, emotionally charged reason for ‘WHY” you are doing it, motivation will fade when the miles get long and the early mornings feel impossible. Your WHY is more than a goal; it is the emotional fuel that strengthens your mental state and powers your consistency, resilience, and determination. Emotions drive motivation, and motivation drives you to pursue a goal relentlessly. When you connect deeply to your why, your mind becomes stronger, helping you push through fatigue, discomfort, and doubt.
A strong why is personal and meaningful. It could be proving to yourself that you can overcome limits, honoring a loved one, or transforming your life through running. It could be social, like joining a community of like-minded runners or raising awareness for a cause that matters to you. Whatever it is, it must resonate with your emotions. The emotional connection turns abstract goals into urgent, actionable purpose, giving your mental state the energy to endure the toughest parts of training and race day.
Sports psychology research shows that athletes with a clear, emotionally resonant “why” perform better, stick with training longer, and recover more effectively from setbacks. For marathoners, a strong “why” helps you endure the late miles, maintain focus, and cross the finish line even when every step feels heavy.
Ultimately, running a marathon is about more than accumulating miles. It is about establishing a strong training foundation, committing to a realistic schedule, and connecting deeply with the purpose that drives you. When these three elements come together, you not only maximize your chances of crossing the finish line but also transform the entire journey into a meaningful experience. A marathon challenges your body, your mind, and your resolve, and when you are fully prepared, it becomes less about enduring 42 kilometers and more about discovering what you are truly capable of achieving.
WRITTEN BY: Yanyan Morrondoz
PHOTOS BY: Michael Mayo
