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Your final marathon prep checklist

Wow, is it really November already?! We’ve been waiting so long for this marathon season to begin, and now it’s almost over. But I guess time flies when you’re having fun…

The Abbott World Marathon Majors have definitely not disappointed this year – as a spectator, a runner or a coach. I had the fun privilege (and hustle) of attending both the Chicago Marathon and the Boston Marathon last month.

Deena and I managed to squeeze in some deep dish pizza at Quartino for lunch post-race, and then it was straight to the airport. There were tons of runners on our flight to Boston, who were attempting the momentous 'double', completing back-to-back marathons just one day apart. It was awesome to be surrounded by so much positive energy (and compression gear).

Chicago was the first major marathon I’ve attended since 2019, and it was so heartwarming and exciting to see all the athletes come together, take over the roads and compete in-person again.

The conditions weren’t great, with unseasonably warm temps and a breeze, so finish times lagged, but overall, the whole weekend felt like a success for Carey Pinkowski and his team at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. A personal highlight for me was getting to see one of the elite athletes I coach place 7th overall in the men’s race. Woop-woop!

The 125th Boston Marathon was, of course, just one day after Chicago. For this incredible race, I was fortunate enough to be at the finish line, under the Abbott World Marathon Majors tent, handing out Six Star medals to the amazing runners who have trained for and completed all WMM events. It was such an inspiring, unforgettable experience to see the exuberant expressions on their faces when I placed that highly coveted, well-deserved medal around their necks.

Now, last but not least, comes the TCS New York City Marathon on November 7. For those of you who are gearing up for this great race through the five boroughs, good luck! In the days before the race, do a quick training review, taking note of how many miles/kilometers you’ve racked up over the last few weeks, and find confidence in knowing that you’ve already done the work, and you can absolutely get the job done come race morning.

Remember, stick to everything familiar that you've become accustomed to in your training—the same nutrition strategy, the same shoes, the same running shorts, etc.— and don’t introduce anything new right before the marathon.

And for those of you who are looking ahead to the Abbott World Marathon Majors Global Marathon on November 13 and 14, you’re in the home stretch! With less than two weeks of training to go, your mantra should be “less is more.”

Be sure to focus on getting lots of sleep and rest. Pay close attention to what you're consuming pre-race, with less caffeine and alcohol and more water and healthy foods that fuel you.

And if you want to try out new shoes or gear, do it now—just make sure you get at least 25 to 30 comfortable miles in before race day. You should also double check your self-created Global Marathon course to ensure there are no surprises (construction, downed trees, etc.) that could detour you from reaching your goal.

Best of luck to everyone racing this month! You’re all amazing. I’m so proud of you, and I can't wait to see what you tackle next.

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