New to Running? Please Don’t Do This | Valiant Physical Therapy

Last week I was on the phone with a new patient on a discovery call

She told me she’s training for the Chicago Marathon this October but her knee has been acting up.

I said, “Chicago! Nice! That’s a big goal. How long have you been running?”

She replied, “Since February”

“Right, but when did you first get into running?” I asked

“…February.”

She started running just a few months ago and now she’s training for a marathon. THIS year.

Look, I get it. The marathon has a mythic quality. It’s a badge of honor, the ultimate challenge, the thing you tell people when you want to prove you’re a “real runner.”

But here’s the truth: Marathons are extremely overrated for new runners

If you’re new to running, you don’t have to run a marathon
Training for a marathon requires miles and miles of running, time, patience, and a body that’s adapted to running over years. Not weeks to months…

This story isn’t unique. I see it often: someone new to running sets a huge goal, pushes their body too far, too fast…and then ends up in my office.

I don’t say this to crush anyone’s dreams. In fact, it’s because I respect the difficulty of the marathon that I’m writing this.

If you’re new to running, you don’t need to start with a marathon. You don’t need to run 26.2 miles to call yourself a runner or break your body to earn your stripes.

Start smaller. Build slower. Learn your body. Get strong. HAVE FUN WITH RUNNING.

Maybe a 5K, then a 10K, then maybe a half marathon. If you’re still having fun with running, reach for the marathon! Running one at that point will be more meaningful because you truly earned it instead of rushing into it.

A smart approach sets you up for a healthy, lifelong relationship with running. If you’re unsure about your running, or if training is already wearing you down, reach out. I’m here to help.

Your best is yet to come!

Dr. Michael