Marathon 1 of 25 in the books


Marathon 1 Recap: Starting the Journey

Yesterday marked the first of my 25 marathons in 2025, and I couldn’t feel more motivated to see this journey through. Physically, I went into this run feeling strong and rested. However, the reality of running a marathon every other weekend for a year can feel daunting. My strategy to combat that? Focus on the present, one mile, one step, one breath at a time. It’s about patience and consistency, knowing that progress doesn’t happen overnight.

Pre-Run: Getting up and going

I like to get up early enough before the run to allow the body to progressively wake up and get the system going.  Coffee?  Definitely!  Sitting by the fire for a few minutes and sipping on some coffee calms my mind and spirit, all while allowing myself to wake up and mentally prepare for the long run ahead.  I also drank plenty of fluids leading up to the start of the run.  My breakfast: a simple PB and J sandwich with a banana.  This adds some extra fuel into my tank so I am adequately fueled and ready for the first few miles.  I performed a few dynamic stretches to loosen up the body, took time for some deep breathing to settle the nerves and a nice prayer to express my gratitude.  We are ready! 

Starting Strong: Miles 1-4

The first few miles were all about control and rhythm. It always takes me about 20-30 minutes of easy running for my body to fully warm up and find its groove. During these early miles, I focused on staying patient and easing into the run. I kept a close eye on my heart rate, aiming for 140-150 bpm, which allowed me to keep my effort in check. Anytime I crept into the 155s, I intentionally slowed my pace and settled back down. It's easy to get out too quick at the beginning of a run.  Adrenaline, fresh legs, the energy of the morning, I made sure to focus on slowly building into my efforts.  

Using heart rate as a guide during endurance running is a powerful tool. It helps me make smarter decisions and pace myself, especially in the early stages of a run. At the same time, I tuned into how my body felt, paying attention to my breath, effort, and any signals that might suggest a need to adjust. Mindful running is key.

Finding Rhythm: Miles 5-10

By this point, I had settled into a relaxed pace, letting the miles pass with steady effort. I maintained a heart rate in the mid-140s and felt great. This was when I truly started to enjoy the run, staying present and taking in the peaceful surroundings of the Boise Greenbelt. I’m reminded in these moments how much running is about more than just physical effort; it’s about clarity, connection, and appreciation for the process.  It's like the perfect therapy session.  

The Boost: Miles 11-18

These miles felt like they flew by. A good friend met me on the trail with water, and my family came out to cheer me on. Seeing them gave me a much-needed boost of energy. My kids probably think I’m crazy, but one day, I hope they understand the deeper purpose behind this project. During this stretch, my pace naturally dropped to 7:40-7:55 per mile, and my heart rate stayed steady or even decreased. That’s a testament to consistent training and a controlled start.  My mindset was to stay controlled but not get ahead of myself.  We still had many miles to run.  

Staying Strong: Miles 18-22

This part of the marathon is where things can fall apart if you don’t nail your nutrition and pacing earlier. Thankfully, I felt strong and durable here. My nutrition plan was working. I consumed about 450 calories throughout the run, including a PB&J, sport jelly beans, and two GU energy gels. Hydration was lighter because of the cool weather (40°F), but I still got in about 35 oz. of fluids. These are the miles where preparation and execution pay off.

The Finish Line: Miles 22-26

The final stretch was celebratory. I slowed my pace slightly to soak up the experience and appreciate the effort I’d put in. Despite the fatigue setting in, I stayed present and grateful for the journey so far. These moments are what it’s all about, feeling alive, capable, and connected to the bigger picture.  There's nothing like the feeling of running for 3 hours and I was soaking it all in.  

Recovery Mode

The soreness hit later in the evening, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary after 26.2 miles. No joint pain or injuries—just the usual post-marathon fatigue. Over the next few days, I’ll focus on active recovery: light movement, foam rolling, and gentle cardio to promote blood flow. I’ll take my time easing back into running, likely by Wednesday or Thursday, and keep things conservative to ensure I’m ready for the next marathon in 13 days.

Looking Ahead

This is just the beginning of a long journey, and I’ll need to stay mindful of how I approach each run. Not every marathon needs to be run at the same effort as this one. It’s more about the mission than the pace. I’ll stay focused on recovering smart, planning well, and keeping the bigger purpose—InspireKidz—at the forefront.

Marathon 1 is in the books. Let’s keep it rolling. One step, one mile, one marathon at a time.


Please consider donating to our nonprofit INSPIREKIDZ, where we are raising funds to support deserving kids get signed up for sports and activities in the Boise community. We are passionate about this mission and will work hard to achieve our goal of raising $25,000 this year while running 25 marathons.  You can also follow the journey on our Instagram page at @25in25toinspirekidz.  

We appreciate the support and positive vibes.  


For anyone that cares for my splits and statistics, here they are....

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Marathon 3 Recap: Just Get it Done

Image
Marathon 3 Recap: Sometimes You Just Got To Get It Done There will be many marathons this year where the mindset is simply,  “just get it done.”  Let’s face it—running 26.2 miles on a Saturday or Sunday morning is no walk in the park, especially during the winter months. While Boise has been fortunate with relatively mild weather this year, Marathon 3 started on a brisk 19-degree morning at 6:45 am. It was dark, cold, and my mindset wasn’t in its usual positive groove as I kicked off the run. The first five miles were all about grit—putting my head down and pushing through. But something about running toward the sunrise always shifts my perspective. Around the hour mark, my usual optimism surfaced. My legs loosened up, my body found its rhythm, and suddenly, the run felt manageable—even enjoyable. Running toward the sunrise felt spiritual, a reminder that sometimes you need to push through the tough moments to reach the beauty waiting on the other side. The Course This maratho...
Read more

DadLife, A Work In Progress

Image
I once got some advice from a good friend that stuck with me, "Justin, 90% of what we do as fathers will go unnoticed, but don’t let that frustrate you. Keep doing it all. It matters." I didn’t fully grasp the weight of those words, but now, I live by them.  Over the years, my goals have changed. It used to be about accolades, performance, or building a bigger business. I was always chasing the next milestone—whether it was running another marathon or getting another win in my professional life. But somewhere along the way, I realized none of that really mattered if I wasn’t truly present for my kids.   My focus now is simple: build a meaningful and positive relationship with each of my four kids. I don’t need to run faster, make more money, or achieve something that looks good on paper. My biggest success comes from being there for my kids, supporting them, guiding them, and teaching them. It sounds simple, but it’s the hardest and most important job I’ve ever taken on. ...
Read more

Blog comeback: Still Running

Image
We moved to Boise, Idaho in November of 2021. Immediately, I began to run the roads of the Treasure Valley. Through the process, I have found beautiful landscapes to explore. Many miles on the iconic Greenbelt path, running next to the Boise River. We are fortunate to have the mountains a hop, skip and a jog away. We have trails all around us that provide serenity and peace along a gorgeous track, only a few minutes from downtown Boise. Having a plethora of running paths and roads to peruse keeps running fun and interesting. I can, literally, run any direction. The past few months (June-September), I have averaged 40-55 miles of running per week. A majority of my miles are easy effort runs, between 8:30-10:30 min/mile. These are the "base" miles. These are also good runs for stress management and where I do all of my pondering. These types of runs will accumulate over time, which will improve endurance physiology. I will become better at circulating oxygen, suppl...
Read more