12 Months to Marathon
Hi, I'm John Hill. I host 12 Months to Marathon—the running podcast for people over 35 with marathon dreams. Whether you are looking for a personal best or want to run a marathon, my story and regular tips should help you get there.
I didn't run my first marathon until I was 36. I ran my first sub-3 marathon at the age of 45. If I can do it, so can you!
For even more daily tips, make sure to follow me on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/12monthstomarathon/
Thanks for listening.
12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 88 - Coping with the Emotional Load of Marathon Training
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Episode 88 – Coping with the Emotional Load of Marathon Training
Marathon training is never just physical.
In this episode, I talk about the emotional side of marathon training, the doubts, the setbacks, the comparison, the frustration, and the mental spiral that can happen when things don’t go to plan.
As I record this, I’ve just finished my final long-ish run before Boston Lincolnshire, and with taper approaching, it felt like the right time to talk honestly about what happens when training gets hard emotionally, not just physically.
We cover:
- Why marathon training can feel emotionally heavy, especially over 35
- The difference between a setback and a choice
- Why you must stop making poor runs or injuries mean something about you as a person
- How comparison and social media can make everything worse
- Why sympathy is a cheap payoff — and solutions are what matter
- How to handle disappointment, niggles, missed sessions, and fear without spiralling
This episode is for anyone deep in marathon training, tapering soon, or dealing with the emotional pressure that comes with trying to do something hard.
Because the truth is:
A bad run doesn’t mean you’re bad.
A setback doesn’t mean you’re broken.
And if things haven’t gone perfectly, that doesn’t mean you can’t go again.
Follow me on Instagram @12monthstomarathon for daily running support, and if you’re over 35, join my free running community via the link in my bio.
