This morning marked the first long run of my marathon training bloc—and with it, a quiet but powerful reminder of what this journey is really about.
They say the race itself is a celebration of all the miles that came before it. Today, that sentiment felt real. As the sun rose and my feet found rhythm on the pavement, I wasn’t just running—I was beginning a commitment to 675 miles of preparation, grit, and growth. All for one glorious 26.2-mile celebration in London.
Marathon training isn’t just about endurance. It’s about showing up when it’s cold, when it’s early, when it’s hard. It’s about building something invisible but strong—mile by mile, run by run. And this morning, with the first long run behind me, I felt the quiet pride of starting something big.
Here’s to the journey ahead. To every early alarm, every recovery snack, every mile logged. Because come race day, I won’t just be running 26.2—I’ll be celebrating 675.
159 days. That’s how long I have until I toe the line again at one of the most iconic races in the world—the London Marathon. Today marked the beginning of my training journey, and Florida decided to surprise me with a rare chill in the air. Not exactly the tropical warmth I’m used to, but maybe it’s a sign: this journey is going to be full of surprises.
Bundled up and laced up, I hit the pavement for my first official training run. It wasn’t long, but it was meaningful. Every step reminded me why I signed up for this challenge—to push myself, to grow, and to be part of something bigger than just a race.
Running in cold weather is my favorite, there’s something invigorating about starting this journey with a bit of discomfort. It makes the goal feel real. It makes the finish line in London feel just a little closer.
Over the next 159 days, I’ll be logging miles, battling early mornings, and learning more about myself with every run. I’ll share the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Whether you’re training too, cheering from the sidelines, or just curious about the process, I hope you’ll follow along.
Participating in the 2025 Marine Corps Marathon was more than just a race—it was a personal challenge, a test of endurance, and a celebration of perseverance. From the early-morning chill to the final uphill push, this experience was packed with memorable highs, humbling lows, and everything in between.
🎯 Setting the Goal
My mission was clear: finish the marathon in under five hours. With months of training behind me and a solid strategy in place, I felt ready to take on the 26.2 miles winding through Washington, D.C. The weather was cooperative, and I started injury-free—two major wins right off the bat.
🏁 The Race Begins
The first half of the race went smoothly. I maintained a steady pace through the initial 13–14 miles, buoyed by fresh legs and the cool morning air. The largest hills appeared early, within the first 2–3 miles, but they were manageable thanks to the adrenaline and favorable conditions.
However, things took a turn after I ate mid-race. Digestive discomfort led to several bathroom breaks, which chipped away at my time and momentum. By the halfway mark, I was trailing my goal pace by nearly two minutes, and I knew the second half would require a serious push.
💪 The Final Stretch
Despite the setbacks, I pressed on. The temperature rose slightly during the final mile, adding to the challenge. The last 0.2 miles featured a steep incline that forced me to walk briefly—but I crossed the finish line with a time of 5:10. Ten minutes over my target, but still a finish I’m proud of.
🧊 Post-Race Realities
The post-race area was packed, making it tough to unwind or grab refreshments. Announcements urged runners to keep moving, so I didn’t linger long. Fortunately, my hotel was just steps away from the finisher zone. A hot shower and a quiet celebration were the perfect way to wrap up the day.
🙏 Final Thoughts
Running the Marine Corps Marathon was a powerful reminder that goals are important—but so is the journey. I may not have hit my time target, but I gained something even more valuable: resilience, perspective, and a story worth sharing.
Every mile taught me something. Every step was worth it. #marinecorpsmarathon #MCM2025 #MarathonJourney #RunnerLife #FinishLineFeels
Excited to be one step closer to the Marine Corps Marathon! Picking up my race packet today and the energy is already electric. Everything’s feeling real now!
Had a great run by the water this morning to shake out the nerves and soak in some calm before race day. Grateful for this journey and ready to take on the miles with heart and grit. 💪
Facing Pre-Race Nerves for the Marine Corps Marathon
Six days. That’s all that stands between me and the start line of the Marine Corps Marathon. Six days until the cannon fires and I take on 26.2 miles of grit, honor, and determination. And right now? My stomach feels like it’s doing hill repeats.
The nerves are real. The questions creep in: Did I train enough? What if I hit the wall? What if something goes wrong?
Here’s what I’ve learned—those nerves aren’t the enemy. They’re proof that this matters.
What I’m Doing This Week to Stay Calm
Visualizing the Victory Every night, I close my eyes and picture myself running strong down that final stretch, the crowd cheering, the medal waiting. That image is my anchor.
Trusting the Work The hay is in the barn. No more big runs, no last-minute heroics. I remind myself:You’ve done the work. You belong here.
Breathing Through the Doubt When my heart races, I practice box breathing—inhale for four, hold for four, exhale for four. It’s my reset button.
My Race Week Mantra
“Decide. Commit. Execute.” Decide why you’re here. Commit to the process. Execute with everything you’ve got. Every time nerves creep in, I repeat this mantra. It reminds me that this race isn’t just about running—it’s about following through on a promise I made to myself.
After months of training through the brutal summer heat, early mornings, and long runs that tested every ounce of grit — the countdown to the Marine Corps Marathon is officially on.
This isn’t just a race. It’s a tribute to discipline, resilience, and the spirit of the Marines. Every mile trained was a step toward something bigger.
Now it’s time to taper, refocus, and prepare to run with heart.
The trip started out rocky with back pain and other issues that lead to surgery the week before heading to Paris for the marathon. I thought I was going to be ok to run the first few days in Paris, but unfortunately the pain came back. I reluctantly packed up all my race kit.
I did go to packet pick up to get my bib, but was not hopeful I would be able to run. I had a good chat with Kelly about the race. It was a hard decision because I didn’t want to give up and not try, but I also did not want to get another DNF like Dublin.
Race morning I felt ok, so I decided to give it a try. The state was one of the coolest starts for any marathon I have done, but within 5 miles I was ready to quit. I was just tired and didn’t want to run. I think the stress of the week had got to me. As I was getting ready to quit I asked myself what hurt causing me to quit… the answer was nothing. I was mentally quitting.
I chose to take the rest of the race easy. I walked when I wanted to, stopped for photos and just enjoyed the course (other than the dead rat).
It was not my fastest marathon by far, but I enjoyed the course and race experience probably more than any other marathon.
I always enjoy reading my past blogs about my marathon, but I have been putting off doing a blog for months now. I know it is something I need to do.
The London marathon was a race I had been looking forward to for years and I was looking forward to the week. Unfortunately it was probably the worse week of my life and I considered not even running. But I knew I would regret it is I didn’t go to the start line.
The night before we had an amazing speaker, the director of the Boston marathon! His story of not being an athlete growing up and running because it was the only sport that they didn’t cut athletes reminded me of growing up. He failed at his first 2 attempts at the marathon, not even finishing, but has gone on to do some amazing things!
I woke up race day to rain. I put on a brave face and headed out. They estimated 1 hour to get to the start line and I gave myself extra time, only to arrive at the start line long enough to drop my stuff at bag check, use the toilet and walk to the start line. It was probably a good thing as the rain was coming down fairly good. The atmosphere at the start line was pretty boring with not much going on and there was no fanfare when you started. In fact I had to ask someone if we were at the start line.
The start line
Once we started I just ran. I didn’t look at my watch, didn’t follow any race plans. I noticed I was running faster than I planned at the check points. I just took the stress of the week out on the course. The course was busy and I spent most of it dodging people in light rain. I got to the last 10k and had a decision to make with regards to time, so I picked up the pace. The rain stopped as I got within a few miles of the finish line. As I ran up to Buckingham Palace I had about 45 seconds to get to the finish line to break 5 hours. I ended up about 20 seconds off.
The finish line was pretty quiet as well. I collected my bag and finisher shirt and walked back to the hotel. A quick shower and diner followed by an early night to bed finished up the day.
It is hard to believe we are just 30 days away from the London Marathon. This is a marathon I have wanted to run for as long as I can remember!
With just a month to go I have a wide range of emotions a bit nervous, very tired, excited and so many more. I am getting close to my last few long runs and can’t wait for the 23rd of April.
The Johnsons 