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January Running Recap: 1 Month Closer to 26.2

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The first month of marathon training for the Honolulu Marathon is officially in the books, and let me tell you—it was not pretty. I went into January with one goal: to show up consistently and start building a base. No fancy training plans, no complicated speed work, just a simple promise to myself to run 3 miles, 5 days a week. And for the most part, I stuck with it.

But here’s the truth: 90% of those runs felt pretty horrible.

I’m talking about the kind of runs where you feel like you’re dying, where every step feels like a battle, where you question why you signed up for a marathon in the first place. The type of run where you’re calculating how many times you’d have to run 3 miles in order to run a whole marathon. The answer is 8.7 times incase you were doing the math too.

And yet—I kept going.

Finding My Pace (And Learning to Breathe)

To start, I focused on maintaining a steady speed of 4.8 MPH, with short walking breaks when I needed to catch my breath. Usually, around the 1.5-mile mark, I’d hit a wall, forcing myself to take a few seconds before pushing forward. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was progress.

Then, something shifted. Every once in a while, I’d have a good run. One where my legs didn’t feel like lead, where my breathing felt controlled, where I didn’t count down every second until it was over. Those runs became my proof that things were changing, even when I couldn’t always feel it.

And then came a pretty big win: I managed to pick up my pace to 6.0-7.0 MPH, which is roughly an 8:34-10:00 mile. It felt like I was pushing myself hard, but I was able to do it for three miles. For the first time, I wasn’t just surviving my runs—I was improving.

The Mental Side of Running

Let’s be real—if I had to run a marathon today, I wouldn’t even make it halfway. Three miles feels like a very long way from 26.2. And if I let myself think too much about how much further I have to go, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

But here’s the thing I keep reminding myself: it’s not about where I am today. It’s about showing up, putting in the work, and trusting that one day, I’ll look back and realize I actually can run a marathon.

Right now, I can’t imagine what it will feel like to say, Yes, I know I can do this. But I believe that day will come. And that’s enough to keep me going.

Experimenting with Running Form & Audio

One thing I’ve started to focus on is my running form—trying different strides, adjusting my posture, and seeing what feels best. I’ve realized that so much of running is about finding a rhythm, getting comfortable in the movement, and learning what works for your body.

I also experimented with what to listen to while running. At first, I was convinced that upbeat music was the key to keeping me moving, but I noticed it actually made it harder to stay on pace. Then, I switched to podcasts, which helped take my mind off the run.

But the real surprise? Running with no headphones at all.

One day, I forgot my headphones and thought it was going to be the worst run ever. Instead, it ended up being one of my best. Listening to my breathing, hearing my feet hit the treadmill, and just being present made everything feel smoother. I decided to try ditching my headphones for the last two runs of the month, and they both felt surprisingly good. So for now, I’m going to keep running in silence and see how it goes.

Building a Base Before Structured Training

I know I’m still in the early stages, but I want to focus on building a solid foundation before jumping into a structured plan. For the first six months, my goal is to gradually increase my mileage and endurance, then switch to a marathon training program in June.

January’s Goal:

  • Run 3 miles (5 days a week) at 4.8-5.2 MPH
  • End the month running 3 miles at 6.0-7.0 MPH

✅ Done.

February’s Goal:

  • Run 3.5 miles (5 days a week) at 4.8-5.2 MPH
  • Gradually increase pace at the end of the month

*Depending on how it feels, I might bump it to 4 miles. I did read it’s better to increase it by .5 everytime, but I also feel like I am trying to listen to how I feel. If I have the energy and feel good, then I like to push myself a little more. If I am feeling like I am maxed out, I will just increase it a little.

I’m not rushing the process, but I do want to keep challenging myself little by little.

Final Thoughts on January

Looking back on the first month, I’m proud of the work I put in. I wasn’t perfect, I missed some days when I was sick, and I had more bad runs than good ones—but I showed up. And that’s what matters.

The biggest lesson I learned? Running doesn’t magically become easy—it just becomes something you get better at. I still have a really long way to go, but I’m excited to see where February takes me.

One month down, eleven to go!

I’m Elena, your new CEO friend.

Multi-passionate, founder of multiple companies, mama of four, obsessed with all things business, marketing, and passive income. My goal is to give you the strategies and tools to grow your business so you can save time, get real results, and focus on what matters most.

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Health

January Running Recap: 1 Month Closer to 26.2

Health

January Running Recap: 1 Month Closer to 26.2

The first month of marathon training is officially in the books, and let me tell you—it was not pretty. I went into January with one goal: to show up consistently and start building a base. No fancy training plans, no complicated speed work, just a simple promise to myself to run 3 miles, 5 days a week. And for the most part, I stuck with it.

But here’s the truth: 90% of those runs felt pretty horrible.

I’m talking about the kind of runs where you feel like you’re dying, where every step feels like a battle, where you question why you signed up for a marathon in the first place. The type of run where you’re calculating how many times you’d have to run 3 miles in order to run a whole marathon. The answer is 8.7 times incase you were doing the math too.

And yet—I kept going.

Finding My Pace (And Learning to Breathe)

To start, I focused on maintaining a steady speed of 4.8 MPH, with short walking breaks when I needed to catch my breath. Usually, around the 1.5-mile mark, I’d hit a wall, forcing myself to take a few seconds before pushing forward. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was progress.

Then, something shifted. Every once in a while, I’d have a good run. One where my legs didn’t feel like lead, where my breathing felt controlled, where I didn’t count down every second until it was over. Those runs became my proof that things were changing, even when I couldn’t always feel it.

And then came a pretty big win: I managed to pick up my pace to 6.0-7.0 MPH, which is roughly an 8:34-10:00 mile. It felt like I was pushing myself hard, but I was able to do it for three miles. For the first time, I wasn’t just surviving my runs—I was improving.

The Mental Side of Running

Let’s be real—if I had to run a marathon today, I wouldn’t even make it halfway. Three miles feels like a very long way from 26.2. And if I let myself think too much about how much further I have to go, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

But here’s the thing I keep reminding myself: it’s not about where I am today. It’s about showing up, putting in the work, and trusting that one day, I’ll look back and realize I actually can run a marathon.

Right now, I can’t imagine what it will feel like to say, Yes, I know I can do this. But I believe that day will come. And that’s enough to keep me going.

The first month of marathon training is officially in the books, and let me tell you—it was not pretty. I went into January with one goal: to show up consistently and start building a base. No fancy training plans, no complicated speed work, just a simple promise to myself to run 3 miles, 5 days a week. And for the most part, I stuck with it.

But here’s the truth: 90% of those runs felt pretty horrible.

I’m talking about the kind of runs where you feel like you’re dying, where every step feels like a battle, where you question why you signed up for a marathon in the first place. The type of run where you’re calculating how many times you’d have to run 3 miles in order to run a whole marathon. The answer is 8.7 times incase you were doing the math too.

And yet—I kept going.

Finding My Pace (And Learning to Breathe)

To start, I focused on maintaining a steady speed of 4.8 MPH, with short walking breaks when I needed to catch my breath. Usually, around the 1.5-mile mark, I’d hit a wall, forcing myself to take a few seconds before pushing forward. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was progress.

Then, something shifted. Every once in a while, I’d have a good run. One where my legs didn’t feel like lead, where my breathing felt controlled, where I didn’t count down every second until it was over. Those runs became my proof that things were changing, even when I couldn’t always feel it.

And then came a pretty big win: I managed to pick up my pace to 6.0-7.0 MPH, which is roughly an 8:34-10:00 mile. It felt like I was pushing myself hard, but I was able to do it for three miles. For the first time, I wasn’t just surviving my runs—I was improving.

The Mental Side of Running

Let’s be real—if I had to run a marathon today, I wouldn’t even make it halfway. Three miles feels like a very long way from 26.2. And if I let myself think too much about how much further I have to go, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

But here’s the thing I keep reminding myself: it’s not about where I am today. It’s about showing up, putting in the work, and trusting that one day, I’ll look back and realize I actually can run a marathon.

Right now, I can’t imagine what it will feel like to say, Yes, I know I can do this. But I believe that day will come. And that’s enough to keep me going.

January Running Recap: 1 Month Closer to 26.2

MODERN MARKET

January Running Recap: 1 Month Closer to 26.2

MODERN MARKET

The first month of marathon training is officially in the books, and let me tell you—it was not pretty. I went into January with one goal: to show up consistently and start building a base. No fancy training plans, no complicated speed work, just a simple promise to myself to run 3 miles, 5 days a week. And for the most part, I stuck with it.

But here’s the truth: 90% of those runs felt pretty horrible.

I’m talking about the kind of runs where you feel like you’re dying, where every step feels like a battle, where you question why you signed up for a marathon in the first place. The type of run where you’re calculating how many times you’d have to run 3 miles in order to run a whole marathon. The answer is 8.7 times incase you were doing the math too.

And yet—I kept going.

Finding My Pace (And Learning to Breathe)

To start, I focused on maintaining a steady speed of 4.8 MPH, with short walking breaks when I needed to catch my breath. Usually, around the 1.5-mile mark, I’d hit a wall, forcing myself to take a few seconds before pushing forward. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was progress.

Then, something shifted. Every once in a while, I’d have a good run. One where my legs didn’t feel like lead, where my breathing felt controlled, where I didn’t count down every second until it was over. Those runs became my proof that things were changing, even when I couldn’t always feel it.

And then came a pretty big win: I managed to pick up my pace to 6.0-7.0 MPH, which is roughly an 8:34-10:00 mile. It felt like I was pushing myself hard, but I was able to do it for three miles. For the first time, I wasn’t just surviving my runs—I was improving.

The Mental Side of Running

Let’s be real—if I had to run a marathon today, I wouldn’t even make it halfway. Three miles feels like a very long way from 26.2. And if I let myself think too much about how much further I have to go, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

But here’s the thing I keep reminding myself: it’s not about where I am today. It’s about showing up, putting in the work, and trusting that one day, I’ll look back and realize I actually can run a marathon.

Right now, I can’t imagine what it will feel like to say, Yes, I know I can do this. But I believe that day will come. And that’s enough to keep me going.

The first month of marathon training is officially in the books, and let me tell you—it was not pretty. I went into January with one goal: to show up consistently and start building a base. No fancy training plans, no complicated speed work, just a simple promise to myself to run 3 miles, 5 days a week. And for the most part, I stuck with it.

But here’s the truth: 90% of those runs felt pretty horrible.

I’m talking about the kind of runs where you feel like you’re dying, where every step feels like a battle, where you question why you signed up for a marathon in the first place. The type of run where you’re calculating how many times you’d have to run 3 miles in order to run a whole marathon. The answer is 8.7 times incase you were doing the math too.

And yet—I kept going.

Finding My Pace (And Learning to Breathe)

To start, I focused on maintaining a steady speed of 4.8 MPH, with short walking breaks when I needed to catch my breath. Usually, around the 1.5-mile mark, I’d hit a wall, forcing myself to take a few seconds before pushing forward. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was progress.

Then, something shifted. Every once in a while, I’d have a good run. One where my legs didn’t feel like lead, where my breathing felt controlled, where I didn’t count down every second until it was over. Those runs became my proof that things were changing, even when I couldn’t always feel it.

And then came a pretty big win: I managed to pick up my pace to 6.0-7.0 MPH, which is roughly an 8:34-10:00 mile. It felt like I was pushing myself hard, but I was able to do it for three miles. For the first time, I wasn’t just surviving my runs—I was improving.

The Mental Side of Running

Let’s be real—if I had to run a marathon today, I wouldn’t even make it halfway. Three miles feels like a very long way from 26.2. And if I let myself think too much about how much further I have to go, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

But here’s the thing I keep reminding myself: it’s not about where I am today. It’s about showing up, putting in the work, and trusting that one day, I’ll look back and realize I actually can run a marathon.

Right now, I can’t imagine what it will feel like to say, Yes, I know I can do this. But I believe that day will come. And that’s enough to keep me going.

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