Before I decided the half marathon was my favorite race distance, I walked two full marathons — the Air Force Marathon in 2000 and again in 2002. Once was for a milestone birthday and the other was because a friend talked me into it. Apparently, I had forgotten enough about the first one to say yes a second time.

Here’s my take.

The Training Is the Hardest Part

I want to be upfront about this: the first race itself was easier than I expected. The training was not.

Because I was terrified of not finishing, I followed my four-month training plan as closely as possible. That meant long training days of up to 20 miles — often alone, just me and my Walkman.

Catherine Lee, who has walked three marathons, knows the feeling well: “Training was difficult because I did the long walks of 4–5 hours alone. Music, audio books, different neighborhood routes were not enough to mitigate the tediousness and boredom. Having a training partner would have made it easier.”

On some of my long days, my husband and kids would take turns walking a four-mile loop trail with me just to keep me company. (That was awesome!)

But because my training plan was several months long, I ended up walking in all kinds of weather. You have no idea what race day will bring so there’s no skipping a day because it’s cold or raining. Race day doesn’t care and you need to be ready for anything.

Race Day Was Almost a Relief

After months of hard training, race day felt almost easy by comparison — or at least easier than I thought it would be. The crowd, the energy, the opening ceremonies, and the company made a huge difference.

The start of every race is exciting, but there is something about knowing you’re going to be walking 26.2 miles with 5,000 other runners and walkers that makes the event special.

And at the US Air Force Marathon, the opening ceremonies are spectacular — better than just about any race I’ve ever entered, with flyovers, skydivers, and military personnel everywhere. It makes you proud to be an American. And then the race begins.

That first marathon I walked with a friend. My second, I ended up making friends along the course and finished with two people I didn’t know at the start but met around mile 12 — one I’m still friends with. That’s one of the things I love about race day — the people you meet when you’re all suffering together.

Every mile is more manageable when you’re with the right people — celebrating each mile, helping each other maintain a pace, telling stories to keep each other going, sharing mantras… And before you know it, you are walking toward that finish line!

I finished in around 6:55 both times, barely beating my first time by five minutes in 2002. Which brings me to something worth knowing: I trained less for the second one. I knew I could finish, so I didn’t push as hard in training. I got away with it — barely — but I wouldn’t recommend that approach.

How it Felt at The Finish

I crossed that finish line exhausted, exhilarated, and stunned that I had actually done it. I trained for something really difficult and I did it! That said, I also fell asleep in the car on the way home, I was sore for days, and I swore I would never do it again.

And yet — I also felt completely invincible. Like I could do anything. I was in the best shape of my life. That feeling is hard to describe until you’ve experienced it, but it’s real, and it’s worth something.

Catherine Lee puts it perfectly: “After each race, I felt good enough to wonder if I could walk a longer race! I generally came to reality a few days later!”

Would I Recommend It?

Somewhere in between “absolutely” and “stick with halfs.”

If you think you can handle the training, do a full marathon. At least once. It is genuinely life-altering in a way that a half marathon — as much as I love them — isn’t quite. There’s something about going that distance that changes how you see yourself.

But if the training feels overwhelming before you even start, listen to that. The training is the commitment. The race is the reward. You can’t get to the reward without putting in the work, and the work is long, lonely, and done in all kinds of weather.

Laura Modisette, a fellow marathon walker, puts it well: “The sense of accomplishment makes you feel like an athlete who can conquer anything. Just do it — and then have a glass of champagne to celebrate.” Her best advice? “Make a commitment and picture your future self celebrating the accomplishment.”

The half marathon is not a consolation prize. It’s a great distance and I’ve done it 71 times for a reason. But if you’re on the fence and the training feels doable — go for it. You won’t regret finishing. You might regret the soreness for a few days, but not the finish.

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My friends Catherine Lee and Laura Modisette are both members of the Buckeye Striders Walking Club.

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