Last time we went over mistakes made in marathon training, now it’s time to talk about the race. Coach Connor made his debut in 2023 at the Chicago Marathon. He now holds a personal best of 2:13, the result from a 12th place finish at the US Olympic Team Trials in 2024. From the first marathon to his PB performance, he learned many things along the way that helped master race day.

5 Mistakes I Made When Racing The Marathon

Coach Connor Winter

Racing a marathon takes months of preparation, but even with practiced routines and strategies, race day always brings surprises. You can’t control everything, but being aware of common pitfalls can prevent your race plan from veering too far off course. Here are the top five mistakes I’ve made in my own racing experience, so you can avoid them and make sure your hard work pays off on race day.

1. Skipping Fueling Stations

At CIM, I started skipping fueling stations because my stomach felt full and sloshy. Then, with 4 miles to go, I hit the wall — partially due to under-fueling. Lesson learned: even if you don’t feel like you need it, stick to your fueling plan. I always recommend carrying an emergency gel or two in your pocket in case you miss a station or need an extra boost.

2. Changing Paces Too Abruptly

At one marathon, I came through halfway a couple minutes off pace. In a panic, I surged hard to “make up time.” The move put me over the edge, and I couldn’t hold on at the end. My recommendation now: Don’t change your pace by more than 5 seconds per mile. Hold the new pace for a couple miles to make sure you can sustain it, then continue to gradually progress if you feel good.

3. Checking My Watch Too Often

I used to check my watch every mile. It stressed me out when a split came in too fast or too slow. My teammate Reed suggested I only check every 5K. Breaking the race into bigger chunks made the pacing feel more manageable and kept me calm. The averages evened out, and I was less obsessed with every single mile.

4. Losing Focus by Thinking Too Far Ahead

At the Olympic Trials Marathon, I was fully present for the majority of the race - locked in on running the mile I was in. But with 10K to go, I started thinking about the finish, doubting if I had enough energy left. That shift in focus made me unravel. Looking back, I wish that I had stayed focused in the moment instead of worrying about the miles ahead. Staying present is key. No matter how much is left, commit to the mile you’re in.

5. Pushing Too Early When I Felt Good

The first miles of a marathon will always feel easy and it can be tempting to push the pace. However, it’s easy overdo it in those early miles, which can cost you energy later in the race. My rule of thumb is to think of 20 miles as the “halfway mark” of a marathon. You want to get through 20 miles feeling controlled and then finish strong in the final 10K.

Final Thoughts

When you show up to race day, the physical preparation is complete. Most of these mistakes weren’t about my physical fitness, but about decisions made in the moment and staying in the right mindset. If you can stay calm in the chaos and keep your mind present throughout the race, you’ll put yourself in the best position to cross the finish line with a great performance.

⚒️Coaching Spotlight: Meet Katie ⚒️

Katie joined the Hammer & Axe coaching team this summer and brings both professional experience and personal perspective to her athletes. Before joining HAX, Katie served as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Portland State, where she discovered her passion for working with athletes to help them reach their goals. From her own running journey — not qualifying for her high school state meet to now racing professionally against the best in the country — Katie knows the value of having a long-term vision. She understands the ups and downs of the sport and is excited to work with any runner, whether you’re chasing big goals or just learning to love the process.

Featured Training Plan

Sub-4:00 Hour Marathon

This 16-week plan is perfect for anyone aspiring to break 4 hours in the marathon. The training is structured for runners capable of 30-50 mile weeks who have been running for a few weeks before starting this plan. The program will slowly acclimate runners to handle marathon training over the first 6 weeks and focus on core concepts to build fitness. Then, it will progress into Marathon specific workouts over the next 8 weeks before entering a light taper the last two weeks before race day.

Take a look at Week 1 of the plan:

Reach out to us via email ([email protected]) or DM us on Instagram if you’d like us to recommend a plan that’s right for you.

Ask The Coaches

Below is a question submitted in our last newsletter with an answer from Coach Drew. If you have a question for our coaches, submit it in the poll below for a chance to be featured!

Question:

Answer: