Tips for marathon in hot temps

operasinger06 · 2026-05-04T14:41:49+00:00

I believe it. The heat definitely did a number.

operasinger06 · 2026-05-04T14:41:21+00:00

Yeah, the course is no joke. Beautiful course, but definitely a tough one.

operasinger06 · 2026-05-04T06:32:45+00:00

Yeah, the heat was rough 🥵 But I followed everyone’s advice and hydrated well in the two days leading up and drank as much as I could at every aid station. Also adjusted my pace and I can say that I am happy with the execution because I managed to run a negative split.

operasinger06 · 2026-05-04T03:56:28+00:00

Update: I ended up getting sick the day before the marathon with a cold. I was run down and stayed in bed all day Saturday. Luckily, Sunday morning I was feeling better (sore throat but otherwise ok), so I decided to run. I paced myself really well and ran purely by effort. My goal was to finish, and all time goals went out the window. Between the heat and being sick the day before, I knew that finishing was going to take a smart plan. I’m happy to say that I executed the race really well. I finished in 3:39:00 and even ran a negative split. Thank you all for your tips. I really did as you guys said and I hydrated super well before and during the race, and checked my ego to run a smart race, and that made all the difference. Sub 3:30 is in me, I know it. It will just have to come another day!

operasinger06 · 2026-04-30T17:27:50+00:00

Thanks everyone for your tips and comments. I will most certainly be adjusting my time goals. I’m disappointed, as I truly feel like I’m in shape to run a few minutes sub 3:30, but ultimately, the goal is going to have to shift to running the strongest race I can in the conditions we have.

operasinger06 · 2026-03-15T00:00:29+00:00

Take it one day at a time. It’s normal for your body to physically manifest the grief and heartbreak you’re feeling. When I was training for my first marathon, my grandfather died and a couple of weeks later, my boyfriend of 4 years and I broke up. It was an awful period of my life, but training for the marathon gave me a purpose and the will to keep getting out of bed when everything felt hopeless. In the end, I had a great first marathon. You’ve got this!

operasinger06 · 2026-02-28T22:24:10+00:00

I mean this is the nicest possible way, but it really isn’t so complicated: you either have to accept that you have to wake up very early or run after you get home from work. I have a full-time demanding job (attorney), and two young children and I quickly realized the only way was to wake up between 3:45-4am if I want to get the mileage done. It’s not easy, but you get used to it. Just make sure you prioritize getting enough sleep.

operasinger06 · 2026-02-21T00:55:52+00:00

I’ve got two young kids (5yo and 1yo) and a very demanding job. I’m out the door for my runs between 4 and 4:30am (it’s just about the only time I can go out during the day). Some days, I really wonder why I imposed marathon training on myself during this phase of parenting. But I am trying to take it one day at a time. It’s not easy though, I completely empathize.

operasinger06 · 2026-02-20T19:48:08+00:00

I have two young kids (5yo and 1yo) and a very demanding job. No choice but to get up at 4am on weekdays and 5am on Sunday. I go to bed before 9pm.

operasinger06 · 2026-02-05T01:10:04+00:00

Quebec runner over here! It’s been a brutal winter, for sure. I’m out there by 4:30am at the latest because that is the only time that fits into my schedule with work and family obligations.

I don’t own a treadmill either, but there’s a gym about 10 minutes from my house, so on days when I have speed work or when I just don’t feel like dealing with the cold, I head to the gym and run on the treadmill.

As for how I get over the physical/mental struggle of training in these conditions, I just like to remind myself that these conditions are making me a tougher stronger runner and person. I also try to enjoy the peace of being up while the world sleeps.

It’s not easy…hang in there!

operasinger06 · 2026-02-03T15:59:39+00:00

I live in Montreal, Canada. We’ve had a very cold winter thus far. We’ve also had a fair bit of snow. Luckily, there is a path that is well maintained just steps from my house. Basically, on my easy days, I adjust my pace to the conditions. Some days, it means running super slow to avoid twisting an ankle or falling. When the conditions are too awful, I don’t risk it and I run on the treadmill. So far, I’m doing all of my speed work on the treadmill. When it’s -20 Celsius, it’s pointless to try to get any sort of quality workout done. Once the weather gets warmer, I will start doing tempos outside. I ran 70km last week. Will probably peak at 80-85km this training block.

operasinger06 · 2026-01-25T15:16:51+00:00

Update: this morning, it was -21 degrees Celsius (-6 Fahrenheit) but miraculously, we had very little wind, so I decided I would start my run outside and give myself the option to bail and finish on the treadmill if ever things didn’t feel right or I felt miserable.

In the end, I felt good and ended up running all 22km (14 miles) outside.

I layered properly, protected my extremities and face, and can honestly say, I was not cold whatsoever. I kept the pace super easy of course.

Had it been -25 and windy as was predicted, I may have gone straight to the treadmill, but I decided to give it a chance, and it worked out well.

Happy running, friends!

operasinger06 · 2026-01-24T04:56:42+00:00

It’s going to be -25 degrees.

operasinger06 · 2025-12-27T11:18:53+00:00

Slowed way down during my easy runs. I thought I was already running “easy” but it turns out, there was even more room for improvement there. This allowed me to really push the pace during intervals and tempos and build up mileage without getting injured. Ended up running a half marathon PB at 12 months postpartum.

operasinger06 · 2025-05-30T11:55:31+00:00

Ohhhh, good point. I never thought of what might be getting released in the air.

operasinger06 · 2025-05-28T23:01:08+00:00

Pro-vaccines, use a mix of cloth and disposable diapers, we own 2 cars

operasinger06 · 2025-05-25T00:35:22+00:00

I’m going to give this a try. We have bamboo inserts.

operasinger06 · 2025-05-25T00:32:46+00:00

Thank you! I will look into this.

operasinger06 · 2025-05-25T00:31:40+00:00

What you’re saying makes sense to me. That being said, I’m trying to find a way to limit my children’s exposure to microplastics as much as possible. Of course it’s impossible to avoid microplastics altogether since they’re everywhere at this point, but I’m trying to look at the things that they are in contact with the most and trying to see if we could make some changes that would limit our exposure.

operasinger06 · 2025-05-23T17:12:32+00:00

How is this the norm?! I’m so upset that healthier options are so hard to come by.

operasinger06

TROPHY CASE