I Finally Did It – I Signed Up for My First Marathon by Jared Harding Wilson

by Jared Harding Wilson

For years I dreamed about running a marathon.

Three-and-a-half years ago I married into a family full of marathoners, and their stories, medals, and contagious excitement finally pushed me over the edge. Last month (November 2025) I stopped wishing and hit “register” for the Salt Lake City Marathon on April 25, 2026.

My very first 26.2 — and I’m beyond pumped.

Why a Written Schedule Changed Everything for Me

When I trained for the Hobble Creek Half Marathon last summer, the single best thing I did was build a week-by-week plan. No guessing, no decision fatigue — just open the schedule and go run. It removed every excuse and turned “I should probably run” into “today is 6 easy miles.”

I’m doing the exact same thing for this marathon. Here’s the full 23-week plan I’m following (feel free to steal it!):

Having it written down, taped to the fridge, and shared with my wife makes it real. If it’s on the calendar, it happens.

I Started Inviting People — And They’re Actually Saying Yes!

The second game-changer? I started casually inviting friends, family, and coworkers to run Salt Lake with me. I expected a lot of polite “maybe somedays,” but instead several of them are saying yes! Now we’ve got a little crew starting to train — long runs, shared Strava kudos, and plenty of trash talk. It’s turning a big scary goal into something fun and social.

Moral of the story: tell people. You’ll be shocked who says yes.

Running for Something Bigger Than Miles

One of the reasons I love this race: a portion of every registration fee goes directly to the Huntsman Cancer Institute. My dad is battling cancer right now, and my mom is a survivor. Every step in Salt Lake will be for them and for every family fighting the same fight. You get to finish a marathon and help save lives at the same time — pretty unbeatable combo.

One of Those Runs That Reminds You Why

Last weekend’s easy 5-miler on the Provo River Parkway was pure magic: crystal-clear river, ducks, sunshine bouncing off the water, huge cottonwoods, open farmland, pioneer history markers, Utah Lake, and snow-capped mountains. My wife rode beside me on her bike, and for a little while the rest of the world disappeared.

Runs like that make every early alarm clock worth it.

Your Turn — Let’s Do This Together

Pick one race in the next six months and sign up today. 5K, 10K, half, full — doesn’t matter. Just make it real.

In Utah? Here’s a full calendar of races: https://www.runguides.com/utah/runs

Anywhere else? Google “[your city/state] running calendar” — you’ll find something perfect.

Come join our little crew in Salt Lake this April!

Home

See you on the roads and trails,

Jared

P.S. Want my exact 23-week schedule or that gorgeous Provo River route? Just say the word.

What about you — have you signed up for your first race yet, or what’s one that’s been on your bucket list? Drop a comment below and let’s cheer each other on!

Photos by Jared Harding Wilson. All rights reserved.