Part Three: What NOT to Do When Preparing to Run a Marathon

by Jared Harding Wilson

If you’ve been following along with my journey, you know I’m checking off the boxes on my spreadsheet as I prepare for my very first marathon—which happens to be just two weeks after my 50th birthday this April!

As of this exact moment, I have 2 months, 7 days, 21 hours, 48 minutes, and 30 seconds until the 7:00 AM race start on Saturday, April 25th. I’m excited, I’m nervous, and most importantly, I am doing my part to make sure I don’t “die” at mile 20!

The Lamborghini Reality Check

The road hasn’t been perfectly smooth. Between a bout of sickness and an 8-mile run on a freezing day that left me with a hurt left knee, I’ve had to do some fast learning. After that 8-miler, my wife—who has her own history with running injuries—gave me the ultimate reality check.

She turned to me and said, “Jared, you know you’re getting older, lol! You might want to stretch and do things to protect your body. If your body were a very expensive Lamborghini, how would you take care of it and maintain it?”

She was right. I’d been treating my body like an old truck I could just floor, but a marathon requires “supercar” maintenance. Between her advice, my PTA friend, and finally listening to common sense, I’ve gathered some wisdom on what NOT to do.

1. Don’t ignore the Warm-up and Cool-down

I’ve learned the hard way: you need to stretch beforehand and afterwards. But even more importantly, a light warm-up before you even start stretching is a game changer for keeping your joints lubricated and ready.

2. Don’t stay on the sidewalk

I used to think the sidewalk was the safest bet, but it’s actually incredibly unforgiving. Don’t consistently run on just sidewalk or concrete; it has zero “give.” Your joints will thank you if you switch to pavement (asphalt) or, even better, grass.

3. Don’t stay on one side of the road

This was a huge lesson from my wife’s experience. She once ran so much on one side of the road—where the slant of the street kept one foot higher than the other—that she ended up in physical therapy for months. Switch it up! Don’t let the angle of the road wear down your body unevenly.

4. Don’t skip “The Support System” (Strength Training)

My PTA friend pointed out that most knee problems don’t actually start in the knee. They start with a weak core, weak hips, and weak hamstrings. Don’t just run! She recommends using resistance bands to strengthen my outer hips and inner thighs, followed by hamstring and core work. Since I started focusing on these muscle groups, I actually feel like I can run faster!

5. Don’t be a “Mouth Breather”

This one might sound strange, but don’t breathe out of your mouth while running. If you control your breath—in and out through your nose at a calm, slow rate—you don’t dehydrate yourself as quickly. Plus, controlling your oxygen intake like this helps keep your pacing per mile much more consistent.

Staying on Track

When my knee was acting up, I didn’t quit; I just adjusted. I swapped the street for an elliptical for a while to keep my cardio up without the impact. Now, I’m almost back on track and feeling better than ever. Having my written spreadsheet has been a total game-changer—it eliminates “decision fatigue.” The decision is already made; I just have to do it.

Training is a learning process, and I’m enjoying every mile of it (well, most of them!).

Check out some views from my latest training run along the Provo River Parkway Trail here in Utah:

One of my favorite spots—a beautiful little waterfall area.

Crossing the metal bridge.

The peaceful combination of winter trees and the rushing river.

Construction work happening on one of the bends in the river.

Found this on a power box along the trail: “Love is tough and loneliness is twice as hard.” Something to think about while hitting the pavement!

Towards the end of my run with beautiful mountains 🏔️ in the background.

What about you? If you’re a runner, what’s the one “rookie mistake” you wish someone had warned you about? Or, if you’re just starting a new fitness journey after 50, how are you keeping your “Lamborghini” maintained? Leave a comment below and let’s swap some trail wisdom!