The following covers the course, including my lead-up to the race, race morning, fueling/hydrating, the end of the marathon, and takeaways/final thoughts, excluding the splits.
Goal(s): A) To have fun and to run my fastest marathon. B) Finish injury-free. C) Nail fueling and hydration.
Me Saying “LFG!”
I came close to all 3, but we have work to do.
Splits (in Miles, not Kilometers):
1 – 6:56
2 – 6:46
3 – 6:44
4 – 6:51 (I snagged my first bottle with electrolytes here right after mile 4.5)
5 – 6:36
6 – 6:47
7 – 6:35
8 – 6:41
9 – 6:40
10 – 6:49
11 – 6:46
12 – 6:48
13 – 6:48
14 – 6:43
15 – 6:54
16 – 6:50
17 – 6:45
18 – 6:51
19 – 6:38
20 – 6:35
21 – 6:34
22 – 6:43
23 – 6:41
24 – 6:50
25 – 6:48
26 – 6:47
.2 – 6:45
Beginning of the Berlin Marathon!
WHAT. A. RIDE.
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Reflections After 24+ Hours: Next Steps in Competitive Running and Lessons from the Berlin Marathon
Two-Week Taper: Lessons Learned for Tokyo
During my two-week taper, I realized I overdid it. I didn’t feel fully rested until the Friday before the Berlin Marathon. This is something I’ll definitely need to adjust for the Tokyo Marathon. I hit a mental and physical plateau, questioning my passion for competitive running. At one point, I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to continue. Believe me, coaches go through this too!
But here’s the thing—those feelings excite me.
Why? Because they show how much I care. And as I continue to learn and grow, I’ll pass that knowledge on to my athletes and anyone asking themselves, “Can I do this too?” This period of reflection has taught me the importance of accepting where I am. I’m human—not an alien (I think). I’m ready to get back out there, stronger and more resilient from the lessons I’ve learned and the miles I’ve run. The best is yet to come. Onward!
Marathon Taper Struggles and Travel Woes
The taper phase into Berlin was rough. I felt sick and run down until Wednesday—on my birthday. My international flight, combined with a chaotic Heathrow-to-Berlin transfer, all while caffeine-deprived and battling a headache, was not fun. Let’s just say I’m not the best company when sleep-deprived.
But then something clicked. After sleeping 10.5 hours on Thursday post-expo, I woke up on Friday feeling like a new person. Why did I feel amazing just two days before the race? No idea, but I embraced it. Even after sightseeing with my family on Saturday, I still felt great. Sometimes, your body surprises you.
Fueling Strategy: Nutrition During Marathon Week
I stuck with the tried-and-true nutrition plan I had trained with, ramping up carbs, proteins, and healthy fats starting the Monday before the race. I ate every two hours to gradually fill my glycogen stores without overwhelming my system. By Friday, I felt like a fully fueled tank, ready to hit the race.
I’ve learned the hard way: showing up under-fueled and tired on race day just doesn’t work. Been there, done that—especially during my early 20s when I struggled with disordered eating. This time, I stuck to what worked. I loaded up on my usual foods and stayed consistent with electrolytes throughout the week—nothing new on race day!
Middle of the Berlin Marathon. Look at the CROWD!
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Race Morning Routine: Prepping for the Berlin Marathon
Race day started with a 7 am wake-up call from Kevin and my mom. I reluctantly got out of bed and forced down an English muffin and coffee—fueling up is a must, even when it’s tough! I put on my race gear and headed out. The 9:15 am start time was a welcome change compared to the 4:30 am wake-ups required for the Chicago and NYC marathons, and other smaller races I’ve done.
By 8:06 am, I was out of the hotel and walking to the start line, which was just over 1K away (about half a mile). I jogged for about four minutes to loosen up, then entered the starting corral. With five minutes to go before the race, I ditched my warm-up clothes, took two Precision Hydration blocks, and had one non-caffeinated Maurten gel—no water needed.
Back to that English muffin… yeah, it was tough to get down, but it’s essential to start with some fuel in the tank!
Fuel During The Marathon
Fueling throughout, I had 12 gels frontloaded with Maurten non-caf; the rest was caffeinated. Yeah, so 1200 total calories. I had all my salt tabs. I had 14 total and stopped at every water station, which wasn’t enough for my needs.
Hydration/Water Bottle Sitch
Damn. I freakin’ missed a primary water bottle. Mind you; these bottles did not have carbohydrates in them (Pedialyte has some, but it’s primarily electrolytes (Zinc, Potassium, Sodium) all the ish. I dropped my pace at Mile 19 from 6:50 to 6:37, followed by mile 20 at 6:35 and mile 21 at 6:34. I felt myself slipping, holding a 6:42 and 6:41 at miles 22 & 23, respectively. Time to dial into my hydration strategy for the sequential marathon builds during training 😉
Key Takeaway: Managing Overheating During a Marathon
If you ever start overheating in a marathon—whether the temperature rises or something else affects you—remember these key strategies: pour extra water on your head, slow your pace for about 0.25 miles, and then ease back into your rhythm. The marathon is a grueling distance, but if you work with your body, it will work with you. And don’t forget, sometimes a little extra water intake can make all the difference!
I realized too late that having a bottle with Pedialyte and water at mile 23 would have been a game changer, but I pushed through. I felt the race slipping away, but I told myself, “No way.” I held on with everything I had, crossing that finish line like the BO$$ I know I am. From mile 24 to the 26.2 marker, I gave it my all, even when I wasn’t feeling 100%. I pulled from my training, mentally coaching myself through the discomfort, and pushed hard to the end.
Marathon wisdom comes from experience, and every race is a learning opportunity. Whether it’s figuring out how to finish strong or applying lessons from past races, growth in the marathon distance is all about using what you’ve learned. When you tap into that, you’ve already won!
Marathon Ending
End of the Marathon. We did that!!
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The Final Push: Running Through the Brandenburg Gate at the Berlin Marathon
As I approached the iconic turn towards the Brandenburg Gate just after Mile 25, it felt so close yet so far. I dug deep and pulled from my mental toolbox—recalling all the long runs, workouts, and personal challenges I’ve faced over the past several years. From heartbreak to finding love, from emptiness to self-acceptance, I reminded myself of all the lessons I teach my athletes and applied them to myself in this very moment. Before I knew it, I was running through the Brandenburg Gate and onto the final stretch to the finish line (which also felt longer than expected!). I thought to myself, “Let’s F***ING DO THIS!” and gave it everything I had.
Crossing the finish line, I smiled, though part of me felt disappointed, wishing I had pushed harder. But at the same time, I was grateful to clock another 2:58 marathon. Seeing familiar faces at the finish, I couldn’t help but feel incredibly thankful. While I didn’t ring that PR bell, I finished my first international marathon in Germany, surrounded by my mom, stepdad, friends from near and far, and an amazing community of runners. I am blessed with a healthy, strong body, and for that, I’m deeply grateful.
These moments and lessons define us. Without them, there would be no room for growth or improvement.
The Electric Berlin Marathon Crowds
The energy of the Berlin Marathon crowds was absolutely electric. I felt like Kipchoge running the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in Vienna (yes, that’s what I watch the night before every marathon). The drums, the cheers, and the contagious momentum of over 50,000 international runners pushed me forward. I hope I was doing the same for others along the way. Of course, with so many runners, there was plenty of elbowing, but that’s all part of the marathon experience!
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Water Stations & Hydration Mishaps at the Berlin Marathon
If I run the Berlin Marathon again, I’ll make sure to have my own water bottles with electrolytes at every hydration station—this is non-negotiable. While the water stations were well-stocked and the cups were full, they weren’t plastic, which made them harder to grab. Plus, with such a crowded race (think elbow-to-elbow like Chicago and NYC), getting to those cups was a challenge. At this point, it’s just part of running a major marathon, and maybe smaller races are better for chasing PRs, but it is what it is!
One key lesson I learned: I wasn’t prepared to pick up my pace at Mile 19 (something I’ve never done at that intensity before). Holding that pace while missing a crucial hydration station and my Pedialyte/water bottle threw me off. I’m a salty sweater—my jacket and skin after training runs show it—so missing out on that hydration was a big mistake. This experience has taught me valuable lessons that I’ll apply in future marathons. These breakthroughs wouldn’t have happened without the tough lessons from each race and every training run.
I’m planning to take a sweat test with Precision Fuel & Hydration to dial in my hydration needs. I’ll share what I learn and how I plan to apply that to my future training. I’ll also coach my athletes to fine-tune their hydration strategies, too.
Areas to Improve: Hydration, Strength, and Nutrition
Moving forward, I know I need to focus on proper hydration, building extra strength (especially as a female runner), and increasing my protein intake. I’ll also work on personalizing my nutrition throughout training to support long runs and workouts. I’m excited to start nutrition school in November, where I’ll dive into nutritional science and apply that knowledge to my own training and the athletes I coach. Personalized recovery, especially through nutrition, is key to going the distance, and the more we can understand what works for our bodies during training, the better we’ll perform on race day.
Key Takeaway: Fuel for Performance
It’s time to focus on fueling with more carbs and protein around every run, workout, and strength session. Throughout training, I’ll treat long runs like race day to better simulate marathon conditions. What works for me may not work for everyone, but it’s important to acknowledge what could work for you and experiment to find the best approach. You only know what you know—until you try!
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Final Thoughts on the Berlin Marathon: Lessons and Takeaways
The Berlin Marathon course is comparable to Chicago—flat and fast, with fewer turns and some speed bumps along the way. And unlike Chicago, there’s no hill waiting for you at the end, making it one of the flattest major marathons out there.
Marathons are intimidating, but we take them on because we thrive on that good hurt and good challenge. Crossing the finish line isn’t just about completing a race—it’s about accomplishing something greater than ourselves. We inspire others, and more importantly, we inspire ourselves.
This was the most prepared I’ve ever felt going into a race. Since 2022, I’ve been training not just my legs but my stomach, getting my nutrition dialed in. However, I wasn’t completely happy with how I performed in Berlin. That frustration reflects my training and performance, but I see it as a positive. It means I care, I’m resilient, and I will keep pushing. Berlin challenged me, but it also gave me clarity on what to focus on for Tokyo. I’m not chasing a time goal this time—my focus is on a performance breakthrough. I’m ready to apply what I’ve learned and finish those last 5K stronger and faster.
I’m continuously building and visualizing the runner and woman I aspire to be in this sport. One race won’t dictate my future, and I won’t let a time or number define my goals or dampen my spirit. I practice gratitude, give myself grace, and remind myself that we’re all works in progress. Every race is a stepping stone toward what’s next, and the journey is what keeps us coming back for more.
I hope this race recap inspires, motivates, or educates you on what works, what can be improved, and what you can take from my experience. Every race teaches us something new and helps us evolve. Embrace the process, work with your body and mind, and you’ll never be disappointed.
The excitement and thrill of the challenge are what keep us chasing more. LET’S CHASE IT!
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