I did it! I ran the Every Womans Marathon as a first time marathoner and……if you are considering it….this is EVERYTHING you need to know from training day one to starting line (and beyond).
While I’ve run plenty of races in the last few years (from the Disney Princess half marathon to the infamous and VERY challenging Dipsea trail race)……until recently, I’d never run more than a half marathon. When I learned about the inaugural every womanās marathon , it sounded so unique….that I signed up.
Every Woman’s Marathon: Everything You Need To Know
If youāre looking for a marathon thatās about more than just crossing a finish line, the Every Womanās Marathon in Savannah, Georgia may just get you to commit too. The initial race took place on November 16, 2024. I loved that this race is designed to empower women at all fitness levels…..in fact almost 40% of the runners were also first-time marathoner runners.
The Course and Location
The stunning and beautifully FLAT course weaved through Savannah’s historic streets and with a full weekend events, this marathon was as much about the overall experience as it was about the miles themselves.
Imagine running past Savannahās iconic oak trees draped in Spanish moss, gliding (or walking) through cobblestone streets, and soaking in views of beautifully preserved city squares. The course is a 26.2-mile loop that highlights the cityās charm, and we passed landmarks like the Savannah Bananas stadium adding fun and character to the journey. Whether youāre aiming for a personal best or just want to enjoy the sights…..I can’t say it enough….. the mostly flat route is perfect for runners of all levels? (especially if it is your first marathon experience).
If you are an elite runner….. the Every Woman’s Marathon course is a certified Boston Marathon qualifier. If youāve ever dreamed of running Boston, Savannah could be your ticket. With its flat terrain and cool November temperaturesāaveraging 48Ā°F in the morning and peaking around 70Ā°Fāitās an ideal setting for achieving a qualifying time?. Our weather was absolutely blissful on race day. We walked over to the start line with a cool 50 degree temperature and it never got hotter than 68 degrees.
Where to Stay and Eat
For this race, we wanted to stay in a relaxing hotel close to the start line (and we weren’t the only ones our hotel was filled with marathon participants and their support teams). We stayed at the Thompson Savannah and it was IDEAL. The beds were comfortable, we had an easy walk to the start of the race route and the wellness expo and a lovely view of the water. There was a great coffee shop attached to the hotel with breakfast options and it was filled with female runners each morning. There were also great dinner options for after the race (not gonna lie, we opted for the burger in the bar lounge and it was DIVINE). We could easily walk to other places to eat during the expo and bib pick up day and loved being in the middle of the action.
Training and Preparing
I had…..a lot of preparation and training to do before my toes hit the starting line for the every woman’s marathon race. While I’ve grown pretty comfortable with a half marathon, there is a HUGE difference mentally and physically between completing a 13.1 mile race and a 26.2-mile race . I committed to a training program (I used Hal Higdon’s marathon training schedule) and for about 18 weeks…..it was my LIFE. I will say, being this committed to a training plan helped…..I felt ready and confident on race day. If you are running your first marathon then I highly recommend being as committed as possible to a training schedule. I think it helped prevent training injuries and to help me know when to increase milage.
Gear, Equipment and Fuel
Talk to any distance runner, and they’ll passionately talk to you about running attire, shoes, equipment and nutrition plans . A huge part of the marathon training process is discovering what works for YOU in these areas. I knew that the race would have chocolate milk at the finish line (team milk was the headline sponsor) but….I wanted to be sure that DURING the race I felt comfortable and fueled.
After trying different fuel options, I found that Sports Beans worked best for me. I knew there would be water stations with sports drink options along the course and planned for that. I did run with two SMALL water bottles in my running vest and was glad I had them but probably would have been fine without. My rule of thumb? Pack what I need.
In terms of gear, I tested EVERY item and wore my favorites on race day. For me? Lululemon wunder train tights are worth EVERY penny, they don’t budge. I’m a massive fan of Bombas running socks, and I swear by my Nike Invincible 3 running shoes. I switched to Shokz headphones partway through training and LOVE them, and I always use….a lot of Body Glide to prevent chafing.
For recovery, I brought my theragun massage gun and I flew wearing Firefly recovery bands. These two things combined with advil and a very good night’s sleep helped a LOT.
I will say, one of my biggest tips is to simulate race day and to test EVERYTHING. Dress rehearsal runsāwhere you practice wearing your race gear, pacing strategies, and fuel timingāare crucial. Schedule one or two runs at your target marathon pace, ideally on a route similar to Savannahās course. These practice runs will help you fine-tune your strategy and boost your confidence?
Every Woman’s Marathon Race Day
If you are looking for a way to be inspired by female strength …..there is no better opportunity than watching 7,000 women runners complete a marathon. THE VIBES WERE IMMACULATE. This celebration of women reminded us we could do hard things and honestly? It was challenging but it sort of felt like a party the entire way. The community support for the race was AMAZING. From people who set up snack tables and water stations in their driveways to the girl scouts of historic georgia handing out cookies at mile 9…..it was a blast.
We had entertainment the WHOLE race, and BATHROOMS. Listen, do NOT underestimate the importance of restrooms during a race (especially for us first-time marathon runners ). There were plenty of restrooms on the course….but not just….port a potties….these were the FANCY ones that flush and have sinks and let me tell you it makes a HUGE difference.
And at the finish line? We were greeted by the infamous kathrine switzer (the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon)….along with a very pretty every woman’s marathon medal.
I absolutely loved my experience running the every woman’s marathon and think they did an amazing job of welcoming women of all abilities and experience levels….in fact, I may just run it again next year or the year after.
