Madison Marathon: Madison, Wisconsin, November 12, 2023 – Marathon #37
This weekend marks the 8th week in a row that I’ve run a marathon, and let’s be honest—I’m feeling tired. With three more out-of-town marathons left to go in 2023, I can’t believe how quickly the year has flown by.
Before leaving for Madison, I knew it would be a quick turnaround trip, and I made the rookie mistake of looking at the course map. Normally, I avoid studying the course because I think it can mess with my head, but this time, I saw that the route was full of hills—and it was also going to be a bit windy.
Pre-Race Day in Madison
I arrived in Madison, excited but already feeling the fatigue from the past few weeks of running. After picking up my bib, I spent some time talking to a few first-time marathoners who were as nervous as they were excited. It’s always great to hear other people’s stories and share in their enthusiasm. Afterward, I found an indoor mall to walk around, then settled in early at the hotel to get some much-needed rest.
Race Day
Race day arrived, and the weather didn’t disappoint—it was colder than I would’ve liked at the start, but I knew it would be fine once I got moving. I woke up early, did my pre-race prep, and got ready for what was shaping up to be a challenging but beautiful course. Madison didn’t disappoint—it was scenic, but with plenty of hills to keep things interesting.
The crowd support was amazing, especially because our bibs had our names on them. That meant random strangers along the course were cheering for me by name, and let me tell you, it makes all the difference. At certain spots, there were so many runners packed together that it felt like a real sea of energy, especially on the way toward the finish line.
The Hills
I had heard about the two big hills along the course—one around the 15-mile marker and another near the finish. The first hill was tough, but I pushed through it. As I approached the second hill, I could feel my body starting to get fatigued, but I was determined to keep moving. The crowds around the finish were fantastic, and the energy from the spectators made all the difference in helping me power through the final stretch. When I saw the photographers capturing the moment, I knew I was giving it my all, and their pictures are proof of the effort I put in.
Personal Best
The highlight of this race? I PR’d for the second week in a row! This time, I crushed my previous time by more than 4 minutes, finishing with a time of 4:37:31. I’m incredibly proud of this achievement, but at the same time, my body is definitely feeling the toll of eight straight weeks of racing. It’s a mix of exhaustion and excitement—exhausted from the effort but thrilled with the progress I’m making.
What’s Next
Next week, I’m off to the Philadelphia Freedom Marathon, where I’ll be running a triple—the 8K, the half marathon, and the full marathon. It’s going to be a tough weekend, but I’m excited about the challenge. I also just found out that three of my running friends, whom I met earlier this year, will be running the same races. It’s going to be an amazing experience to share the weekend with them!
Let’s keep running!