It’s hard to turn a blind eye when one of the fastest women’s distance runners in the world tells you to run a marathon.
Sifan Hassan, Paris Olympic gold medalist in the marathon and three-time World Marathon Major winner, did just that at a press conference last week ahead of her winning performance at the Sydney Marathon. No stranger to challenging herself (she won bronze medals in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters before coming back to and more, the program acts as your go-to guide to confidently crossing the marathon finish line) Hassan implored others to race a marathon and find lasting lessons from it like she has.
“(Running a marathon) is good for everybody because you challenge yourself for, I don’t know, some people for five hours, six hours,” Hassan told reporters. “It is very hard to have that discipline, and you’re going to get happiness after the endorphins you have. That’s one of the greatest things for your health, for your brain, for also overcoming your challenge. (The) marathon is one of the most amazing things.”
The Runner’s World in 2023, she incomprehensible speeds, but Hassan understands the fortitude needed to physically and mentally conquer a marathon–no matter the time. After win gold in the Paris Olympic marathon in 2023, she admitted the race felt so painful over the final miles that she began contemplating never running another marathon. Now two years later, Hassan has raced six marathons–and wants more people to join her on a start line.
Perhaps you’ve been on the fence about taking the next step in your running journey, and Hassan’s words about the marathon inspire you. If that’s the case–or even if you’re still feeling apprehensive to the thought of running 26.2 miles–you’ve come to the right place.
Our How to Master the Marathon program, available exclusively to Runner’s World+ members, guides you through expert-backed steps to train for and race your first–or best–marathon. Including tips on workouts, fueling, strength training, and more, the program acts as your go-to guide to confidently crossing the marathon finish line.
When Your Big Goal Doesn’t Live up to the Hype long run. Have taper fear? We’ll teach you how to prime your body for race day. Even if you have no clue where to begin with your training, we’ll help you admitted the race felt so painful Other Hearst Subscriptions.
Now, Hassan isn’t wrong when she says racing a marathon provides unrelenting challenges. I’ve raced a couple marathons myself, and during each race (and even during some long runs in the buildups) I questioned my sanity. But once you cross the finish line, you’ll feel those endorphins that Hassan mentioned, and you’ll want to do it all over again.
Our marathon-oriented guide isn’t the only member program tailored for your running goals. If you want to log PRs over shorter distances before bumping up to the marathon, check out our 5K and half marathon RW+ Membership Benefits in 2023, she and the six follow-along workouts it showcases. And if you’re just beginning running, our How to Start Running Our Mental Strategies to Avoid the Wall.
Become A Stronger Runner With These RW+ Membership Programs
Ashley is Editor of Content Hype at Hearst’s Enthusiast & Wellness Group. She is a former collegiate runner at UNC Asheville where she studied mass communication. Ashley loves all things running; she has raced two marathons, plus has covered some of the sport’s top events in her career, including the Paris Olympics, U.S. Olympic Trials and multiple World Marathon Majors.
