7 Reasons to Run Your Hometown Marathon

When else might you be so excited to sleep in your own bed and prepare your own food? These might seem like little things, but trust me, the peace of mind will allow for maximum relaxation the night before your race. By being at home, you'll also probably know exactly how much time you'll need to give yourself to arrive at the starting line on race day. 

You can rest before...

One reason many runners choose to travel far for marathons is to visit a new destination and explore it in the hours you're not running. But when it comes to running a full marathon, this scenario can end up being bit of a lose-lose situation. For one thing, you'll quickly realize you want to spend as little time on your feet as possible in the couple of days leading up to the race.

More: 7 Tips for Getting a Good Night's Sleep Before

And relax guilt-free afterward

And for another, no matter how your race ends up going, you'll probably feel like you've been hit by a bus afterward, making exploring the last thing you'll want to do (I speak from experience). I do still love to travel for races, but these days I keep it to the shorter distances. After the Houston Marathon, my husband and I are set to run the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in New Orleans, and we can't wait to explore a new-to-us city in the days surrounding the race.

READ THIS NEXT: Your Race-Day Guide for Your First Marathon

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