Myth: running a marathon will make me lose weight

I cannot stress this enough - marathons don't make you skinny. While running a marathon might help you lose weight or achieve other health goals, it all depends on how you train - specifically, the combination of your training regimen and other lifestyle choices, such as diet.

You may have heard it said "you can't outrun a bad diet." It's true. When I ran my first marathon, I felt a lot better at the end of it, but I didn't lose a single pound in the process. You can easily out eat any amount of calories you burn running, even when you're running 30+ miles a week. If you aren't disciplined about your diet going into training, training provides an excellent excuse to indulge that can easily propel you toward dramatic increases in calorie intake.

Myth: the best way to deal with running injuries is to take anti-inflammatories

Please note: I am not a doctor or a medical professional, this is simply information sharing and advice from one informed runner to another.

Be careful with the NSAIDs - that includes Ibuprofen (Advil), Naproxen (Aleve), Aspirin, etc. Studies have shown that these over the counter go-to's have significant adverse affects on runners. They interfere with kidney function, and in some cases, perfectly healthy runners who have taken these drugs before a race have died before they reached the finish line.

Further, research shows that taking these drugs during recovery inhibits the regeneration of muscles. Even after healing, studies have shown that muscles are not as strong when NSAIDs were used during the healing process. This is important, because it means that NSAIDs may directly counteract our training efforts.

Remember that inflammation is a natural process, and when it comes to training, it's your friend. The purpose of training is to condition your body and develop your muscles - and your muscles develop through stress, damage, and repair. Inflammation is your body's way of drawing healing blood flows to the areas of your body that need to regenerate. It is vital to training because it allows your body to heal and rebuild your muscles which, ultimately, is how we become stronger and realize the benefits of training.

Instead of taking Advil, Motin, etc., try taking Tylenol after your long runs - Tylenol is not an NSAID, and it dulls pain without reducing your body's natural inflammatory processes.

Myth: I can't run a marathon.

Yes, you can.

Marathon runners span every age group, come in just about every size, and from just about every background imaginable.

I, for one, was never athletic growing up. Despite the fact that I was 6' tall and constantly asked if I played basketball, I never played a single sport. I was one of the kids who walked the mile in gym class, and couldn't do a pushup or a pull-up. But when I got into my mid-20's and realized that I would always be unhappy with my body and health if I continued working a desk job and didn't keep to a workout schedule, I laced up my old sneakers and started running.

At first, I could only run 2 miles. Then I worked my way up to 3, and I was so proud. Then I started challenging myself to run further than I ever had - 6, 7, 8 miles. I liked how I felt and how I looked, and I decided I needed an audacious goal to keep myself on track. Then, one day, I went out for a run on a crisp fall day, I felt like I could run forever, and (oddly, for Chicago) there was almost no traffic on the streets. I eventually ran into a road block with a bunch of runners on the other side, and discovered that it was the day of the Chicago Marathon. That's when I decided I would try to run a marathon - I had no idea what it would take or if I had the stuff for it, but I wanted to try. And I did. And I finished. And then I kept going.

Now, 4 marathon's later, I'm healthier than I've ever been and I suppose I can call myself a "runner" - a title young Sarah would never have fathomed, let alone a "marathoner."

Since I started this journey, I have met runners with all kinds of stories. Some are grieving a loss, or a loved one's diagnosis with a terrible illness, who use running as a way to process their grief, or as a welcome escape from it for a few hours a week. I have met runners with all kinds of diseases and physical limitations that I would never have imagined possible. But we do it, all kinds of us crazy humans. I usually find that part of us is doing it to prove something to ourselves, and part of us is doing it to prove something to other people about what's possible.

The truth is, we marathoners, we're not special. Just a touch crazy, and dedicated to making a difference in our own lives and the lives of those around us.

If you want to run a marathon, start running. You might be surprised what you are capable of.