Okay, here’s something that’ll sound weird at first: running a marathon is basically like playing poker. I know, I know, but stick with me here.
Think about it. Both mess with your head. Both need a strategy. And both will absolutely wreck you in ways you never saw coming. I’ve been running marathons for eight years, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched runners with flawless training plans just completely lose it mentally around mile 18.
That’s where poker comes in. Professional poker players deal with pressure, uncertainty, and staying sharp for hours. Sound familiar? Here are five strategies marathoners can steal from the poker table.
Stay Laser-Focused (Even When Everything’s Going Wrong)
Ever watched a poker pro during a major tournament? Cameras everywhere. Crowds. Opponents are trying to read every twitch. Yet somehow they stay completely dialed in.
Marathon runners need this exact skill. Trust me — there’s a ton that can derail your focus during 26.2 miles. The guy next to you is breathing like Darth Vader. Your GPS watch is beeping every single mile. That voice in your head is going, “You’re not ready for this, idiot.”
Online poker platforms like Americas Cardroom create environments where players must maintain focus despite constant distractions and psychological pressure. Runners can learn from this approach.
I developed this simple mantra during my third marathon: “This step. This breath. This mile.” That’s it. When my brain started wandering to the finish line or obsessing over split times, I’d come back to those six words. Works every time.
The key? Don’t fight the distractions. Just acknowledge them, then let them go. Your brain’s going to try to overcomplicate everything. Don’t let it.
Think Several Moves Ahead
Good poker players aren’t just focused on their current hand. They’re already planning their next three moves — watching opponents, calculating odds, and setting up future plays.
Marathon strategy works the same way. You can’t just show up and wing it. Well, you can. But you probably won’t like how it ends.
Here’s what I mean: Let’s say you’re planning a 7:30 pace. But what if it’s windier than expected? What if that hill at mile 15 is way steeper than you remembered? What if you’re feeling incredible at mile 20 and want to hammer it?
Plan for these scenarios during training. Not just physically — mentally. I always have three race plans: conservative, target, and aggressive. The conditions and how I’m feeling determine which one I use.
Most runners make this huge mistake of having one rigid plan. Then, when something changes — and something always changes – they panic. Don’t be that runner.
Bounce Back From Setbacks (Because They’re Definitely Coming)
Poker players lose hands. Sometimes big ones. The difference between pros and amateurs? Pros don’t let one bad hand destroy their entire game.
Running 26.2 miles guarantees you’ll hit rough patches. Your stomach might revolt at mile 12. You might trip over nothing. The weather might turn nasty. These aren’t possibilities — they’re going to happen.
I learned this the hard way during my second marathon. Everything was perfect until mile 16, when I started cramping hard. Instead of adjusting, I got frustrated and tried to push through. Big mistake — ended up walking the last 6 miles like a zombie.
Now, when something goes wrong, I treat it like a poker player treats a bad beat. It happened. It’s over. What’s my next move?
Breathing exercises help. So does having a few positive phrases ready: “I’ve trained for this.” “One mile at a time.” “I’m way tougher than I think.”
The goal isn’t avoiding setbacks. It’s recovering from them fast.
Roll With the Punches
Flexibility separates good players from great ones. Whether you’re at a poker table or running through city streets.
Your perfect race plan? It’s probably going to need adjustments. Maybe the pace group you planned to stick with is running too fast. Maybe your fueling strategy isn’t sitting well. Maybe it starts pouring rain at mile 8.
Successful poker players read the table and adjust. They don’t stubbornly stick to their original strategy when conditions change. Marathon runners should think the same way.
During my best marathon, I threw my original pacing plan out the window at mile 10. I was feeling stronger than expected, the weather was perfect, and my legs had way more bounce than usual. So I shifted to my aggressive plan and ended up with a 12-minute PR.
Practice adaptability during training runs. Take different routes. Run in crappy weather. Learn to listen to your body’s feedback and trust your gut.
Master the Waiting Game
Patience might be poker’s most underrated skill. The best players wait for the right moment to make their move. They don’t get impatient and blow their bankroll on mediocre hands.
Marathon running demands similar restraint. The urge to go out fast is almost irresistible, especially when you’re feeling fresh and the crowd’s energy is electric. But starting too aggressively is one of the quickest ways to ensure a miserable final 10K.
I see it at every single race. Runners who’ve trained at an 8:00 pace suddenly think they can run 7:15s because it’s race day. Spoiler alert: they can’t. At least not for 26.2 miles.
Build patience through training. Practice negative splits during long runs. Start conservatively and finish strong. Feels weird at first, but it works.
The marathon rewards patience. The first half should feel almost easy. If you’re working hard before mile 13, you’re probably going too fast.
The Bottom Line
Marathon success isn’t just about logging miles and hitting workouts. The mental game matters just as much. Maybe more.
Poker players understand something many runners don’t: the ability to stay focused, think strategically, and bounce back from adversity — these are skills you can develop. They’re not personality traits you’re born with.
Start incorporating these strategies into your training. Practice focus during long runs. Develop multiple race plans. Learn to adapt when things don’t go according to script. Most importantly, be patient with the process. Your legs will get you to the starting line. But your mind? That’s what gets you to the finish.