Being an athlete is a state of mind which is not bound by age, performance or place in the running pack.
Even world class performers can benefit from walk breaks.
The more you frame the marathon as a stressful experience, the more negative messages you'll receive. But it's just as easy to frame it as a positively challenging journey.
We have a no puke rule. The purpose is performance, not puking.
The marathon is a competition between your will and your possibilities
Here is the start, there is the finish line. Between that, you have to run.