Preparing For Your First Marathon
| By: Lance Mills When you’re preparing for your first marathon, you will want to make sure that you are already familiar with the running sport. Planning a marathon as your first running race will lead to quick disappointment—like anything big in life, you have to work your way up the ladder. Register for a 5k or a 10k, then, once you’ve got those down, tackle a half-marathon. When you’re ready for a marathon, be prepared for a lot of hard work and training! First off, make sure you have the proper equipment. Although it may not seem like running is an expensive sport, it can sometimes require a little investment to protect your body from the elements and from injury. It is suggested that you start off with a great pair of a running shoes—head to a running store to get the proper shoe for the way YOU run. Not all shoes are created equal, and not everyone runs the same way. The wear you place on your shoe will determine what brand and style are best. You’ll also want to look into some moisture wicking clothing, sunscreen and proper sun protection, a performance wristwatch and heart rate monitor, and a waist belt to hold bottles of water for rehydration during those long runs. Once you’ve got the equipment, you need to invest the time. Training for a marathon can be a good 6-month training period, sometimes up to a year if you’re not a seasoned runner. When it comes to preparing for a marathon, you want to work your way up—start small, with 2-3 mile runs, and then slowly start extending the length of your runs from there. It’s a good idea to take a calendar, mark the day of the marathon, and work your way back, subtracting a half mile or a mile each week (depending on the time you have available to train) to figure out a steady, increased running pace and goal to work towards. Register ahead of time—and for some of the larger marathons, like the Boston Marathon, this is a definite must. Also, it gives you the feeling like you can’t back out, and it finalizes that commitment that you are making to yourself—and your body. If you’re injured, slow it down. Nothing can set you back more than an injury, but if you try running with one, you’re bound to make it worse. Take a few days off, give your injury some TLC, and then slowly get back into the routine you had established. These are just a few steps to get you started in running your first marathon. Talk to friends who have run marathons, do some research online about how to prepare, and before you know it, you’ll be running across the finish line with a feeling of confidence! About the Author: Lance writes about various topics in his spare time. One of his websites is pillowspeakers.net which reviews the Softspeaker pillow speaker. Related Articles Steel Hunting Blades and Other Options Available to Hunters and Fishermen Bruce Lee Workout Routine Discover Bruce Lee s Genuine Exercise Workout Learning To Play Golf Fly Fishing On The Green Rive Bass Fishing in Ontario Fernando Verdasco Vs Simone Bolelli Live Streaming Watch Fernando Verdasco Vs Simone Bolelli Live S Be Prepared For Fishing With An Organized Fishing Tackle Boxes Benefits of Dog Pepper Spray Scuba diving in Maui The Reason Why Deciding On The Best Sort Of Golf Practice Equipment Is Important Ways to perk up that rusty Golf Swing I Used Martial Arts To Cut Open His Chest...and Found The Real Me The Bike Pedals Can Make A Big Difference On How You Ride The Bike Do You Need To Stretch For Mma A Few Simple Bass Fishing Techniques Everlast Punching Bag A Name You Can Trust |