Coaching runners in the last ten years has taught me that a successful marathon experience isnt about a magical pill or plan. I have given the exact training plan to ten runners and seen 10 different effects. Its not so much about what you need to do to prepare as how you would handle the impact of training on your life, body, and mind. Instead of talking of mileage per week, its more significant to discuss the key points of marathon training – what I will refer to here as the Key Six Phases of the marathon lifecyle.
Phase One: Commit
Its one thing to set a marathon on the bucket list, its another to choose a race and drop the cash on an entry fee. Joining provides you with something to show for your friends and family; its a gathering that you could mark as a milestone in your personal calendar. You never know, perhaps you can even tell some of your crazy pals to sign on together with you!
Phase Two: Connect
Now that you are technically in to the race, its time to begin to build a little community who will support and motivate you to your finish line. Even if you have your pre-existing group ready, here are several things to do if you decide to begin from scratch. Find a local running shop where you can take a seat and speak (even if briefly) with a fellow runner with regards to the right footwear suitable for you. This shop may provide the important information for the local run.
Phase Three: Conspire
With the event kept in along with a group to run with at least part of the time, now you may turn your attention to your marathon training schedule. Picking the appropriate strategy has less to do with the plan itself, and more to do with youso always put yourself first when coming up with your choice.
Phase Four: Consistency
Whatever plan you do end up selecting, your primary objective is get follow it as closely as you possibly can. The most effective training plans are Easy To Do, in this there won’t be any super-hard sessions or not easy to comprehend guidance. The ultimate objective of the marathon plan is to get you ready to take care of the rigors of 26.2 miles – and the easiest way to achieve that is to get you running as frequently as possible for so long as you can handle at this point.
Phase Five: Doubt
No one is ever honestly prepared for race day. Speak with any individual in the starting line on race weekend and youll hear lots of wonderful stories of defeating obstacles like injury, scheduling, health, etc. Its just part of what we do as runners; do your best to remain focused and dont be afraid to ask for support from the networks you have built in earlier phases of your training.
Phase Six: Conserve
Once you are in the running groove, youll realize that running is pretty effortless. You love it, its empowering and its changing what you are. So if 40 miles every week is goodthen 60 or 80 must be better, right? If the 20-miler is good, a 24-miler must be better, right? Incorrect!
Keep in mind our mantra of Consistency above; getting aggressive with all or part of your training is usually a serious roll of the dice. The gamble might improve some, but they’re normally in the minority, and its not worth it this early in your running profession.
Couch to Marathon