Marathon Running Secrets - 5 Tricks Of The Trade

Marathon running has changed over the past few years like most other sports. The elite athletes have continuously run quicker and faster pushing the limits time and again.

The way that you train to run a marathon has also evolved, with many of the archaic beliefs and training techniques simply abandoned in favour of newer, more effective ways of improving fitness and endurance.

Perhaps the most important changes over recent years is that to become better at running longer distances, you don’t simply need to just run. In order to improve stamina it is still vital to ensure that you do perform some longer runs at marathon running pace, but these should only form an integral part of well balanced marathon training schedule and not be the sole type of training you use.

Whilst performing your training, these marathon running tips will help you to stay focussed:-

Keep an eye on your speed. A wrist watch with GPS tracking abilities will give you readings of your times per mile and running speeds as well as many other statistics which can provide various means of motivation and target setting.

If you have a heart rate monitor you can use it work within specific zones. For your longer steady state runs you should be working at between 60% - 70% of your maximum heart rate. (You can calculate this by subtracting your age from 220 then calculating the percentages in to beats per minute). For this type of training you need to be working hard enough so you begin to perspire, but not too hard so you can’t hold a conversation.

Listen to some motivational music, wherever possible opt for tunes that have a comparable beat to the pace you will be running at, music which is too fast has a tendency to raise your running pace.

Set yourself smaller goals to achieve along the way. Instead of focussing on completing the entire distance in one go, simply break it down in to smaller sections to beat your mind, then go and run each one until you do the entire distance. Doing this makes it much easier to stay motivated and keep going.

Find a running partner. This reason for this isn’t just for companionship, although this can often be a big help, but mainly for the extra encouragement and drive you will have if someone is running alongside you. For safety reasons this is also a very good idea.

Use a selection of running routes instead of sticking to just one. By choosing running routes that are interesting or attractive will serve to occupy the mind and provide a focus when you begin to feel tired.

The secret to successful marathon running is in the preparation. If you have trained properly and are adequately prepared, the race itself will seem a breeze. If you don't get your training right then your first marathon may well be your last.

My marathon training schedule will ensure that you are completely compared and ready to run your first marathon. Click here for more details.

Marathon Tips For Running Your First Marathon

Understanding how to actually run a marathon is essential to any first timer and any marathon tips you can use that will help should be followed to the letter, but test them first.

Without following the right advice, you run the risk of injury and falling short of achieving your goals. Here are my top 5 tips to help see you through race day.

Marathon Tip #1 

Don’t set off too fast. The buzz of excitement when you are lining up for the start of the race is usually electric and this can lead to a massive adrenalin burst which will lead you to running the first mile or two much faster than you would usually run them.. this can be a big blunder as it will take its toll on your energy stores especially in the latter stages of the race.

Marathon Tip #2 

Always, always, always thoroughly wear in a new pair of running shoes well in advance of your first marathon.. This should be done weeks before. New shoes can take many miles to get comfortable in and really mould to shape of your feet.

Marathon Tip #3 

Avoid eating anything at all in the two hours prior to the race because you will struggle to digest it properly. When you run, blood is diverted to the working muscles away from your stomach and digestive system which is then unable to break food down. This leads to nausea and stomach cramping which will severely jeopardise your race.

Marathon Tip #4 

Drink plenty of water. Not gallons of it in one go, just regular sips to take care of normal hydration levels.

Marathon Tip #5 

Don’t be competitive. It is very frustrating to see someone you think is out of shape, older or not as fit as you pass you by, but don’t try to keep up with them as this is a dangerous practice. They will almost certainly run at a pace that is right for them, you have your own pace. A marathon isn’t the time to let pride take over your judgement or common sense.

If you've always wanted to run a marathon, ‘Marathon Training For Beginners’ will teach you everything you need to know, an entertaining and easy to use marathon training schedule for beginners that want to learn how to successfully run a marathon in the shortest potential time. Click here for more details.

What Makes The Perfect Marathon Training Schedule?

This year is the one, you've decided to run a marathon and achieve one of your long term goals.

You’re ready, willing and able, but what do you do next?

At this point most people would look for a marathon training schedule. You can download them for free from most running or charity websites and generally they’ll give you a bunch of numbers, either distances or times that you need to run for each day.

The biggest problem with these giveaway marathon training schedules is that you’ll learn absolutely nothing about running a marathon and this puts you at serious risk of long term injury let alone ever being able to run one.

Any marathon training schedule worth reading shouldn't just be a list of times of miles for you to run each week and should include all of the following: -

• Nutritional advice including menus, snacks and foods that will help boost energy levels allowing you to run further and faster.
• Up to date marathon training techniques, not simply a list of miles or times to run each day. Modern marathon training techniques have progressed significantly. Overusing the same muscles and joints using outdated training techniques places too much stress on the body. Using advanced strategies as shown in my new guide ‘Marathon Training For Beginners’ will quickly improve fitness levels and reduce the time spent pounding the streets.
• How to pick the correct clothing and running shoes.
• Strategically placed rest days that account for the intensity of the previous days training.

But above all, an effective training schedule should teach you exactly how your body changes from the start of your training right up to race day. This way you’ll understand exactly when and how to change your training to boost your progress, quickly spot the signs of overtraining and sidestep debilitating injuries.

If you'd like to run a marathon, you need to understand how your body adapts and changes throughout the course of your training, choose a marathon training schedule that educates, not simply a free sheet of numbers that you've downloaded from a training website. You won't achieve your goal of running a marathon this way.