Less than 1% of the world’s population has achieved it, and yet, more and more people are adding it to their “bucket list” – the things they want to accomplish during their lifetimes. What is it? Crossing over the finish line to complete a marathon!
Training for and running a marathon can be daunting tasks, so when someone gets bitten by the marathon “bug,” what’s behind it? Maybe it has to do with setting a goal and achieving it. Maybe it’s about testing one’s strength, determination and endurance. Maybe it’s about pushing past one’s self-imposed limits to accomplish something that might have been seen as undoable. Whatever the motivating factors are – there are a lot of people in training for their first marathon and many who participate in more than one every year.
Standard marathon distances are 26.2 miles or 42.195 kilometers – an overwhelming distance if you think about it. And that’s the reason why few people believe they are even capable of it.
If you want to experience all of the glory of running your first marathon, here are a few tips:
Don’t start out as a novice runner, never having run before, and think you can run a marathon in 6 weeks. It takes one to two years of regular running and roughly 6 months to train for an actual event.
Train with a group – preferably one with experienced marathoners who can give you sound advice because they have already “been there, done that.”
Check the Internet. There are plenty of “First Time” marathon sites that offer excellent training advice for first-time and veteran marathoners.
Be sure to prepare yourself mentally as well as physically.
Make sure you have the right running shoes – this is critical when you are running any race, particularly one of this distance.
Enlist the support of friends and family. You’ll certainly want to have them cheering for you on the sidelines!
Never be afraid to drop out of the race if you reach a point of severe physical exhaustion. Your health isn’t worth it. There will be other races.
Run easy, especially if it’s your first marathon. The goal is to try to finish – you can always improve your time in later marathons.
Many marathoners and other athletes agree that chiropractic care increases their strength and endurance by keeping their bodies working at levels of peak performance. If you’re considering marathon training or even if you just want to begin an exercise program, talk with your chiropractor first. Dr. Mark is an experienced triathlon competitor, who better to help guide you to your marathon goals? Contact our office today to get a free 15 minute consultation and learn how chiropractic can support your active life.
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