1. Evaluate Your Life
Sure, the thought of scratching "run a marathon" off of your life's to-do list may be enticing, but before you register for that race, be sure you have the time to maintain a proper training schedule. "Many people don't realize how time consuming training really is," says Mindy Solkin, a running coach and owner of The Running Center, a training facility in New York City. "You have to make some adjustments to your life, and it may take away from time with your family and friends." That's not to say you won't be able to handle the rigors of running many miles almost every day. But you can prepare yourself going in by planning to spend your spare time running--and recovering--for the next few months.
2. Don't do it to Diet
While you may drop pounds as you add miles, weight loss shouldn't be a top priority when it comes to marathon training. "If you want to run a marathon to lose weight, then that's the wrong reason," says Solkin. "To fuel up for long distance runs, you have to stick to a good nutrition plan, and that includes eating fat-friendly, starchy, carb-loaded foods." And thanks to a carb-heavy diet and added muscle from all of those extra runs, Solkin says she's even seen her clients gain weight, though they're re as fit as ever. So as you train, stop paying attention to the scale and focus instead of getting in the proper nutrition and running smart.
3. Join a Group
Running may be a solitary sport for the most part. But when you're out there slogging through a 16-miler, having a buddy by your side isn't necessarily a bad thing. Beginners, especially, tend to thrive from the built-in support and social aspects of a training group or charity team. To find a club near you, check out the Road Runners Club of America. or check out programs whose proceeds go to great causes, like Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training or the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
4. Think Before you Train
When you sit down to think out your training plan, base it around what you hope to achieve through the race: Is it just to finish? Or do you have more loftier aspirations, like crossing the finish line in under 4 hours? The amount of miles you do and how fast you go should be based on what you hope to accomplish, but regardless of your goals, you should definitely plan to train for a solid 18 to 20 weeks, says Solkin. She recommends checking out online plans like those provided by Runner's World or running guru Hal Higdon.
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