Are you someone who is looking to embark on taking part in a marathon soon? Good for you!
For many people, the idea of running a marathon can be daunting, especially if you are a beginner who is looking to take part in a run for charity or to boost your health.
The world over, those who run marathons regularly know how hard it can be to take part in that first run, and here, you will be walked through some tips or advice to help make that first marathon a complete success, even if you don’t come first place.
Train gradually
The first thing you need to do when you start to train to run in a marathon is to do so gradually.
There is nothing to be gained by overtraining, except perhaps an injury, which can take a long time to recover from. If you are running for a charity like macmillan.org.uk, you don’t have to be on par with Usain Bolt. Just taking part in the marathon and crossing the finish line will be enough to get the donations in for the charity. So, take it easy, take rest days, and don’t be too hard on yourself.
Look at your diet
When you are training for a marathon, you will need to look at your diet. You are going to be moving more, so you will need to up your intake of protein and water and cut out excess salt and sugar.
This will help to give you more energy and balance your blood sugar, and will also help you build more muscle and repair injuries faster should you become injured.
Get some new gear
There are so many types of trainers and running gear online and in stores that it can seem impossible to know where to start. Look at your budget; how much can you realistically spend on running gear? Many brands offer great running shoes at low prices, as well as clothes that can absorb sweat and keep you cool, so aim to get the gear you can afford. Again, it doesn’t have to be the best gear; it just has to do the job of supporting you when you are running.
Simulate the race
When you have been training for a while, and you have all your new gear, it is time to start simulating the race. This means running the distance that the race/marathon will cover, trying to run a similar set of terrains and, of course, timing yourself. If you live in the city/town where the race will take place, you can do your own warm-up version in preparation by running the route to assess how tough it is. This will help you get the right mindset and feel more ready.
Don’t be too hard on yourself
Sports psychology is all about believing in yourself and focusing on the positives. When it comes to marathon running and training, try to focus on your achievements rather than beating yourself up over not beating your personal best. This will impact other areas of your life and will help to shift your perspective towards a more balanced worldview.
Author Bio
Lizzie Reynell-O’Brien graduated with an MSc in clinical psychology from Goldsmiths University and started her small writing company, Just Write, in 2018, writing solely about mental health diagnostics in the NHS. She is passionate about writing as an art form, and when she’s not typing, you will find her walking her two rescue Jack Russells or in her garden planting wildflowers.
