The London Marathon has been and gone for another year and I know there will be plenty of people still buzzing from such an achievement. If you are thinking of running a marathon next year or similar here are a couple of things you must understand in regards to the commitments involved.
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Time – One of the big issues of marathon running is the demand it places on time. While a half marathon you can get through it with a slack effort there is no hiding place in the full marathon. The reality is you will have to be putting in a long 3-4 hour runs when you are three to eight weeks before the actual marathon itself.
Programme – While you can of course just put on your shoes and run as you feel it is much wiser to follow a running plan. The standard marathon plans you get off the net will have you running 4-6 times per week. With all my clients I have had them successfully complete a marathon running just 3 times a week.
Pre-Rehab – The reason most people should only run 3 times a week is to leave time for prehab techniques in between the sessions. Running takes a toll on the body and the joints, especially when you run long distances like you will need to do as you come closer to marathon time. If the joints are out of alignment then running is a bit brutal on the body, if they are in alignment then running is good for you. Most people have adapted to sitting down all day at work. To have good alignment when running you will need to focus on using the foam roller and other massage techniques to aid the ankles, calves, thighs, glutes, sacrum and more. The more you run, the more rehb you will need to do.
Picking Your Race – To get in the London Marathon you need to either win a place in the ballot or go via a charity. For charity places you will often have to raise a fair bit of money. Though check with each charity beforehand as amount varies. The London Marathon is special as you have amazing views running around the city and the whole course is lined with spectators shouting your name (if you have it written on your t-shirt).
The only drawback for serious runners is due to crowds the first mile will normally be slow which may affect your time. Though first time runners shouldn’t worry about their time and instead just aiming on finishing this achievement. If you cannot do London then there are plenty of other locations in the UK and around the world that may tempt your fancy. Almost every other marathon you can enter simply by applying. London is very over subscribed.
Weight Loss – Many people enter a marathon as a way to lose weight. Personally I think this is not a great idea. If your goal is to lose fat then there are plenty of ways to get there. While running helps, the reality is that most people in the marathon are a normal selection of body weight and many overweight runners get a great time. Enter a marathon because you want to run one, if you want to lose fat as well then great but do not enter a marathon if you are only doing it to lose fat. Your motivation will wane thinking about doing a 3 hour run on a cold winter morning.
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