Bold Moves
It is easier than ever to access information now on just about any topic. So when you decide to run a half or full marathon, do your homework! Yes, it’s fine to get advice from runner blogs and FB pages but it is wise to seek information from professional sources as well. After you do a little homework and are armed with GOOD information, assess what you believe applies to you and set your plan.
Seeking professional running advice does not mean you have to pay for a coach. Many websites have very good, FREE information as well as training plans. Some of my favorite sites include:
1. www.McMillanRunning.com This is a good site for anything pertaining to running, including injury management
2. www.HalHigdon.com This is a great site for beginning runners and has several FREE marathon training plans
3. www.RunnersWorld.com No explanation needed here!
4. www.Hammer Nutrition.com Lots of good information about fueling before, during, and after the race as well as very good products
The most important thing to do once you’re armed with all this information is to sort through it to what makes sense for you. Be honest with yourself regarding your fitness level, health, etc. Don’t be swayed by what other people think you should do. I make this point because of an experience I had yesterday. Our friend’s son is now in the Army after graduating from HS last year and stationed nearby in Kansas. He is a runner but has never run longer than a 10k. He signed up for the KC Marathon with encouragement from his Dad, who also happens to be a middle distance runner. Sounds good so far, right? Well, the kicker is that he just signed up and has, as of today, only 5 weeks until race day! What I found most shocking is that he said his HS XC Coach told him that 4-6 weeks was ample time for him to train to run a marathon!!! This makes me very angry. Yes, this young man is very fit but that doesn’t mean he can just go run 26.2 miles with 5 weeks to get ready! Fortunately, Jeff is very sharp and thought maybe he should come talk to me. I am so glad he did!
I armed him with lots of information and the above websites. He confided that he ran 10 miles last weekend and was exhausted and sick afterward. I discovered that he did the run without water. After an hour of sharing, giving him several samples of fueling to try, and giving him the basic “do’s and don’ts” for race prep, he left feeling better. He chuckled that almost all of the advice he had been given from friends and family was 100% wrong. My last suggestion for him was that he needed to practice his fueling and then do on race day what worked best in training. I also encouraged him to abandon thoughts of a finish time goal. His goal in this first marathon should be to survive injury-free.
His friends and family are only trying to be helpful; they do not mean to intentionally give him wrong advice. Yet, that is what can happen when people give opinions based on “who knows what” rather than good data sources + their own experience. When it comes to running half and full marathons, you really need the insight of those who have gone the distance. It was fortuitous that Jeff came to see me on my long run day, having just logged an 18 mile training run. All things marathon related were therefore very fresh on my mind.
So, do your homework! Definitely sign up for a race but make sure that you train for it!
Never Quit; Finish Strong!
