5 Essential Tips for Prepping Yourself for that Marathon You Thought You'd Never Run

Running a Marathon? No way, not me! (Or maybe so?!)

by Susan Hickey

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Air Force Marathon held right here each September in Dayton, Ohio.  I’ll bet at some point you thought to yourself, “Why on earth would anyone want to run a marathon?”  “26.2 miles?  That’s way too many miles to even think about.”  “That’s not for a busy person like me.”  “I’m not in good enough shape to do that.” Maybe this year’s AF Marathon has you thinking, “maybe that could be me”, “I can do this.” I had a similar thought in 2016, after finishing my 4^th half-marathon.  I’m not typical marathon material and I’m not naturally fit.  However, before I could change my mind all of a sudden I was signed up for my next marathon, the 2017 Flying Pig Marathon!

When you think of a typical marathon runner, some images might come to mind like a skinny, young person who spends all their free time running and loves every.single.minute of it.   In recent times that has become less accurate.  More and more Americans are accepting the challenge to finish what some consider to be the ultimate individual athletic accomplishment.   According to runningusa.org, about half a million Americans completed a marathon in 2016.  Many of them are mere mortals, like you and me. So here are some ideas of how I successfully trained and completed my first marathon:

• Have yourself professionally fit for running shoes.  There are several stores in the Dayton area that offer this service.  It’s worth the expense to get shoes that fit properly so that you can get your training started, literally, on the right “foot.” 
  
  Runner's Plus in Dayton and Fairborn offer great athletic clothing, shoes, and advice for getting your first pair of running shoes. 
   
• Start slowly and build a base.  Run-walk in intervals to start if need be, depending on your fitness level.  Work on gradually increasing the amount of time that you run relative to your walk time.  Allow yourself plenty of time to build endurance, because it’s just not something that can be rushed.
   
• Incorporate cross training.  The YMCA has many options for this.  Take advantage of the many wonderful instructors and classes we have here, from spinning to water aerobics to HIIT.  Cross training is essential to prevent injuries that can result from constant impact.
   
• Find a workout buddy.  That person doesn’t have to be a runner, but it sure does help. 
   
• Find a training plan.  You can find a huge variety of plans on the internet at varying levels from beginner to advanced.   Some plans have more cross training incorporated, some have more running.  Find one that meets your needs and your schedule (and know that there is some room for adjustment on most plans). 
   

These are just some suggestions.  There are an unlimited amount of books and online articles that go into much more detail.  Probably the most important thing to remember, though, is that the marathon is so much more than a physical challenge – it is an exercise in mental stamina.   It’s about challenging yourself to push harder and farther than you ever thought possible.  The training process is not easy.  (If it were, wouldn’t everyone do it?)  You will likely second guess yourself more than once.  “What was I thinking?”  But, the moment you cross that finish line and have that medal placed around your neck, all those doubts and uncertainties will vanish and you will be thinking about when to sign up for your next marathon!