Novice Marathon Training – 4 tips to get you up and running!

So you have decided you want to run a marathon - firstly a huge Congratulations! It is such an awesome sport with life-long benefits .. but a word of warning it is addictive ;-).

Oh before I forget - Before you start your Marathon training it's a wise idea that you see a physician first, even before you start the training program. Training for a marathon is strenuous, and you must be up to the task. If they recommend that you are not in shape or you have some injuries, you may not be able to do it at this stage.

However, if you get the green light, yippee here 4 tips to get you started:

1: Set your goal and sign up for you first marathon:
You’re ready to get started running but you’re not sure how? One of the best ways to get started in training for a marathon is to sit down and plan it out. What do you want to accomplish and how will you get the job done? Firstly write down why it is you want to start running or train for a marathon? Ask yourself….Why are you running and what do you hope to achieve.

Next - There is nothing more motivating than having an actual date! So go online and look up marathon's and enter one that is near you (unless you like to travel, then find a marathon further a field). If you are new to running I suggest you get at the very least a year or two worth of running under your belt before you tackle your first 26.2 miles or 42.2Km. If you have been running for a few years then find an event at least 16 to 20 weeks out so you can start your training.

2: Have a Training Schedule:
I'm not sure about you but I am way more motivated and likely to stick to a plan if I have a training program.

Here are some of the things to consider when you pick a novice marathon training program:
Decide how many days a week you can dedicate to training. We recommend a 4 to 5 day a week plan, you need a couple of days off at least to recover and rest your body.
Find a plan that incorporates not just run training but also strength and core work as this will help you stay injury free.

3: Stay Motivated to Stick to Your Schedule
Sometimes, even if you absolutely love to run, you just don’t feel like it. Yet skipping one run can lead to skipping two runs, then three and before you know it you’ve taken a month off. The key is to keep running, even when you don’t want to. There are some tricks to get motivated. Learn them and you will stay on track.

- Accountability
Find someone to run with you. When you run with other people you’re less likely to skip runs. You hold each other accountable. And when you run with a group of people they’re sure to motivate you and keep you going.

- Rewards
Reward yourself for achieving your running goals. For example, if your goal is to run three times a week at the end of each week, or month, reward yourself if you’ve reached your goal.

- Social Accountability
Post your running stats on your social networking site of choice. Its a great place to meet other runners, join groups and hold each other accountable. They’re good place to learn too. Join our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marathongirl

"When training for a marathon ....

Enjoy the process and celebrate every step of the way"  - Marathon Girl

4: Have the Right Running Gear
No matter what type of distance running you’re doing, it is very important to have the right kind of running shoes and clothes. If you are just starting out, it is crucial.

Visit running shop and advise the salesperson of the type of distance running that you do. Let them know the frequency of your running, and whether you run on concrete, track field, etc.

My personal favorites are Asics Kayanos, but you need to find something that works for you!

I hope these Novice Marathon Training tips help you get started with running your first marathon. It really is super exciting and I hope you are going to love running marathons as much as I do.

If you need any help with running your first marathon or want to share your results please message me through my marathon running Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/runmarathontraining

Love Kerry x

Marathon Runner, Boston Marathon, PB 3.21, Mother of two children and founder of Marathon Girl