Training for Your First Marathon

The marathon has become one of the fastest-growing types of sporting event in the world, but it’s a daunting event, especially to those who prefer the elliptical or the bike, or simply can’t fathom the distance of 26.2 miles. But the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) argues that the human body is more than capable of completing a marathon. We used to run distances “far greater than a marathon. As a hunter, one of man’s greatest assets was his stamina. He would run his prey ragged.”

The marathon is hard, but training for it isn’t as tough as it used to be, and that’s a good thing. John Hanc explains the 21st-century approach: take it easy. Hanc notes that, “During the first running boom three decades ago, aspirants embarked upon a six-day regimen of arduous runs hellbent on crossing the finish line in the fastest time possible….Things have changed.” Now it’s about weight loss, raising money, and simply acquiring a new hobby. No world records have to be sought to participate.

PBS’s NOVA documentary “Marathon Challenge” follows a novice group’s preparation for last year’s Boston Marathon and demonstrates that the marathon is a reachable goal, even for those who haven’t run since eighth grade gym class.

First-time marathoners might get inspired by this Runner’s World article about three young dads training for their first Boston Marathon. Like many athletes, the runner dads thrived on companionship. They “pushed each other through the winter, using our runs to compare notes on whose baby was eating the best, sleeping the longest, or crying the loudest.”

Jeff Galloway is a distance running guru. With a regular column in Runner’s World, plus contributions to Active.com and his own site, Galloway makes distance running accessible to runners of all ages and fitness levels. Read his article “How to Run Your First Marathon” on Active.com, where he delivers important wisdom that even veterans will appreciate.

Your age helps determine how you train for and run a marathon, and Runner’s World’s “Running Through the Ages” is a great way to learn about all the perks and pitfalls of running during each decade of your life, from your teens through your 70s.

Active.com offers a set of FAQs from Hal Higdon, veteran marathoner and author. Consult these FAQs in the days and weeks leading up to a marathon, because it mentions small and perhaps esoteric factors of marathon racing that many runners might not think of in the midst of heavy training.

Marathon routes around the world vary from scorching to breezy, fairly flat to mountainous, scenic to urban. Cool Running, now a part of the sports network Active.com, has a complete calendar of marathons. You can browse by location and event type.

Nike hosts a lot of inspiring multimedia content on its Web site NikeRunning.com. Nike sponsors professional running couple Adam and Kara Goucher, who agreed to blog about their training for the World Championships and the Olympics, their goals for longer distances like the marathon, and how marriage helps both of them remain focused and energetic about the sport. Learn from their passion on NikeRunning.com.

Stay online for more inspiration: running logs let you chart your progress with graphs that can show pace changes, distance changes, and other factors that can keep you both level-headed and inspired. Flotrackr has a simple and free running log that you can personalize and share with other runners on the site. You can even add blog entries.

The running regimen can be tough on your stomach. The Diet Channel has a good article about fueling up before a run or race. Discussed here are scheduling and timing, the glycemic index, and other important factors to help marathoners get their bearings before race day.

FindingDulcinea's Web Guide to Running will tell you where you can buy gear, learn about injury prevention, talk with other runners in online forums and message boards, and find more articles and multimedia to fuel your journey.