7 Steps To Build A Customized Marathon Training Plan

By Cynthia Davis


Unlike professional athletes, most participants are in marathons for the finishing selfie and to contribute to the charity. You may also want to run for fun or just to keep a record that you participated. This eliminates the need for a professional coach. A customized marathon training plan will help you avoid hospitalization and take the finishing tape selfie while you are still energetic and alive.

The most important part of planning is to identify the schedule in terms of time, date and running requirements. This helps you establish the time you have to prepare. If you have a longer period, you will set aside longer time to acclimatize the body. Is the period is short, you are required to engage in intense training.

Review your daily schedule to identify the best time to train. The time marked for workout should be a period when you are most settled in body and mind. Should you train in a rush, you risk failing to pay attention to particular muscles and thus fail on the actual day. The schedule should be detailed in terms of daily, weekly and hourly basis.

Write down the schedule to build commitment. Be realistic with your planning since this will give you the motivation you need to achieve your goals. You may register or download marathon training apps that come with reminders and features to track your progress. The program does not have to be repetitive. It should involve a few cycles to ensure that all elements of fitness are covered.

There are obvious days where you will not manage to train. This could be because of work commitments, family, availability of facilities, coach, etc. They should be entered into the schedule as rest days other than be wasted. They give your body a perfect opportunity to regain energy. This enables you to take maximum advantage of the time left before race day.

Register and participate in tune-up races before your main event. This is psychological, physical and mental workout in preparation for the big day. Your performance on the charity race, fun day, anniversary run, etc will help you learn about the level of endurance the body can take. Watch the response of your body and discuss it with your coach and doctor. In case of negative response like pain, the professionals will take corrective measures.

What you do a week before the marathon will determine whether you succeed or not. You need to tune your muscles and preserve energy in readiness for the big day. Since some muscles are extensively strained during races, work them out while still providing sufficient rest. This ensures that they remain flexible yet preserve the energy required for the big race.

It helps to know the route you will be racing. This enables you identify flat sections, climbs and descents. It prepares your mind for the sections where you will need more energy and others where you can conserve it for an energetic finish. Take energy giving foods and consume a lot of water to keep your muscles well hydrated.




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