Marathon Training - 5 Mistakes to Avoid

By Shibalik Sanyal


If you aspire to run your very first marathon in the near future, please read on. Marathon training for beginners is not easy and unless you thoughtfully plan out your marathon training schedule, and plan for every possible situations, you may find that you might lose interest even before the race starts. Whether you are young or mature, you will find great satisfaction in training for your first marathon. Many organizers provide long run training in the weekends, making it ideal for your busy schedule. What do you think if you can complete marathon training in 10 weeks? Let us talk about it.

Recently, a number of veteran marathon runners were asked to provide some of the most common mistakes in marathon training for the beginners. To help you avoid these in your own training, here is the quick reference list for you:

Never Underestimate- Stretching. No matter what your age is, a proper stretching routine before every training session is an absolute must. Experts say, most marathon and training related injuries are caused by a lack of stretching - injuries that could have likely been avoided if a proper stretching ritual were observed.

Dehydration- Keeping your body sufficiently hydrated during every phase of your marathon training is important. Failing to do so, will not only hamper your performance, it can also be quite dangerous to your overall health. Whether you're running a 3 mile course or the long distance road course, make it a point to drink sufficient amount of fresh water to keep yourself constantly hydrated.

Allow Injuries to Heal- Another problem usually associated with quickly accelerating your marathon training is injury. You may get tempted to "play through the pain" so to speak, experts caution this is a mistake. If you become injured at any point during your marathon training schedule, follow your doctor's orders and allow yourself time to heal before resuming the training.

Lacking Determination- Most of the people lose marathon just because of the lack in determination. If you plan to go for marathon in one fine morning without proper mental preparation and then suddenly feel that it is not for you and give up practicing, it is unlikely that you achieve the goal. Those who have successfully completed marathon in their first go would have made their mind to do that. No matter what obstacles would come in the way, just be prepared for that and give it your best effort.

Running without Support- One of the factors that attract many people to marathons - and running in general - is that marathon running is an individual sport. It's just you against the clock. However that doesn't mean you won't need any support. As you begin your training, keep in mind that the next several months are going to be very taxing and the more people you have to support and encourage you, the better your chances will be for completing this rigorous training successfully.

Mental endurance is especially important when facing a challenge such as a marathon, and you need to ensure that you are mentally ready for it. While there are several marathon tips concerning your body, but you will find very few for your mind. Attaining the right mental state help you deal with all situations better. You can think of taking help from motivational talk or even a guide to ensure that you can pass through the difficult stages, and complete your goal.




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