Free Marathon Running Training Schedules
I have been jogging for fitness for approximately two years now, and think I’ve worked myself into pretty good shape. I currently run about 25 miles per week, and have no trouble doing so. I would like to push myself even harder now, which is why I’m considering getting into a couple of races. Not as a serious contender, of course, but just as a back-of-the-pack runner trying to meet a personal challenge. Towards this end, I’ve been looking at marathon running training schedules online and will start following one of them before long.
If you are not familiar with what it takes to run marathons, you might be surprised to learn that you cannot just merely show up at the starting line on a race day and expect to finish. Even seasoned runners who log lots and lots of miles each week need to engage in special marathon running training before the big event. That’s because going 26.2 miles in a single afternoon take an incredible toll on the body and Is not something that most of us is already prepared to do.
Luckily, you don’t have to hire an expensive personal trainer in order to get ready for any marathons you would like to enter. Instead, there are hundreds upon hundreds of fitness websites on the Internet that provide excellent information for free. Many of these sites offer marathon running training schedules that will safely get you in race shape. There are schedules for beginner, intermediate, and advanced runners, so all you have to do is choose the level that applies to your situation and downloads the corresponding workout recommendation. I will choose beginner, even though I have been putting in consistent miles for two years. My goal is to simply finish the race, so I figure I had better a train at a level I know I can handle.
Most of the marathon running training programs I have seen thus far encompass about 9 to 12 weeks of workouts.
This is the minimum amount of time you should allow yourself to get into race shape, so be sure to plan your event entries accordingly. Put differently, you should not consider marathons that are only a couple of months away because you likely will not be ready to go by then — unless you are an extremely experienced runner with numerous long-distance races under your belt already.
I also need to keep in mind that marathon running training involves more than just consistent workouts. I as well need to eat in good order, stay sufficiently hydrated, and allow myself several rest and recovery days to guarantee that my body is in the top form. Nutrition tips for people gearing up for marathons are also widely available online, so I will be sure to check those out too.
I’m really excited to embark on my marathon running training program. It gets kind of boring to run as much as I do with no real purpose in mind. I’m eager to see if I will actually be able to finish 26.2 miles all at one go!
