December will be here before you know it!
Our goal is to make your experience at the Tucson Marathon as enjoyable as possible and the training you put in now will have a direct impact on you overall experience come race day.
Here are some tips from our very own Matt Feldhake which will help point you in the right direction when it comes to approaching your race training plan.
Training Tips:
(1) Develop Your Why
Arguably the most critical initial step to take when deciding to train for a marathon is to find a “why”.
What is the deep, underlying reason for wanting to train for this marathon?
Finding the answer to this question will give you a sense of purpose in your training. Your “why” will play a major role in getting you through those tough days in training. Those days when it is raining outside, and you would rather get some extra sleep in than get in a long run.
When the race gets tough, and every marathon does at some point, your “why” is what will drive you to push forward.
For some, it may be a weight loss journey that drives them to push on. For others, it might be making loved ones proud. No matter what your “why” is, find it early on in the marathon training process and never forget about it.
(2) Develop A Plan
Now that you have a “why” to hold you accountable to your marathon training, you need to have a training plan.
One of the best ways to develop a training plan is to work directly with a coach, or to find a local training group to train with. Coaches will be certified, experienced, and trained to help design training to meet your needs. A personalized training plan can be incredibly beneficial during your training as it will be more flexible to fit your busy schedule.
If you don’t feel comfortable working one on one with a coach right now, that is okay! There are often a number of local clubs or training groups and pre-written plans out there. Make sure that you do your research to determine what type of plan might work best for you.
(3) Focus on Consistency
One of the most important aspects of marathon training for beginner and veteran runners alike is consistency. Building your aerobic fitness requires a level of consistency. We get it, life will get in the way sometimes, but try to limit the number of missed training days. Make running a high priority in your life for the duration of your training cycle (typically 16-24 weeks).
“Live like a clock.” -Quentin Cassidy (Once A Runner)
This is one of my favorite running quotes of all time.
Running at the same time, every day, is a great way to form a consistent training routine.When you have a consistent routine, you are much less likely to miss runs during your marathon training. Find out what routine works best for you. Whether you train inside or outside, in the morning or at night, stay consistent with whatever works best for you.
(4) Practice Your Race-Day Nutrition
One aspect of marathon training that differs from shorter distance races is the importance of race-day nutrition. The longer the race distance/time is, the more critical the need for in-race nutrition becomes.
In activities lasting longer than 2 hours, maintaining blood glucose and hydration levels can directly impact your running performance. Since the marathon is a longer event, taking some form of nutrition during the race is highly recommended. So why not practice this in training!
Make sure you try a variety of nutrition products throughout the course of your training. Every person is different, and this trial will help you find out what works best for you. Once you find the products that work best for you, practice using them in your long runs to make sure you don’t run into any G.I. issues on race day.
(5) Stay Positive & Motivated
Training for a marathon can be mentally grueling at times. The day in, day out grind is something that most runners, beginners and newcomers alike, struggle with.
Marathon training isn’t going to feel good every day. There will be days where your legs feel tired or flat, and you don’t feel like getting your training done on that day. That is okay and is a natural part of the process.
Any good training plan will have scheduled rest days to help your body recover from the training stress you are putting it through. This will help your body adapt to the training, ultimately getting stronger. Staying positive and motivated throughout the entire marathon training cycle will help give you confidence in your fitness come race day.
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