If you see people running a marathon, you might think it looks like fun. You may also feel like you should do it because it will challenge you. Some people like to consider running marathons because they know they will need to get in good shape beforehand, and they want to go through that process because they’re overweight.
The Chicago Marathon draws 50,000 people every year, and you can find many others in major cities across the country. If you decide that you want to give one a try, you might feel a great sense of pride if you can finish it.
However, you can also injure yourself pretty easily if you’re not a trained distance runner and you attempt to tackle a marathon. Let us talk about steps you might take to avoid injury if you envision running a marathon in your immediate future.
Start with a Half Marathon or Fun Run
Let us say that you see people running a marathon, and you decide you want to try it as well. Maybe you see them running on TV, or perhaps you see them in person.
Either way, you want to give it a try, but you’re not in the best shape. To get to a point where you can attempt it, it makes sense that you spend several weeks or months in training.
If you smoke, you should give it up before you start training. If you’re overweight, it also makes sense to modify your diet to try and drop some pounds. If you try to run when you’re significantly overweight, you can bring on a heart attack or a similar cardiac event.
You can spend some time on a treadmill. When you are ready, you can start jogging around the neighborhood. Don’t overdo it at first. Build up your stamina gradually.
You might then try a half marathon or a fun run. Schools and churches often have them. That way, you can assess your physical condition. If you can’t finish a half marathon or a shorter fun run, then you’re probably not ready to try a full-length marathon with many other participants.
Train Beforehand So You’re Ready
You can continue training for as long as it takes before you feel you’re ready. If you already run pretty often, and you’re in good shape, then you can probably get to a point where you feel you’re prepared relatively quickly. If it’s going to take much longer than that, though, don’t let it discourage you.
Remember that if you can’t run a marathon during a particular year because you don’t feel like you’re quite ready yet, then that’s fine. There’s always a marathon the following year. Nothing says you need to move forward till you’re both mentally and physically prepared.
Make Sure That You Stretch Beforehand
When you feel you’re ready, you can sign up. Maybe you can have someone sponsor you as well if it’s a charity event.
On the day of the marathon, make sure that you go through a rigorous stretching routine before you start. You might bring a blanket or towel, stretch out on the ground, and loosen up your hamstrings.
If you’re nicely warmed up and feeling limber, that’s probably when you’ll feel at your best. If you’re not sure how to stretch before a long run, watch videos online. You can often find stretching routines on YouTube that the best runners go through before they get ready to run a marathon.
Stay Hydrated
Once you’ve started, try not to let anyone else’s pace influence you. Most people don’t enter a marathon with the intention of beating out anyone else’s time. If you’re running to prove something to yourself, then it doesn’t matter if you finish first, last, or somewhere in the middle.
Make sure to stay hydrated. That means drinking both water and Gatorade or similar sports drinks that contain electrolytes.
You need those electrolytes, as they will leave your body while you’re exercising. You can usually carry a water bottle with you while you’re running. If that’s not convenient, though, then you can stop at the hydration stations along the route. You can usually find one every quarter mile or so.
Wear the Right Clothing and Footwear
You will want to make sure that you’re wearing the right clothing and footwear as well. Usually, marathons take place during times of the year when it’s neither too hot nor too cold.
You can dress accordingly. That usually means wearing shorts and a tank top or something similar. If you’re not sure what to wear, you can look for outfits on Amazon or in some brick-and-mortar store locations. Stores like Dick’s usually carry outfits designed specifically for runners.
Put Sunscreen on Before You Start
You should also remember to put sunscreen on before you start running. You can get different kinds. You might get one that’s more like a lotion or a cream, but many runners prefer the kind that you spray on.
If you’re running on a particularly hot day, and there’s no cloud cover, then you may want to reapply sunblock as you’re running. You can usually carry it in a pants pocket or a fanny pack.
If you follow all of this advice, then you can often complete a marathon with flying colors. You will likely feel that you accomplished something. If you trained for years to do this, then you will probably remember this day forever. You may even want to do it again next year.
Just remember, though if you can’t finish the marathon because of exhaustion or injury, that’s still okay. You can try again next year. If you tried your best, then you shouldn’t feel discouraged if this first attempt did not have the outcome that you hoped.
Marathons can challenge even the most tough-minded of individuals. The very fact that you got out there and gave it your all should give you a sense of self-respect.
