Marathon Madness
Marathon Madness
The traditional origin of the marathon
dates as far back as the 5th century B.C. It is told
that a Greek herald named Phidippides ran from Marathon,
a small town about 26 miles from Athens, to Athens in
order to announce a Greek victory on the battlefield.
He died on the spot. Now that's commitment! The outcome
of that first "marathon," however, need not be discouraging
to the rest of us actual and potential marathoners.
Today, marathons are held all over the world--from Alabama
to China, Alaska to Chile. And no matter what the personal
goal is, whether it's to "finish" or to win the gold,
whether running in the pouring rain, in 100 degree heat
or on a crisp autumn afternoon, it is a 26.2 mile accomplishment
for all. The mental as well as physical challenges pay
off in reaping the personal rewards of accomplishment.
Being a marathon "jogger" myself--I say that in regards
to the 4 hourish marathons I've run--I've mustered up
a few helpful hints for the upcoming fall marathon season.
Marathon Training & Tips
Start Slow: Yes,
I know you are anxious. You have been training for this
for at least a few months . . . hopefully. You want
to break out of the pack and strut your stuff. Well,
that's potentially going to lead to disaster. You know
your pace and you know how you feel after a long run.
So despite the adrenaline pumping through your ready-to-go
body, start slow and steady. 20 miles later you and
your legs will be very happy you did.
Hydrate...Hydrate...Hydrate!
Get the point? Many marathons now have "pit stops" every
couple of miles. Use them! Alternate a cup of water
with a cup of a "replenishing" drink every 2 miles to
help maintain your energy.
Gear: What are you
going to wear? to bring? Well a rule of thumb on the
big day is NOTHING NEW! Wear clothes you have done long
runs in, including sneakers, socks, shirts, jewelry...everything.
The less and lighter the better. Plan ahead by finding
out if your race will provide you with food stops, with
Vaseline (to prevent chafing) and with music along the
way. The lightest load is the the shortest road!
Cheers: During my
first marathon the crowd was enormous! The cheers were
incredible. As I was running along I began to notice
everyone was cheering "Go-Monica...Go-Monica." It seemed
as if everyone knew and was cheering for this Monica
girl who was running next to me. I thought, " Wow" this
girl has so many friends that have come to cheer her
on! A couple of miles later I thought no way, no one
knows that many people. I turned around and looked at
her . . . she had her name in black duct tape across
the front and back of her shirt. I began to notice a
lot of people had done the same. Great idea . . . keep
that in mind for extra cheering support!
Know Thy Course: Try
and find out as much as you can about the course while
you are training so you can prepare yourself. Are there
hills? Pit stops--with water? food? power drinks? Are
there a lot of restrooms along the way? What is the
temperature likely to be like?
Show Up Early!!
No explanation needed!
The Days Before:
Try and do your last long run at least 2-3 weeks before
the marathon. Don't try to be a hero and run 20 miles
the week before the marathon. Save your heroism for
race day. Rest up the night before and don't eat anything
new that may upset your digestion during the long haul!
The Days After:
You've finished! Yeah! You're exhausted! Ahhhh! Though
you may not feel up to it, try to walk or go for a light
jog the next day or two to loosen up your sore muscles.
Also, lightly stretch to help with cramping.
Non-Marathoners:
If you're not a runner, cheer for them! Nothing keeps
marathoners more motivated than a crowd of cheering
people!
**Good Luck to those participating in upcoming marathons.
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