Running in a marathon sounds easy and cool right? But you know what doesn’t? The sheer determination and unrivaled endurance it takes to complete a marathon that usually lasts for miles. 

The term marathon has been the latest fad as the sponsors are letting people get a taste of what a true marathon feels like by hosting frequent ones owing to a noble cause or just for an experience. 

But what if you haven’t run in one before? We got you figured with how to prepare for a marathon if you haven’t run in one before or even if you’re an experienced runner.

What is a Marathon?

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Marathon was one of the original modern events in Olympic events in 1896. The actual distance of running 26 miles became standardized only in 1926. There are roughly around 800 marathons held every year worldwide and there are more categories to it. 

Though there are many participants taking part in the marathon worldwide, it’s always the athletes that usually complete the sprint in time and take home the victory owing to their years of preparation and dedicated workout sessions.

Apart from the opportunity to display medals in all their glory, the feeling of accomplishment after completing a marathon is surreal. And there are now personalized medal display holders to rock your medal collections where you can now use a marathon running figure to enhance the visual appeal. 

What do you need for a marathon?

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Shoes

One can’t rule out the importance of premium running shoes when the marathon is bought into the equation. There are also videos available online to show how the quality and design of the running shoes can impact the overall performance of an athlete and reduces the overall time taken to complete the marathon. 

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Watch:

A sports cardio watch is a staple addition to the runner’s essentials as it helps to track the miles and how your body is keeping up with the run.

 

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Clothes:

Nothing feels as good as wearing comfortable cloth while running in a marathon. Wear appropriate clothing that lets you stretch and move around conveniently rather than holding you down.

What to eat for the marathon?

The saying ‘You are what you eat ‘is something that does truly justify its meaning when you are dealing with the preparation for running in a marathon. You can probably gas out quicker than you expected if you are not well hydrated.

 

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The key idea is to keep yourself hydrated with water that usually doesn’t involve yourself gulping down gallons of water recklessly. Sit down, relax and drink water before making the big run.

You can prefer eating a diet rich in carbohydrates that usually includes rice, bread or pasta varieties as these can provide you the powerhouse required to propel ahead. These also increase the glycogen in your body. Make sure to carry water bottles and any electrolyte drinks to keep yourself energized.

Ensure you are exposed to a good number of nuts before the week of running to make sure your body gets all the nutrients.

Also never ever make the mistake of experimenting with the food diet just days before running the marathon.

If you’re interested to know about the diet plans, we have jotted down the eating habits of an elite athlete which might keep you engaged with healthy food choices. 

Keep an eye on your MAS

Months of intense training can come crashing down with one trivial mistake when it comes to altering your MAS. MAS is what we call the maximum aerobic speed which is the running speed at which the person consumes the most oxygen. This is where the usual training for the marathon begins. 

 

MOS

Identifying the MAS usually helps in understanding your pace, especially during the intervals. This can maximize your output when you clearly understand the point your body intakes more oxygen.

This is called aerobic metabolism which will effectively increase endurance.

Endurance workout 

Once you’ve zeroed down your MAS, you next move up the ladder to endurance workout which is one of the key building blocks in preparing for the marathon. Club in a jog in-between interval that usually lasts for 50 minutes up to 2 hours as your training progresses.

 

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This will effectively help you work on your breathing for successfully completing the marathon.

What to do after the race?

Now this one may have got you off-guard but what you do after the marathon is as important as what you do before the marathon. Giving your body optimum rest is essential as stressing the body right after doing something as big as running a marathon can often result in injuries that might not go down well as body age. 

  • Drink water as plenty as possible as your body will be dehydrated after the run.
  • Eat a good diet to restore the energy you have used during the run. Avoid any sugary foods or fats after the marathon.
  • Go for a spa treatment that will relax your mind and body.
  • Do not start running right after the marathon. Give your body a break it deserves. Instead, opt for cycling or swimming to keep your body engaged.

Conclusion 

Ensure to review your training and performance after every marathon. Jot down what worked and what didn’t. This allows you to focus on the essentials that have worked for your body. Eat right and workout more to keep your body in shape to run in any marathon.