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Getting Ready for the Marathon
- By Doug Kurtis
Free Press Columnist
07/07/05
The Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank Marathon and Half Marathon is 16 weeks away. My first suggestion is to sign up now. Make the commitment. Consider it an investment in yourself. It will improve your training and increase your level of focus.
Well after running more than one hundred marathons I still found that I trained better after I had made the commitment to a particular marathon. Some runners will worry about losing their entry fee, less they be forced to drop out before the event. Usually about ten percent of those that enter don't show for one reason or another. But the heightened mental aspect of making the commitment is worth it. Consider it an inexpensive investment to your in-training program.
Note: To date over 3200 runners and walkers have signed up for one of the Free Press Marathon races. That's an amazing 80% increase from last year's participation.
If you don't have a training plan, log onto the marathon web site and click the training bar. I've set up different programs for both the marathon and half marathon that include post race recovery weeks. The programs are in progress and it's OK to jump into week 6 or 7. These programs are meant as a guide. Move some of the days around to fit your schedule. The keys to success are settling on a consistent routine and putting in the miles. Training for the marathon is all about endurance and strength with speed coming naturally from these efforts.
A few long runs will help with the mental fatigue you'll experience late in the marathon. I'm a strong proponent of splitting up some of your long runs. For example, instead of doing an eighteen miler on Saturday, try running nine miles in the morning and nine in the evening. Your body will get a lot more out of the workout and recover quicker with less chance for injury.
You are the only person who really cares about what time you run the marathon. A week after the race is over, few people will remember your time but they will remember that you accomplished something significant.
If you're a first timer it's not too late to sign up for one of the many running specialty store in-training programs. Go to the marathon web site for a list of locations convenient for you. Most offer weekly runs and a place to meet other first timers and marathoners that will share their own first time experiences. They also bring in experts to share various aspects of training and racing.
A number of the stores offer organized twenty-mile training runs a few weeks before the marathon. Why struggle through your preparations when there are many runners that will help make the work fun.
In training programs at:
Bauman's Running Center - [email protected] - 810 238-5981
Gazelle Sports - www.rungazelle.com - 616 940-9888
Endurance Sports - www.endurancesports.biz - 231-744-9138
Hanson's Running Shop - www.hansons-running.com - 248 616-9665
Playmakers - www.playmakers.com - 517 349-3803
Runner's Choice - www.runnerschoice.on.com - 519 672-5928
The Running Factory - www.runningfactory.com - 519 945-3786
Running Fit - www.runningfit.com - 248 380-3338
Running Gear - [email protected] - 248 623-7296
Total Runner - www.totalrunner.com - 248 354-1177
Contact Doug Kurtis at Detroit Free Press, 600 W. Fort St.
Detroit, 48226
or [email protected]
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