No matter how many times you complete it or how fast you run, the marathon is always a challenge. Likewise, marathon training is always a puzzle of figuring out exactly how hard to push yourself to improve - without pushing yourself so hard that you overtrain or resent running by race day. On one end of the spectrum, you have cookie-cutter plans or overly rigorous methods. You must run six days per week, 60 miles per week, to run a marathon. You must spend 18 weeks training. On the other ...
Marathon
How Far Should You Run Before a Marathon?
Marathon training has many nuances, but one of the most common questions is also one of the most basic. How far should you run before a marathon? What’s the longest long run you need to do in order to finish, PR, or qualify for Boston? If you look at popular training methods, you will receive answers ranging from 16 miles (Hansons) to 26 miles (Galloway). Other plans follow the framework that a long run should not comprise more than 25% of the overall weekly mileage nor exceed three hours in ...
Should You Do a Shakeout Run before a Race?
When I first started racing, I thought a shakeout run was absolutely necessary. It’s ingrained in racing culture; many races or groups even offer hosted shakeout runs before major races. Every single plan out of Runner’s World or Hansons included a shakeout run. But what is the purpose of shakeout runs, exactly? Should every runner do one in their training? I will preface this post with a disclaimer: I do not do shakeout runs before half marathons or marathons. Sometimes I do a shakeout run ...
Should You Carb Load Before a Marathon?
The energy demands of the marathon are different than that of even the 10K or even half marathon. Part of what makes a marathon so challenging is the chance of bonking; your nutrition before and during the race can mitigate this risk and help you run strong and steady through the end. Carb loading is traditionally viewed as part of a marathon nutrition strategy, but does it effectively work? What Exactly is Carb Loading? The human body can only store enough glycogen for two hours to ...
Your Fall Marathon Guide, from Training to Race Day
The start of September signals the advent of fall marathon season. From the Berlin Marathon to Chicago to New York City, the abundance of fall marathons attracts first-time marathons and experienced runners alike. In fact, there's a whole plethora of must-run fall marathons to choose from. The popularity of fall marathons is no mystery. At least in past years, the temperature is in the 40s to 50s for most fall marathons, which is ideal for long distance racing. Most runners prefer training for a ...