You trained hard for months, worked on your mental toughness, and tapered appropriately. The only thing that remains is race day itself. As all runners know, race day is not just simply showing up at the start line and then crossing the finish line. A successful, enjoyable marathon or half marathon requires having strategies for pacing, coping with discomfort, and nutrition. A smart, individualized nutrition strategy can set up you for a strong race; the lack of one can lead to bonking at the ...
marathon
The How and Why of Tempo Runs
Whether you run the 5K or the marathon, you will benefit this tried-and-true running workout: the tempo run. There are no magic workouts in training; no single workout will achieve all of your running goals. But, as part of a well-rounded training plan, tempo runs are an effective workout for distance runners. The Purpose of Tempo Runs On the most basic level, a tempo run improves your stamina and your ability to sustain a faster pace for longer. Tempo runs are run near your ...
Managing Marathon Training Hunger
“I’m so much hungrier than normal!” In coaching marathoners and half marathoners, I frequently hear these comments. Marathon training hunger often strikes after mileage increases or in the peak of training. It makes sense that you need to eat more - your body is burning more calories in training! Many runners worry about overeating, which just exacerbates the problem. You want to manage marathon training hunger in a way that helps you train strong, feel good, and stay injury-free. These tips ...
Four Effective Marathon Workouts
Each workout in training should have a purpose - and marathon training is no exception. Marathon training is tiring and demanding, so you do not want to waste energy on workouts that aren't specific to your goal. (That's not to say that there are “useless” workouts, but that certain workouts produce more adaptations specific to the goals of the marathon for the time you invest in them. For example, 400-meter repeats will improve your VO2max, but VO2max only goes so far in marathon ...
Why to Strength Train during Marathon Training
The idea of adding strength training into marathon training can sound daunting. You are running more miles than normal, with longer long runs and harder workouts. The sheer volume of running alone is tiring. However, it’s worth taking the time and energy to strength train during marathon training, even at the expense of a few miles. I’ve talked plenty before about the benefits of strength training for runners - and those benefits are even more applicable for the physical demands of the ...