From the Middle of the Pack: Marathon Training

I am nearing completion of training for my 13^th marathon. I will be running the Des Moines Marathon Oct. 16. 

For those not familiar, all marathons are 26.2 miles in length. Elite athletes complete the distance in just over two hours; a Kenyan runner set a new world record at the Berlin Marathon Sept. 25, finishing in 2:03:38. To put that in perspective, he averaged a 4:43/mile pace for the entire distance.  The world record for just 1 mile is 3:43.13, only 1 minute faster! Middle of the pack runners like me finish in 4-plus hours.

I ran my first marathon in 2006. Prior to that time I was a very casual runner, occasionally knocking out 2 to 3 miles just to “stay in shape.” I was inspired by my friend Tom, who has just completed marathon number four. I was in my 40s, was not getting much exercise and had gained a few pounds.

I thought to myself, “I bet I could do that.”

So, I started talking with some experienced runners about how to train for a marathon. They all told me the same thing,  “Don't try to do it alone. Find a run group.” 

So I did. It was a good decision.

I checked out several run clubs, and settled on ALARC, a run club based at the Lindbergh Center at Hopkins High School. They offer a marathon training class that starts out with six-mile runs, adding a mile or two each week, and wrapping up with two 20-mile runs just prior to the marathon.

The cost was reasonable, so I signed up for the spring 2006 class and ran Grandma's Marathon in Duluth that June. And I just kept going.

There are a lot of benefits to participating in a class. One is having other people to run with. Running is a social activity. Long runs can get very boring if you are alone. Class members meet every Saturday morning for a group run. With other runners, you actually run faster, and finish feeling less fatigued, just because you had company.

Another benefit is the great information you get through the class. Distance running is a specialized activity; you need the right shoes, clothing and nutrition.  Experts visit the training class and provide a lot of valuable information on these and other topics. Little tips like, "At Grandma's Marathon, the sun always shines on your left side, so put some sunscreen on your left shoulder"  are worth a lot!

A more intangible benefit, but one that I have come to value, is learning more about the mental side of running.

Running a marathon is a negotiation between your brain and your body. Your brain is saying “I've got to finish this race,” while your body is saying “Stop, you idiot!” 

I learned from others that your body can do more than you expect if you are properly trained. So the key is to make sure your brain wins the negotiation.

Bottom line:  if you want to train for your first marathon, find a training class. You will not regret it.

Looking for a marathon to run? Try Marathon Guide.