Some Basics For Your First Marathon

There are a lot of very basic things that many people overlook when preparing for their first marathon. Here are a few to chew on.

Runners agree that it is great if you can run your first marathon course, or at least the last few miles. However, that isn't always realistic. The marathon course may be far away, or it might be a high traffic area that is not normally conducive to running. If your first marathon is far away, then learn as much as you can about it. See if there are comparisons to any marathon courses that are near you. If there aren't, then look for stories written by people who have run the course of your first marathon. Gather all the information you can about your first marathon course, so there are no surprises. Now, if you can at least walk your first marathon course, then that is GREAT. You'll be able to really get a feel of where you will be running and what to watch out for along the way. You want to be comfortable with your surroundings when you are running your first marathon, so learn as much as you can about the course.

Try to learning as much as you can about the course, is learning about the area. If it isn't in your backyard, where will you stay the night before your first marathon? How will you get to your first marathon? If you are driving yourself, where will you park for your first marathon? Will parking be available where you think it is? No one wants to arrive all jazzed up for their first marathon and find that the place they planned to park is closed for parking during the marathon.
Have you thought about what you are going to wear for your first marathon? This is not a fashion question. This is a comfort question. You'll find as you are training for your first marathon that some clothes are more comfortable than others. These are the clothes that you want to be wearing for your first marathon run. Don't go and buy a special new outfit for your first marathon. You won't look so great after 20 miles of a seam rubbing you the wrong way, or a tag scratching you in the same place. Wear clothes that you've successfully worn on your long training runs for your first marathon run. You already know they work, there won't be any surprises.

The same goes for shoes and socks. Don't get new shoes and socks for your first marathon. Get new shoes and socks when you start training for your first marathon. Then they'll be well broken in and working for you not against you when you actually run your first marathon.
Have you thought about what you are going to eat in the days before your first marathon? Your body needs to be as comfortable with its fuel as it is in its clothes when you run your first marathon. Use your long training runs to figure out what menus work for you and give you the most energy. Then duplicate that menu in the days before your first marathon. 'You don't need a special new gastro-intestinal experience before or during your first marathon, you need what works.

Joe Donovan is an avid runner and operates the website, http://www.marathonmethod.com/ He is also author of the book, Marathon Method: The Essential Guide to Training for Your First Marathon available at MarathonMethod.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert=Joe_Donovan


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