Hi- I have signed up to run a half marathon in early November. Though I have been active with yoga, walking, and hiking, this would be my first time running. I will be starting from ground zero. So, here I am reaching out to you all, particularly marathon runners- what tips and advice would you give to someone starting running for the 1st time? Thanks in advance.
I participated in the Honolulu marathon without preparation. I enjoyed the scenery but I walked most of it, and of course, I didn't finish. I run sometimes to stay fit. So I may have a thing or two to say about running.
Running for a marathon or running to stay fit are two different goals. They demand different mindsets.
Congratulations on your first race @Hisariap. It is a beautiful adventure
Before : you prepare your body.
During : you prepare your race
It gives you something to train for.
For a marathon you need to maintain your pace throughout the journey, neither fast nor slow, the goals always needs to be completing the race.
For a sprinter, you goal is too reach finishing lines as fast as you can.
Have a goal in mind and after achieving it, maintaing it on a regular basis.
Try to find a dedicated running shoe store in your area. If it's just a sports store, that's not really ideal. Different people have different gaits and that means they need different kinds of shoes. Stability, cushioning, motion control are 3 different kinds of shoes. The right shoes are probably the biggest shield you have between success and injury.
A first time runner should start with smaller goals to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Try running for just 10 minutes a day to start.
Running is relatively easy and feels great afterwards. It's even better if you don't overexert yourself and strive for good technique.
I have to preface this with the fact that I am not a runner. However, I have been an athlete since I was a kid and I played football, basketball, beach volleyball and tons of soccer and ran a one mile race when I was 17. I workout and do lots of cardio with a combonation of machines, swimming and riding my bike. With that all out of the way, here are some things that might be obvious to some, and very basic things I would think about before attempting to run a half marathon:
Most people already know this if you are even slightly athletic but it is crucial to do, especially during the Summerime. Drink tons of water leading up to the marathon.
@Hisariap I love this topic! I've been running for 25 years, including 10 marathons, 16 ultra marathons, and scores of shorter-distance races. I don't claim to be the greatest runner in the world, but I have a lot of experience.
Whatever that is for you. It could be running to the end of your driveway and back, to the end of the street and back, or for two miles and back. Whatever distance that doesn't feel overwhelming is the one to start with, and then build on that the next day.
I have run 4 full marathons. My runnin partner taught me a style of breathing that they teach firemen.
At the beat of each step, take 1 brief inhale like you were sniffing something. Repeat on the next step down. And then a short breath out
2 inhales from the nose
1 exhale out from the mouth.
Do this to the beat of your feet hitting the ground, as if your feet were the tempo of each inhale / exhale.
This will control your heart rate so that your legs will give out before your lungs ever do.
If you control your breathing, you control your oxygen intake and increase lung compacity.
