Help on running the LA marathon?

Question

I am planning to do the LA Marathon (which is 26.2 miles) in March 2008 and I admire all those people who have accomplished it. Considering the fact that I can only run 2 miles w/out breaking down, I am pretty much a beginner. I want to start training now. For those people out there who have ran a marathon, what is the best way to train as a beginner? Can you please include a certain schedule that I must do each day of the week counting down to March? Thanks!

Answer 1

I bought Jeff Galloway's "Book on Running" which has complete mileage schedules in it.

When I trained for the LA marathon, I drank water every five miles or so. During the marathon, I drank water every mile, diluted my electrolytes and could no longer run at 17. I was neither tired nor sore, just couldn't get my legs moving. Moral: don't drink too much water. Too bad, it was a beautiful day (1999) and I should have been able to keep running well into the 20's at worst based on my training (so I thought).

You really need a book and a running log; you can't get a complete answer here on Answers. There's just too much to explain. But in a book, you can see it all, flip through the pages and get what you need.

In general, you're going to increase your distance on Sundays a mile or two at a time until you're up in the high teens. During the week, you'll have a one or two mid-range runs and a couple of easy short runs. The short runs keep you loose, the mid-range runs prepare you for the long run, and the long run prepares you for the Big One. It takes months to ramp up to 20 miles, and you don't want to do that one within two weeks of the race.

But I recommend the book or another book; I don't even know if that book is still in print.

Answer 2

I read everything I can. Go to a marathon and park yourself at mile 18. Watch what the runners are doing. Get fitted properly for running shoes and only use them for running. Someone else had mentioned Runnersworld.com. I love that site. It has everything there from training to nutrition. Keep a journal of how you feel on certain days and what you eat. There is a lot to do and remember. Before you know it, it's the week of your race day! Good luck to you. I wish you a good pace and injury free race.

Answer 3

1. DRink water every 20 minutes during training and every water stop during a marathon. Dehydration and overheating is not a pretty picture.
2. Always run in the shade. (wear a hat)
3. Personally, I think a beginner should train for a year BEFORE training for a marathon, but many have been successful with shorter training periods.
4; Listen to your body and take care of it's aches and pains early.

Good Luck

Answer 4

Ok I can't give you a complete workout schedual because I have never run with you or know the speed at which you run but I did see a schedual put out by our newspaper that is actually really good. do a google search for Real Runners Don't Jog . it is a book a man around here has written, its actually really funny to read but in it it has the marathon training schedual as well as lots of race tips etc. read that and listen to lots of these other guys and read what I have written on buying proper shoes and you'll be able to run it fine, good luck

Answer 5

I agree fully with n0witrytobeamused

Training for marathon is a committment. It is something you have to devote for the next 7 months, which actually is not that much time. When I first trained for marathon, it took me 1 1/2 years before I had the courage to run the first 26.2 miles.

As for training, my advice is to either train with a team or train on treadmill. I am a treadmimll runner and always advocate for everyone to at least devote some of the training on treadmill. Treadmill can teach you to run at a pace, since the machine pretty much will set the pace for you. In addition, treadmill is much more gentler on the knees and feet and is air-conditioned. You should learn to run on the machine.

Running with a team (such as USA Fit or other local running groups) wil teach you the strategy of running. Running marathon is not about pushing as hard as you can. Instead, it is about learning the strategy of running - how you approach the race and how you pace yourself so you have enough energy to make it to the finish. Everyone is different, and, while listening to other people's advice is important, there is nothing better than for you to train overtime to get used to long distance.

My training usually involves in 7-10 miles run at least 2-3 times a week. Don't expect to get there, but that should be part of your goal. I usually maintain about 15-25 miles per week, up until 2-3 weeks before the race, at which time I will increase my distance to 25-35 miles. 2 weeks prior to the race, I am committed to 35-45 miles that week, then taper down to about 15 miles the week of the race. I like to do a few longer run for training such as 14-15 miles, but I refuse to run anything longer - why run a full 26.2 miles in training without taking the credit of actually finishing it in race?

The more you read, the better you will be. The book n0witrytobeamused refers to is good, as well as Runner's World. Get a heart rate monitor - that will come in handy. I also love my iPod Nano. Also I run with bottle water, so a bottle carrier is very handy. Learn to run with the same clothing and same shoes and drink the same drink; don't make any changes after you are used to it.

Lastly, just run for fun. Running is not a competition for the first race - at least not for someone like you or me. You are competing against yourself only - to see if you can do it well and to see if you can do it better than last time. Enjoy the experience and look forward to the finish - crossing finish line will be one of the most exciting event in your life!

Good luck!

Answer 6

Listen! simply devour a balanced vitamin, utilizing the meals pyramid will paintings! Get a few endeavor however do not over do your self. I could say running, swimming and cycling could be the exceptional approach to get have compatibility. You could desire to visit a gymnasium just like the ymca and raise weights however with a purpose to rely on how a lot swimming you do. To begin off I could simply jog one mile each different day. When that will get to be to handy make it a million mile daily then transfer to swimming and cycling endeavor like 1000yrd swims each different day w/ alternating 1mile jogs and 2mile motorcycles each different day! I'd trip your motorcycle the times you swim! The principal factor is do not over do it while you get began. When you get to the time in which threess a million a million/two months earlier than the marathon you will have to holiday your entire paintings outs in part! its referred to as tapering! please take my recommend and you'll do satisfactory for your marathon!

Answer 7

cool and good luck, i was going to run this past one but got injured during training. it's great you're starting early, i started later and was working an intense workout that got me injured. i would sugguest you go to http://www.runnersworld.com/0,7118,,00.html, under training, fill in the info. and it will give you a complete training guide. it's designed by people that know what they're talking about.