Has anyone here ever run a marathon? If so, how did you go about training?

I’ve ran half marathon’s, 26 miles…get right outta town, literally.
The best way to train is to work on your endurance/stamina, pound the streets & keep yourself in shape.

I walked one (didn’t run) but I did it with Team in Training which raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They had coaches and training schedules to make sure you were ready on the day of the race. I was in probably the best shape of my life after that training.

I second @Judi‘s recommendation. My sister worked for the LLS (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) in Upstate NY. There are other locations – look online for one near you.

Not only will they assist you with safe, proper training – but they’ll connect you to a patient you can run “for” and it can be a super-motivating experience.

I also have friends who swear by the “Couch to 5K” program. If you have an iPod trying looking for the podcasts—they can help, too.

Curious, aside from proper running shoes, does your stride save your knees? Meaning, if you have a proper stride, and are a long distance runner, does your stride save your knees (running for many years). So that your knees aren’t shot.

Oh yes, @Mama_Cakes – just google “running form” or “fix my stride” and see the tips come up on Runners World and a lot of other sites.
Also, individual trainers/running clubs have their own thoughts on this, too. I trained with a guy (a long time ago) who was insistent that I run on grass (off the sidewalk) as much as possible to reduce shin splints and general wear & tear… but your mileage may vary..

In my town I know of a business that assesses endurance athletes (but the one I know is specific to cyclists they get a lot of Olympic cyclists there) ...you may have some similar in your area for runners (sometimes Sports Medicine clinics have computer imaging for gait analysis) if you are looking for assessment…

Steve Prefontane, the father of running and the runner Nike’s were designed for had a vision for sawdust jogging trails to save people’s joints. After his death his hometown (and mine at the time) created miles of jogging trails with sawdust.

I ran the Disney World Marathon in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Was signed-up, trained-up and ready for 2006, but got bronchitis, so there went that….

Anyway, you might want to enter a few local 5K (3.1 mi) and 10K (6.2 mi) races to get the feel of it all, then increase your training distances until you are ready for a half-marathon. After that, if you want to go for the full 26.2 mile race, take 6 months to train-up so that your body can handle over 20 miles at least once a week by one month before your race. Shorter distances (10 – 15 miles) on other days of the week will be fine, and enough to keep your body clued-in as to what is going on.

NOTE: In training, you do not have to run your weekly 20-plus miles in one effort. Run 11 or 12 miles in the morning, go home and rest, then run that same distance in the afternoon. Your body will still achieve the same physical benefit as long as the 22 – 24 training miles are completed in the same day.

Your split-run mileages don’t necessarily have to add up to 26.2 miles. On Race Day, your body will be ready.

And invest in good quality, correctly-fitting running shoes !!

Go get it….
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Check out some of the running stores in your area. They have some good leads on training and trainers.

My wife just did her first ½ marathon (at 58) and she says it is easier to train for it if you have a group going at it. Everyone supports/cajoles each other on and gets you out training when you just don’t want to go out the door.

A guy I used to work with signed up for a program like @Judi mentioned. He was not an athlete. Think of George on the Seinfeld show

18 weeks after the start of training he ran the marathon. He finished!

I have my first 5k coming up this Sunday…..I’m so excited….I’ve been going to the gym and doing cardio and light weight training…..and then back on the treadmill trying to get my stamina up. My goal for 2013 is to do five of them this summer….training is just practice…..love it :)

Here is some information from REI on training for your first marathon.

The biggest part of it is commitment. You are looking at 12 to 20 weeks of training, running multiple miles on multiple days so be sure it is something you really want to do.

Set a goal, pick a marathon you want to do, decide how much training you need and begin the training to peak when the race is scheduled.

Don’t lift weights. Run every other day. Every other day, build lung capacity. Get breathing under control. Find out how to get into the flow (after the pain of breathing but way before the fatigue becomes a factor). Stretch a lot. Wear proper shoes during training. Have a positive mindset. Try training for a year. The first month, focus on the best 1 mile you can get. Run every other day. Each time trying to get at least a better time by 2 seconds. By month 2, try 3 mile jogs. Month 3, do 6 mile jogs, even if you need to walk in between that is fine as long as each day you are getting a better time than the last. Eventually you’ll get into a mode where when you’re running your breathing is calm, smooth and deep. Breathing is the most important as it’s what’s getting oxygen to your muscles. Don’t take 48 hours off from running. A day off is perfect already. After 48 hours of no running, stamina literally declines. Whilst if you keep it up you can gain. I think it’s important to properly learn how to power walk too. In case you get tired of running the marathon you could always heel toe (power walk) certain portions. Clean your diet up. People who run marathons typically stay away from junk! And last but not least, get tips. Youtube Cross Country technics. There is an art to running. Buy shin splint protection and knee protection if you feel like it. I own shin splint protections and they reduce pain by at least 20% which is better than nothing.

There are many apps for your iphone which provide training programs and track them as well. Also runnersworld.com has programs for beginners and others. I keep saying I want to do one before I die, but I am pushing 70 so I figure I better get moving soon, heheheh! Good luck and keep me posted on your progress.

I hate to say it, but after the recent happenings in Boston, I am not in any hurry to run a marathon. I would rather just add a few more yoga poses to my exercise routine.

All helpful. Thanks!

Carrry some kind of energy bar/juice/goo with you for that boost you need when you feel like you are running out of steam.

This will mess up your joints, don’t do it.