Don't let that scare you, though! Anyone can run a marathon; the majority of it is mental, and if you believe you can run 26.2 miles, you will. But you do still need a solid plan since much of marathon training comes down to being as prepared as possible. Here, everything you need to know to make it to (and through) race day.
Are you ready for marathon ?
Going from zero to 26.2 is possible but probably not a great idea. If you've never really run before, or tend to max out at three miles, that's OK—but you need to do a little more than just downloading a training plan from the internet.First, you should know where you stand injury-wise, says Melanie Kann, a running coach for New York Road Runners. "If there are any nagging aches and pains heading into the plan, adding more mileage isn't going to help the situation," says Kann. "Definitely get checked out by a sports doc if necessary, or work with a PT to make sure your support team and overall strength and mobility regimen is in place." (Related: 5 Things Physical Therapists Want Runners to Start Doing Now)
Training for a full marathon ?
Uh, obviously, you're preparing to cover double the miles, which is a pretty big difference. But in terms of training, the main difference is really the long runs. Instead of maxing out at 11 or 12 miles, you'll be logging up to 18 or 20 miles depending on your plan. That's a lot more impact on your body.This is where doing strength training two times a week can really help you, says Henwood. "All-around conditioning is going to increase your power to weight ratio and help you be a better runner compared to just running." You may be able to get by skipping this in a half marathon training schedule, but not for 26.2. (Related: The 5 Essential Cross-Training Workouts All Runners Need)
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