Newbie guide to running a marathon part one! What do you need to do, apart from run? Well before you start training there are a number of things we need to discuss as a self-coached athlete. So as your own coach it is time for you to have a long talk with yourself. Or you could get a coach, either at your local club or a paid coach of some description.
This article could also be used to pick and plan your first Ultra marathon. The ‘subtle’ differences (apart from the distance) will be discussed in a later article.
Picking a marathon to run
So you have decided to run a marathon, or even run your next marathon and you need to decide which one. Well before we get to that you need to consider a few things. Why are you running a marathon? This might sound like a really stupid question but it is probably the most important factor in choosing the race to do. If your doing your second marathon and hoping to better your time or if your hoping to set a personal best (PB), maybe even qualify for the Boston marathon you need to look as flat and fast courses. Looking at race profiles are important, in case there are a number of hills or the course is very ‘undulating’. Your buddy who is on the way to getting his hundredth marathon medal might have a different opinion that you of what a mountain looks like. If you are running because it is a personal goal (your the big 40 or for a family reason) then picking a race close to home might be better for you. Family and friends there to support and share the moment as well as knowledge of the course might be a big plus. If you want to travel then maybe an exotic lap through a bog in February in the dark might be for you. See moonlight challenge in Kent, UK for further details.
What size race do you want to do? Will a few thousand screaming spectators and a ‘bodyguard’ of a couple of hundred of your closest sweaty running friends, close up suits you then maybe you should consider London or Berlin marathons, see the sights by foot so to speak. If you fancy a chat with one or two people or a silent run without queues at the finish-line then maybe the West of Ireland marathon series is your thing, no clock, no tee shirt but the achievement of being self sufficient. As with the first question, the type of course you prefer is of huge significance. Will a marathon over 5km loops with two aid stations and your body can run on autopilot suit you? Maybe a trip to the Portumna forest marathon next June is on the cards. I prefer the point A to point B type of marathons and a sense that I went somewhere, even if the finish line is within spitting distance of the start line. A lot of marathons finish back where they started and this is the norm.
Is the course measured and certified? This is of paramount importance. In Ireland the Athletic Ireland (AI) course measurers do a sterling job and this is reflected in marathons with a race permit from AI. How disappointing it could be if you finished a marathon in a new PB to find the course was half a mile too short? You can’t imagine the heart break. Look to see the race has the local national federations approval or sanction and the AIMS label to. If it is a certified course then you can use this time for entering other races where a qualifying time is required.
Have you done your research? What time of the year are you going to do this marathon? How has the weather been the previous few years, look at race reports to find this out if you don’t know anyone who race there before. What time of year will you be training through at home? Training for a spring marathon after a winter of snow means quite a lot of time spend on treadmills.
Two other major considerations for me are marshals and pacers. Has the race got enough marshals, if your a serious runner up the front or the tail end charlie at the back, going off course or weaving between traffic will ruin your race experience. Again look at race reports and decide what race you are doing. Does the marathon your partaking in have pacers? Are pacers something that you might benefit from? The pacing team in the Cork city marathon (my home race) have consistently hit their time on the finish-line and have helped countless people to the finish of their first marathon or their marathon personal best by running consistent splits for each of the pacing times. For a full list of the pacing groups for the Cork city marathon (or any marathon) see the race website or meet the Cork pacers at the marathon expo in Cork city hall.
So a quick overview of some other thought you need to consider. What date is the marathon on? does that suit you and does it allow enough time for you to train and achieve your goals? This is a critical consideration. Know the start time and if your traveling start sourcing the accommodation and travel arrangements in advance. Is there enough aid stations and is there any entry requirements to partake? Are you doing the race for a charity then would you consider doing it for the marathons designated charity or your own special cause? Is it timing chip or manual timing? Chip timing means the race to get over the start line isn’t as hectic.
Well in the next article we will discuss Goal setting and how you use it for your marathon but for the purposes of this series of articles I will be referring to my local marathon the Cork City marathon and how you and I can achieve our marathon in 2013. There are a lot more considerations when choosing your marathon than those listed above but these should give you a basis from which to start.
Niall 10/08/12
This article could also be used to pick and plan your first Ultra marathon. The ‘subtle’ differences (apart from the distance) will be discussed in a later article.
Picking a marathon to run
So you have decided to run a marathon, or even run your next marathon and you need to decide which one. Well before we get to that you need to consider a few things. Why are you running a marathon? This might sound like a really stupid question but it is probably the most important factor in choosing the race to do. If your doing your second marathon and hoping to better your time or if your hoping to set a personal best (PB), maybe even qualify for the Boston marathon you need to look as flat and fast courses. Looking at race profiles are important, in case there are a number of hills or the course is very ‘undulating’. Your buddy who is on the way to getting his hundredth marathon medal might have a different opinion that you of what a mountain looks like. If you are running because it is a personal goal (your the big 40 or for a family reason) then picking a race close to home might be better for you. Family and friends there to support and share the moment as well as knowledge of the course might be a big plus. If you want to travel then maybe an exotic lap through a bog in February in the dark might be for you. See moonlight challenge in Kent, UK for further details.
What size race do you want to do? Will a few thousand screaming spectators and a ‘bodyguard’ of a couple of hundred of your closest sweaty running friends, close up suits you then maybe you should consider London or Berlin marathons, see the sights by foot so to speak. If you fancy a chat with one or two people or a silent run without queues at the finish-line then maybe the West of Ireland marathon series is your thing, no clock, no tee shirt but the achievement of being self sufficient. As with the first question, the type of course you prefer is of huge significance. Will a marathon over 5km loops with two aid stations and your body can run on autopilot suit you? Maybe a trip to the Portumna forest marathon next June is on the cards. I prefer the point A to point B type of marathons and a sense that I went somewhere, even if the finish line is within spitting distance of the start line. A lot of marathons finish back where they started and this is the norm.
Is the course measured and certified? This is of paramount importance. In Ireland the Athletic Ireland (AI) course measurers do a sterling job and this is reflected in marathons with a race permit from AI. How disappointing it could be if you finished a marathon in a new PB to find the course was half a mile too short? You can’t imagine the heart break. Look to see the race has the local national federations approval or sanction and the AIMS label to. If it is a certified course then you can use this time for entering other races where a qualifying time is required.
Have you done your research? What time of the year are you going to do this marathon? How has the weather been the previous few years, look at race reports to find this out if you don’t know anyone who race there before. What time of year will you be training through at home? Training for a spring marathon after a winter of snow means quite a lot of time spend on treadmills.
Two other major considerations for me are marshals and pacers. Has the race got enough marshals, if your a serious runner up the front or the tail end charlie at the back, going off course or weaving between traffic will ruin your race experience. Again look at race reports and decide what race you are doing. Does the marathon your partaking in have pacers? Are pacers something that you might benefit from? The pacing team in the Cork city marathon (my home race) have consistently hit their time on the finish-line and have helped countless people to the finish of their first marathon or their marathon personal best by running consistent splits for each of the pacing times. For a full list of the pacing groups for the Cork city marathon (or any marathon) see the race website or meet the Cork pacers at the marathon expo in Cork city hall.
So a quick overview of some other thought you need to consider. What date is the marathon on? does that suit you and does it allow enough time for you to train and achieve your goals? This is a critical consideration. Know the start time and if your traveling start sourcing the accommodation and travel arrangements in advance. Is there enough aid stations and is there any entry requirements to partake? Are you doing the race for a charity then would you consider doing it for the marathons designated charity or your own special cause? Is it timing chip or manual timing? Chip timing means the race to get over the start line isn’t as hectic.
Well in the next article we will discuss Goal setting and how you use it for your marathon but for the purposes of this series of articles I will be referring to my local marathon the Cork City marathon and how you and I can achieve our marathon in 2013. There are a lot more considerations when choosing your marathon than those listed above but these should give you a basis from which to start.
Niall 10/08/12
