5 Things to Consider When Training for Your first Marathon:
1. Time
I hate to say it, but if you want to train for a marathon you need to have a good chunk of time to do it. Running needs to become a main priority in your life when training and you should devote at least 4 months of time to train for it.
2. Carbs are your Friend
During training your body needs specific nourishment to be able to complete those long runs. Carbs are your friend as a runner, you need fuel to run those long distances. Whole natural foods, like sweet potatoes, will give you the needed energy and you should always plan to carb up the night before a long run. However, avoid processed carbs, your body simply runs better on natural foods versus something overly processed and unnatural.
3. Avoid Alcohol
Bummer, right? The fact is alcohol dehydrates the body and that means your muscles are also dehydrated as a result. Dehydrated muscles will never be as strong as hydrated muscles and if you do decide to go on a run after a night of drinking we can guarantee that you will notice a difference.
4. Train
Seems like a no brainer right? But I cannot stress the importance of properly training. There are tons of training plans out there, pick one that is right for you and stick to it.
5. Routine
Develop a routine that includes running, yes it is definitely easier than said, but the more you can make running part of your daily life the easier it will be to stick with a training plan. For example, plan every day to start with a run and every Saturday/Sunday to include a long run. It will feel less like work and more like a normal daily task if you build running into your daily norm.