Your training plan for a marathon isn’t just a mind-and-muscle commitment, it requires lots of your time too. Here’s how to ensure you stick to your training plan and rack up the distance that will help you hit your goals.
Pencil it in:
The best way to ensure that you stick with your plan is to training plans for marathon racing is schedule scheduling all your workouts in your calendar, like you would any appointment. Seeing that time blocked off when you’re looking at the week ahead will help you avoid scheduling conflicts and feel proud once the week is done and you’ve crossed everything off your marathon to-do list running schedule.
Go in the morning:
Often, using the hours before work is the best way to ensure that life doesn’t get in the way of your distance goals. Setting your alarm and your intentions and actually waking up for a workout are two very different things, however. Help yourself make your morning workout by preparing what you need like your workout outfit, your breakfast, and your running playlist the night before, so you dont feel rushed and overwhelmed in the morning.
Enlist friends:
A workout buddy makes almost any workout seem more doable, especially if you’ve got a double digit-long run on the horizon. Even if you aren’t marathon training with anyone, having someone along on even just a few kilometers on any part of your run can be the encouragement you need to hit your overall goal. Plus, having a running date with a friend is a great way to catch up while also crossing off your workout for the day!
Take a class:
Marathon training isn’t just about the kilometers, strength workouts and cross training with other forms of exercise are important for your well-being and race-day performance too. Sign up for a studio cycling class, a circuit class at your gym, or a weekend yoga session on your non-running days. Having that commitment on your calendar (or through your bank account) can help ensure that you don’t skip this important aspect of training.
Clear (part of) your weekend:
Those long training runs are truly a commitment, especially later on when they can clock in at multiple hours. Try to stick to a similar time during the weekend to complete your run so your schedule stays consistent and friends and family know when you’ll be unavailable. Having a similar schedule every week can help others know when you need help with childcare or other obligations so you can run with peace of mind.
Don’t overdo it.
No matter how much you try and complete every scheduled run and cross-training session, chances are something is bound to come up during your four months of marathon training. If it does, take it in stride; don’t beat yourself up about skipping a run to rest or have a much-needed night out, or if other obligations force you to forgo your workout. When it happens, just move past this minor setback and stay motivated to make the rest of your workouts count. After all, pushing your body to exhaustion when you really should be resting may derail your training plans even more.
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