It’s so funny. Most people starting out, usually have a hard time answering this question. Which means if you can’t answer it, then of course you won’t start.
In fact I was asked several times last year in 2008, “Rick, when do you start training for a marathon?“
In my case I have been running the Honolulu Marathon every year for the last 11 years, so of course the answer to that question was quite easy to respond to.
My answer was: “I start training the day after I finish running the marathon.”
The Questions I have for you are:
- Why are you training for a marathon? Is it one of your dreams? One of your lifetime goals? You lost a bet to a friend?
- What date is the marathon race? When is the actual race? How many weeks or months till race day? Now remember, I was young and foolish so I only trained for 2 weeks for my first marathon – but, I have to come clean here, I was able to complete it because, 1) I had been playing competitive sports for almost ten years before running that first race and, 2) I had 2 great friends to encourage me to finish it, even when I wanted to quit at mile 24. That race was probably the hardest marathon in my life because I was not mentally prepared for it.
- Are you training by yourself? It is always best to train with others for your first marathon, that comraderie is important, you will need others to help you show up for a 4 a.m. run, to cover the 3 hour runs, to share in your thoughts of how much you love running.
- Do you have a plan? What will your finish time be? Will you run the first 13.1 miles and walk the last 13.1 miles?
- How much time can you devote to training? Can you run or walk 5-6 days a week? Can you only run or walk on Sundays? Knowing this information can help you focus on how you expect to finish.
The average time to start training for your first marathon is usually 6 months. But, what if your race is in 3 months? What do you do? If you are a competitive athlete, I would probably say go for it! If you are new to sports, then I would say “be patient” and wait for a year if you have to.
You see, I think finishing your first marathon should be the greatest feeling in the world. An experience so wonderful that you can’t wait to come back and do it again the following year. So what this means is that you need to not only physically prepare your body to finish it, but more importantly to mentally prepare your mind to continue going no matter what physical pain you might encounter during the race. The most difficult part of running a marathon is the mental games your mind plays with you. Once you have mastered to control it, then anything is possible.
