If you woke up one day, like me, and thought I'm going to run a marathon, then you've already won half the battle. For most sane people, this endeavor is more than just painful to think about; it's actually impossible to imagine. Good news for you, almost any healthy person can train to finish and there's only one simple rule you need to follow: stretch, run, stretch--consistently.
Here are details of the mantra. You need to stretch well. Adding an extra 5-10 minutes to your routine can prevent serious injuries. Did you know that the cool down stretch is the most import step to keeping your body in tact?
You need to run a lot. Though obvious, this is the hardest part of the process. Motivating yourself to continue to stay on routine. Luckily some tools make this process more manageable. For one, sites like RunKeeper.com and MapMyRun.Com allow you to keep track of your millage. It feels great to log in the distance each day and follow your progress. For another, there are plenty of sites with free training schedules. Pick one that you feel that you can realistically handle and print it out and put it somewhere you can see every day. Every time you run, check it off.
How's your training going?
