By Edward Kelly


Getting ready for a long distance race is never an easy affair. World renowned runners always put in months of hard work. As such, it is your sacrifice and commitment that will see you get to the finish line. Whether you may be taking part in the Alamo half marathon for charity or for the thrill of racing, you ought to take time to prepare for it. Here are a few things you should include in your training routine.

To begin with, get an idea of what your limits are beforehand. At this point, you may already know the exercises that take a toll on your body. To be more effective on track, focus on improving on the weaknesses you identify as opposed to spending more time fine tuning your strengths. Differentiating what you are good at from what you are weak at is the hallmark of a high achiever. For example, if muscular strength is not your forte, work on making it better. Becoming a member at a gym would not be a bad thing to do. A gym is one place where you are likely to get unlimited access to quality equipment once you enroll.

Marathons only involve intensive running. You can never become a winner simply because you are muscularly unrivaled. Stamina plays a vital role in making one emerge victorious when competing in a long distance track event. Improving your stamina means starting practicing early enough, preferably one year before you compete. With a little under a year before the event commences, you still have time to get in shape.

Most experienced trainers are of the view that if you want to be a great runner, you ought to begin taking on short distances daily. In training, a short distance should begin at three miles. When you wake up in the morning, purpose to complete this distance. Slowly increase the distance covered to six miles as the days go by.

Once your body is used to the routine, set days when you will be undertaking long runs. These fall in the range of seven miles and more. It is advisable to schedule your long runs to take place once a week. In a similar manner, increase your mileage gradually till you hit the nine mile mark.

Speed is a critical element in any track event. At times, world champions lose to amateurs due to ill advised speed decisions. To prevent yourself from falling prey to fatigue once the race starts, make sure you are running at a consistent pace for a large part of the race. Increase your speed, albeit slightly, when you are nearing the finish line. If you practice on this every day, the real event should give you no trouble.

The metabolic rate of your body is greatly dependent on the type of food you consume. Avoid meals that have a high fat content as they tend to induce fatigue. Start taking carbohydrate and vitamin based meals instead. This way, you will get enough energy to complete the race comfortably.

Furthermore, make sure you are never dehydrated. During the event, organizers may place water stations at strategic locations along the race route. Practice simulating this as you train to avoid getting surprised on the big day. All in all, you must have a fighting spirit if you hope to succeed. The effort you put in training is never complete without a will.




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