16/09/2015
Sleep, eating right, strength training, taking days off and having fun are some of the best practices that you need to build into your half/full marathon training plan. These components will lead to better and faster recovery, which will lead to better and faster running. As you work with your coach or choose a training program off the internet, consider the time you will be spending on these important components that will not only help you have an enjoyable experience but also ensure that you stay out of injuries and burnout.
• Sleep
You have to sleep while training for a marathon. If you are not sleeping, you are not recovering. The 12 – 16 week marathon program requires you to recover for you to give your best in each workout. This does not mean that you need to sacrifice your social life entirely. Limit it to once a week prior to your rest/recovery day. Get between 6 to 8 hours of sleep. Some tips for sleeping well are switching your cellphone off, reading a few pages of a book, following a sleep schedule and avoiding heavy meals in the evening.
• Eating Right
A common notion is that people want to train for a marathon and cut calories at the same time. In most cases, it is not a good thing. You need the right mix of protein, vitamins and carbohydrates for recovery. Long endurance runs, speed and tempo work means that you are breaking down muscle and if you need to get stronger and better, you will have to fuel. Stick to the basics like chapatti, brown rice, dal, sambar, fruits and vegetables and avoid packaged food, junk food, excessive sweet and carbonated soft drinks. In short, follow a diet that is a part of the local culture and heritage. Expensive salad dressings, pasta etc. is not required for you to get more efficient or faster.
Enjoy your beer/wine on the night before your rest/recovery so that you recover well from that deathly hangover and continue to give your best on your training runs.
• Strength Training
You will need to focus on core exercises, exercise for your legs and exercise for your back. If you notice amateur long distance runners, you will often see that they exhibit a poor posture towards the last few miles of the race. This means that they are being inefficient translating to increased effort and slower pace. Strength training helps you with maintaining your form.
You can strength train even without signing up for a gym – buy some free weights at home and focus on core work. Yoga and suyranamaskars can do wonders.
• Takes days off
Research disproves that taking days off impacts fitness negatively. Infact, the opposite is true. Rest days prevent injuries and mental burnout. If this is your first marathon, restrict your program to a maximum of 3 runs a week, 2 sessions of strength/cross training and 2 days of rest. Rest will help your muscles recover and build back. Follow your sleep and diet schedule even on days off. Restrain from binging on junk food and alcohol.
• Have fun
No doubt running is a form of exercise which when starting off can be stressful. However, as your body understands the movement and internalizes the pain, you start enjoying the process. This is true especially during long runs where you end up having the best runversations. Training for your first race is just the beginning of a fabulous and a fit lifestyle.