Marathon Preparation

Miranda Hanson provides insight into the challenges and tips when preparing for a marathon.

Perhaps the most appealing thing about a marathon is that everybody can take part in it and compete, not only professional athletes. Preparing for and running a marathon is on many people's bucket lists. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you can enjoy with your entire family because participation is a reward in itself.

However, running a full or even a half marathon is a huge challenge for your body, so you must prepare accordingly. You can find a lot of information online, but there are also tips that no one will tell you.

Covering the distance

You probably already know that a marathon is 42 kilometres (roughly 26 miles) long. It is the distance a Greek soldier, Philippides, ran from the field of Marathon to Athens to deliver news of a glorious Greek victory at the Battle of Marathon against the Persian invasion. This event took place in 490 B.C., and ever since, the marathon has been an Olympic discipline.

Modern athletes now cover this distance in more than two hours, but it takes much more for amateurs to complete a marathon. The average runner stays on track for at least 4 hours before accomplishing the marathon challenge. It is always helpful to know what you have ahead of you if you decide to take up this challenge in terms of distance and time.

Preparing for the next big marathon

Rookies to endurance running will spend more time choosing which marathon to run than preparing for it. On average, it takes 16 weeks to prepare for a marathon properly, so the sooner you start, the better. In terms of distance, you will have to run anywhere from 20 to 60 kilometres a week.

The last preparations are the most important segment, as mental strength is crucial to completing a marathon. Training your willpower starts when you decide to participate in a marathon because you will need to possess nerves of steel to last to the end.

Choosing a marathon

Only once you have started preparing for a marathon can you choose the exact one you will participate in. In most cases, people train for a marathon in their hometown, as all major world cities have their annual marathons.

The Majors are a series of six of the most renowned world marathons that attract thousands of participants each year. If we judge by the data provided from the Copenhagen marathon, which has been organized since 1980, the marathon boom may be reversing.

Namely, there has been a drop in the number of young participants in recent years and an increase in the older age groups signing up for the marathon. In the 50—to 70-year-old age group, there has been an increase of nearly 60% in the last five years. This is proof that age is not a limiting factor in this running discipline.

The gear you will require

Unlike other sports, the marathon is rewarding because you do not need to invest much in gear. You will get a number at the check-in counter at the start line, but the rest of the equipment is up to you. The most important single item of clothing is sneakers. They need to be extra comfortable because they will carry you to the finish line.

Use fabrics that allow your skin to breathe for the shorts and T-shirt. You also need to manage your perspiration and rehydration. A marathon is a serious challenge to your health, and unfortunately, deaths do happen.

Apart from drinking enough water during the marathon, you should also eat some food. There are sports drinks and gels that you can intake while running without the need to stop and chew them. After the marathon, wait at least half an hour before eating a meal loaded with proteins and carbs to restore energy.

As you have seen from our tips, running a marathon is not too hard if you prepare well. From the intensive training session to the gear and food you eat to building mental strength, a marathon will present a real challenge for you. Remember that it is not an impossible one.

Page Reference

If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:

HANSON, M. (2019) Marathon Preparation [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article456.htm [Accessed

About the Author

Miranda Hanson is a passionate staff writer at Runner Click. She enjoys researching and incorporating interesting facts and statistics to create compelling stories. Her writing focuses on fitness, health, sports, beauty, and wellness. When she is not writing, she enjoys spending time outdoors camping, fishing, and enjoying nature's beauty.


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Perhaps the most appealing thing about a marathon is that everybody can take part in it and compete, not only professional athletes. Preparing for and running a marathon is on many people's bucket lists. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you can enjoy with your entire family because participation is a reward in itself. However, running a full or even a half marathon is a huge challenge for your body, so you must prepare accordingly. You can find a lot of information online, but there are also tips that no one will tell you. Covering the distance You probably already know that a marathon is 42 kilometres (roughly 26 miles) long. It is the distance a Greek soldier, Philippides, ran from the field of Marathon to Athens to deliver news of a glorious Greek victory at the Battle of Marathon against the Persian invasion. This event took place in 490 B.C., and ever since, the marathon has been an Olympic discipline. Modern athletes now cover this distance in more than two hours, but it takes much more for amateurs to complete a marathon. The average runner stays on track for at least 4 hours before accomplishing the marathon challenge. It is always helpful to know what you have ahead of you if you decide to take up this challenge in terms of distance and time. Preparing for the next big marathon Rookies to endurance running will spend more time choosing which marathon to run than preparing for it. On average, it takes 16 weeks to prepare for a marathon properly, so the sooner you start, the better. In terms of distance, you will have to run anywhere from 20 to 60 kilometres a week. The last preparations are the most important segment, as mental strength is crucial to completing a marathon. Training your willpower starts when you decide to participate in a marathon because you will need to possess nerves of steel to last to the end. Choosing a marathon Only once you have started preparing for a marathon can you choose the exact one you will participate in. In most cases, people train for a marathon in their hometown, as all major world cities have their annual marathons. The Majors are a series of six of the most renowned world marathons that attract thousands of participants each year. If we judge by the data provided from the Copenhagen marathon, which has been organized since 1980, the marathon boom may be reversing. Namely, there has been a drop in the number of young participants in recent years and an increase in the older age groups signing up for the marathon. In the 50—to 70-year-old age group, there has been an increase of nearly 60% in the last five years. This is proof that age is not a limiting factor in this running discipline. The gear you will require Unlike other sports, the marathon is rewarding because you do not need to invest much in gear. You will get a number at the check-in counter at the start line, but the rest of the equipment is up to you. The most important single item of clothing is sneakers. They need to be extra comfortable because they will carry you to the finish line. Use fabrics that allow your skin to breathe for the shorts and T-shirt. You also need to manage your perspiration and rehydration. A marathon is a serious challenge to your health, and unfortunately, deaths do happen. Apart from drinking enough water during the marathon, you should also eat some food. There are sports drinks and gels that you can intake while running without the need to stop and chew them. After the marathon, wait at least half an hour before eating a meal loaded with proteins and carbs to restore energy. As you have seen from our tips, running a marathon is not too hard if you prepare well. From the intensive training session to the gear and food you eat to building mental strength, a marathon will present a real challenge for you. Remember that it is not an impossible one. Page Reference If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is: HANSON, M. (2019) Marathon Preparation [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article456.htm [Accessed About the Author Miranda Hanson is a passionate staff writer at Runner Click. She enjoys researching and incorporating interesting facts and statistics to create compelling stories. Her writing focuses on fitness, health, sports, beauty, and wellness. When she is not writing, she enjoys spending time outdoors camping, fishing, and enjoying nature's beauty.