A Beginner’s Journey to Marathon Training
What is a Marathon?
A marathon is a race distance of 26.2 miles, or 42.195 kilometers. The original marathon distance at the 1896 Olympics in Athens, Greece, was 25 miles. In 1908, the Olympic marathon in London was extended to allegedly accommodate the British royal family. The extra 1.2 miles allowed them to watch the race from their preferred viewing spot at the palace. The marathon distance has been 26.2 miles ever since. The race has grown in popularity over the years, and in the U.S. alone, there are over 1,110 marathon races a year.
Illustration of Greek runner Spiridon Louis at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens Greece, 1896 Olympic Games
How Long Does Marathon Training Take?
Step One: Get a Proper Shoe Fitting
Step Two: Learn How to Properly Run
When you first start running, you might be surprised to learn that there is a proper way to run in order to prevent injury and to maximize your efficiency. Poor or improper running form can lead to aches, pains, and even serious injuries, along with wasted energy that can quickly burn you out.
At St. Pete Running Company, we host running classes to teach you these basics and to help you prevent injury and to make running easier for you.
Beginners Running Class
Our next running class is on Saturday, May 18th at 9:00 AM. You can register at this link: https://stpeterunningco.com/shop-online/?fp=beginners-running-class
Step Three: Consider Hiring a Running Coach
While this is not something everyone will choose to do, we highly recommend hiring a professional running coach. This person will tailor your training run schedule to your specific goals, needs, and fitness level. They will help you create a plan for success, and they will help you find a race if you’re undecided on which marathon to do. They can also help you pivot when necessary during your training so that if you start to notice anything (such as the development of a potential injury), they can help you rework your training plan accordingly. At St. Pete Running Company, we have coaching! If you’re interested, and even if you just have questions about hiring a running coach, you can email Janna. There is also more info on the website under our Coaching tab.
Do you have more questions about our how long it takes for a beginner to train for a marathon? We can help! Call or come into the store where our shoe and running experts are ready to provide the high-quality customer service you expect from a Top 50 Running Store in America.
