Prior to my freshman year at Whitman, I had never done any running. Even three-mile runs seemed like an unfeasible distance. The idea of running a marathon was simply crazy.
But last month I ran the full, 26.2-mile Portland Marathon.
Running a marathon, or even a half-marathon, is an incredibly rewarding experience. There is nothing that feels better than successfully running a race for which you have been training for months: especially a race that you once thought was impossible to do.
Last July, I decided to run the Portland Marathon. I trained for three months in Portland and Walla Walla. Having never run such a long distance before, I figured out the training process along the way. I looked for tips on the internet and spoke to some people who had experience. There was lots of trial and error in my training, but now I have good idea of the proper way to train for a marathon.
Here are some of the tips that I learned from my marathon training process:
- Start your training well before the race. You need time to incrementally increase your mileage. If you start training right before the race and increase your mileage too quickly, you can easily injure yourself. I had been consistently running at least 30 miles per week before starting marathon training, and I found that three months was a good amount of training for me. However, some people might want extra time
- Make sure you have enough time in your routine, daily schedule to include training. Marathon training is incredibly time-intensive, as you will be running 5-6 times per week and spending progressively more time on your runs. As a busy Whitman student, it is challenging to find time for training. But if you are dedicated to it and follow a schedule, it is very doable.
- Make a schedule and follow it. The training process is all about gradually increasing your mileage, so plan out how many miles you will run each day and when you will complete your longer runs. Make sure not to increase your mileage by too much in one run as this is an easy way to injure yourself.
- Try to find running buddies. If you have someone else to run with, you are more likely to follow your schedule. Running with other people is always more fun as well.
- Make sure you have a good pair of running shoes. Throughout the training process, you will wear down your shoes, so it is important to start with good pair.
- Select locations for your runs that you enjoy. I liked running in the wheat fields and along Mill Creek.
- Hydrate during your runs. As you start doing your longer runs, you will need to hydrate while running. There are some water fountains along various running routes in Walla Walla, but otherwise you will need to carry water with you. You can simply carry a water bottle, use a hydration belt, or have water backpack.
- Select some products to give you an energy boost during your longer runs. “Gu” is “energy gel” that you can eat while running, and Shot Blocks are the gummy-version. Runners typically use them whenever a run is over ten miles. They are relatively cheap and are available at running stores or on the internet.
- Consider running some half-marathons, just to get used to the experience of being in a race. I ran the Smith Rock Half-Marathon in July and the Wildwood Half-Marathon in August. From running the half-marathons, I learned the importance of pacing myself.
- Taper off your runs at the end of your training. As the time for the race gets close, cut back your mileage and take a couple days off of running so that your body is prepared for the race.
- Have fun! The training process should be a fun experience, one that you look forward to doing. I really enjoyed running each day throughout my training, which made it a lot easier.
One of the most valuable things I learned about running a marathon is that, with proper training, it can be done. I would recommend it as a good challenge for any Whitman student.+
