Marathon running: Tips to acheive a stronger performance at He's Fit

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Marathon running: Tips to acheive a stronger performance

Posted November 13, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Lisa Cieplechowicz

Section: In The News, His Fitness, Cardio Training, His Health, Physical Health

marathon runner Running a major marathon is a goal many athletes strive for. They train for months, perfect their technique, and mentally prepare themselves for the physical trial that is ahead. However, for some runners, when the big day comes they find themselves falling short of their performance goals. Instead of a steady run and strong finish, they lose their energy level with miles to go and struggle to reach the finish line. So why does this happen? How can a strong training program lead to results that fall short of expectations?

A recent article from The New York Times recently addressed this problematic issue, and apparently there is more than one explanation. For starters, loss of energy during a marathon may be the result of starting off too fast and too strong. Though it’s understandable to be excited at the start of the race, when runners forget to pace themselves - even for a few minutes - their performance may ultimately suffer. Your goal should be to keep an even pace, with a substantial increase in speed at the end. Doing the opposite is what uses up the energy you need to make it to the end.

The article also mentions the benefit of cutting down on running before the race. Though many athletes are tempted to fit in one more long run when the marathon week is closing in, this can actually harm your performance on the event day. You need to give your body proper time to heal and rejuvenate before your embark on a marathon. Consequently, cut yourself a bit of a break during the week or so leading up to the race. Your body will thank you.

One more tip the story mentions is the use of motivational techniques. Some runners may notice that once you let yourself get negative, your performance begins to weaken. As hard as it may get while you’re out there running, you can’t let yourself succumb to feelings of negativity or despair. Rather, do your best to stay optimistic. Though you may feel silly at first, learn to talk to yourself during the race when you reach points of frustration or exhaustion. By staying positive, you may just give yourself the extra push you need to make it across the finish line.

To read about tips for marathon running in more detail, click on the New York Times link below.

Research source and for more information: [New York Times]; [picture]