Essential Tips When Preparing For Half Marathon Races

By David Hughes


Half marathons are road running events with the distance that is half of a marathon race and growing steadily popular. This is because the distance is challenging but the training required is not the same when doing marathons. They are usually held together with a marathon using the same course by either starting late or finishing early.

More events are held every year due to more participants joining them. An example of this is half marathon London race which you could join when you are in the area. But before you could participate in them, you should train yourself so injuries could be avoided while finishing the event. Here are a few basic guides that you could follow.

Build a solid base under the feet by running fifteen miles in total a week and do at least five miles in one of the days as the longest one. This would help in acclimating yourself in your new workout meant for this race and not overwhelming your body. If the base is weak when starting the new training, your body would work twice as hard and may cause injury.

Choose to follow a training plan which usually ranges between eight and sixteen weeks which depends on the content such as weekly mileage, frequency, and workout types. Carefully research about these plans to determine which among them are doable for you from the start to the end. Select a longer one particularly when it you are a beginner.

Having quality practice runs is better than quantity ones because the more times you are running, the more chance of getting injured. There should be runs where it helps build the ability to convert oxygen into energy by the body and your endurance. The purpose in doing this is in becoming the fastest one but being able to finish the race.

Doing other kinds of training, such as aerobic cross training and light resistance, is also helpful during the days you are not running to optimize your fitness. Cross ones involved swimming, cycling and using row or elliptical machine. Light resistance ones target upper body and core helping you maintain good form and fight fatigue off.

Find a group to train with by either enrolling in one with a coach as a leader or inviting your friends to do this with you. This can make a difference because you would be responsible in attending the sessions knowing that others are waiting for you. They can also be a source of encouragement when having a tough run or fighting fatigue off.

Do an advance research on the race including the sports drink which would be provided by them and use this during practice. Do not use those that you were not able to try when practicing and if you prefer another one then ask your friends and family if they could stake out on the route. Locate where portable potties and aid stations are in cases of emergencies.

Remember to rest your body so it would have time in rebuilding and in repairing your muscles. If you skip this then your body and its recovering ability will be burdened and make you more prone to injuries. Check the rate of your resting heart if it is higher than normal by a bit which means you are lacking in rest.




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