Should You Join a Marathon Training Group?

Now obviously I have running and marathon training groups and make a small income from people who desire to run marathons (or half marathons). But when I meet clients for a first time, I sit down with them for 30-45 minutes and ask them a list of questions to see what, if anything, I can do for them and their running goals.

I try to look at every person's situation and see what makes the most sense financially, socially, and within their day-to-day life. While I do believe running groups can help the majority of people to stay motivated, push themselves more, and meet new people. It's finding the right running group for you that is the trick.

Take me, for example, when I was 10-15 years younger, it was hard to find a running group that I could fit into because I was pretty fast. I wasn't a future Olympian, but I was a good local runner. Many groups I found had wonderful people in them, but they all ran at best 7-minute miles. Here I am a guy who could run 450-530 miles from distances from 5k to marathons, and did my training runs usually in the low to mid 6s...It was really defeating the purpose of joining a group. I never had anyone to run with in these groups, and I felt sort of like a "freak" because I was the "fast guy" who no one could ever run with - not fun.

With the internet really coming into it's own over the last 5-10 years, finding people like you has become easier than ever before. Now, you can find runners of all levels on the internet and maybe even find someone in your neck of the woods who has the same ability as you.

You need to ask yourself what kind of group do you wish to be a part of:

1. Competitive group - runners who have time goals, age group studs, hard core training people, and individuals probably racing weekly or at least monthly.

2. Social Running Group - Yes, some of the individual might be some pretty good runners, but the majority of the group are people who do get their training in, but like the social aspect just as much as the running aspect.

3. Training programs - You join these usually with a particular running goal or race in mind (many times its for longer races like half and full marathons) and usually has individuals with a wide range of abilities. These are more structured usually with training schedules attached to them.

4. Track Clubs - These can be low key are more intense, but obviously these are geared towards track events and not on road races.

5. Charity Running Programs - Same as training programs, but you join knowing that you will be raising money for a specific charity and in return you will get training advice, coaches, race entry,
and possible travel expenses all covered at no cost to you (as long as you raise the amount of funds required by the foundation or organization).

6. Online group/program - These are great for those people who simply love to run, have a goal race in mind, but truly have a busy schedule due to work or family commitments, and can never meet up with people on a regular basis.

Whatever direction you choose for your training, I would highly recommend you don't go about training for an event like a marathon (or half marathon) by yourself. Yes, it can be done, but unless you are very intrinsically motivated or you have run a marathon before, usually the do-it-yourself method will lead to injury or disappointment.

At the very least, consult a coach or trainer about a marathon training program you downloaded from the internet and ask him his feelings on the training plan.

Enjoy your training...and train smart

Run Marathons for the Right Reasons

My company is called Marathon Coaching Consultants, and one would think that I would be a huge proponent of running marathons...well, I am and I am not...Let me explain.


You see, while I believe that running a marathon is a tremendous achievement for anyone (elite or novice runner), I don't think it makes you more of a "runner" if you do one...In this case more is not necessarily better. Is a sprinter less of a runner because he's racing only a few seconds vs. a few hours of a marathoner? Of course not.




Yet, I come across way too many individuals who love to flaunt their numerous marathon finishes, or that they are training to run uphills both ways at 10,000 feet altitude in some "Run Up into the Thin Air and Drop Dead marathon" somewhere in the Himalayas. Or better yet, I love the individuals who are perpetually injured but love to tell how they ran their last marathon on tweaked knees, shattered collar-bone, and deviated septum, and now can't train for a month, but are going to try to gut it out in two weeks for some 30K tune up race in Alaska.






Am I saying you shouldn't be proud of your accomplishments? No, what I'm getting at is that there are those who want everyone to "look at me" and there are those who run for themselves and don't really care if you think they are crazy or not for wanting to run 26.2 miles on an early October morning somewhere in the Midwest.






So why am I in favor for running a marathon? I am in favor for the following reasons:

1. Great self-confidence builder
2. Great challenge to put on yourself
3. Training gets you into great cardio shape
4. Attainable goal, but commitment is needed
5. The amount of training makes working out a habit - which is a good thing
6. Wonderful way to meet people.
7. Training gives you quality time with friends and family if they do it with you.

Why I am NOT in favor of running a marathon:

1. If you are making the training a chore and are getting no joy out of it at all
2. Because you want to see how much pain you can take
3. Because you want to be a "real runner"
4. If you are neglecting family and friends because you "have to get this training in"
5. You don't have the correct amount of time to train for one safely


So, run a marathon because YOU want to do one, NOT because you feel everyone in your running group is doing one, so you guess you should too. That's not a good reason. Run a marathon because you want to see if you can put in the time and effort to finish such an enormous feat. Run a marathon for a loved one, or to inspire your kids.

My favorite distance to run is the mile - I love that race. Of course when you get to be an adult, there aren't too many competitive mile races you can jump into, but there are a boat load of marathons to enter. When I have the time and the energy (which are few and far between these days with two little ones, coaching, and a new 9-5 job) I do enjoy getting in shape for a marathon, but when I try to get in the training I need with a limited time schedule, the training becomes work, especially when I know I won't hit the time goal I would be satisfied with.

So, please run a marathon...or don't...you will still be a runner either way. Just run one for the right reasons, that's all I ask.

Heat and Marathon Training

It's hot all over the country now (and has been for a while out here in Phoenix, AZ), and for many it's when we start training for our fall marathons. And although it's nice to lose the hat, gloves and tights from our winter running, we all still need to be very vigilant when outside on our runs (especially our weekend long run). So here is a quick list of things and/or items you should be aware of when going for your runs in the summer heat:



1. Get out early if possible. I know out here in Phoenix this is the best time to run. With my groups at Marathon Coaching Consultants we run as early as 5 a.m. on the weekends for our long run. If you are going to run before the sun gets out, I would just HIGHLY suggest to run with a partner - one can never be too safe.



2. If getting up early is not possible, then at least try to get most or part of your runs in a shady area. I know out here in Arizona, this is virtually impossible, but for others around the country, I know there are a myriad of trails to jump on and get a good run in.





3. Wear a fuel or water belt! Especially on those runs over 30-40 minutes. This should be an essential item on your person. You don't want to get caught on a run without water.





4. If for some reason you don't own or have a fuel belt (or hate to wear them like I do!). Then make sure you run a route where you know you have access to a water fountain at least. I would suggest doing a shorter loop run with a water fountain on the course, which you can run a few times in order to get more miles in.



5. On really long runs (over an hour) don't just have water in your fuel belt, but have some sorts of sports drink on you as well. You'll need to replenish your electrolytes if you're out on the roads/trails for a considerable amount of time - water just won't cut it!




6. Wear sun block on your runs. Sure there may be a nice breeze, you can squirt water over your head every mile or so, but that doesn't stop the UV rays from damaging your skin if you can't find a shady place to run. So if you're going for a run let's lather up like we're at the beach.




7. A running cap and sunglasses are a great compliment when running on a hot sunny day. I go for just the cap pulled down low to keep the sun out because I'm not a big fan of wearing sunglasses on a run. But sunglasses allow you not to squint or cause any potential eye damage when logging in those long miles.




8. Last idea is to simply run in the evening, if possible. Again, like the early morning run, make sure you are safe and try to run with a partner. Usually, it's cooler in the evening to run then most other parts of the day. But again, this may or may not be possible for you depending on your schedule.




So those are some quick pointer to getting through the summer heat and logging in those miles for your fall marathons. Enjoy the sun this summer...just be smart about it.