Before you decide to join a marathon, you should avail yourself of a marathon training program that could cater to both beginners up to advance marathon runner. Make sure that the marathon-training program that you would be using has yielded positive results by consulting and asking other runners. You can ask from other runners or you can go to the Internet and select from the different marathon training programs available.
Before selecting among the existing marathon training programs available, make sure to find the ones that have a structured regimen. It should also include the three phases of marathon training, the build-up phase, the taper off phase and the recovery phase. The phases should be followed because they have different uses and the sum of each part completes the whole training regimen. If you fail to commit or lack focus on each phase, injuries might occur and you might not be in tip top condition for the race.
The build up phase of every marathon-training program requires you to build up your running distance gradually. There shouldn't be any dramatic increase in the distance but rather a moderate 10% of the initial long distance run will do. Drastic and sudden increase may lead to injuries. In this phase, by following the marathon-training program, your training would be structured. Marathon training programs require runners to take on short distances during the weekend and one long run on the weekends. Your stamina and endurance develops during the build-up phase. The rest of the week, the body will recover from that particular long session. Marathon training programs' short sessions aim is to make the body loose and supple.
When the build-up phase of the marathon training program reaches its end, the tapering off phase comes next. The taper off period begins a month before the actual race. This is the time where the body can now replenish and recover from all the pounding bring about by the build-up phase. This phase requires you to decrease your weekly mileage by 25 percent. As the final week dawns on you, you should be running only few and short distances. The muscles should be loose and flexible and by the time race day comes, you at your peak condition.
After the competition, it is important to include a recovery phase in your marathon-training program. This would give the body to recover from the crucible it has undergone. In every marathon-training program, its success can be measured through the dedication of the runner to it from beginning to end.