Day 4 (Today's Total: 6 miles; Week Total: 20 miles) - There is one expense about running a marathon that strikes me as really unsustainable, but as far as I'm aware, completely unavoidable. Running shoes wear down about every 200-300 miles. Easily two pairs of shoes become expired in the duration of marathon training and it is really important to replace them or else you end up with lower back pain and slight shin splints like I'm feeling at the moment. Luckily, many athletic stores participate in shoe recyling programs. Donating shoes is always an option, but why transfer your aches and pains to someone else?
A note to novice runners: I aim for running two marathons each year. I train for three months leading up to race day, then relax for three months. I still run during lulls in between training intervals but not nearly as much. If you are a first-time marathoner and irregular runner I would not suggest adhering to the same training schedule as I log here. While I am only running a total of 20 miles this week, I will be doubling this total two weeks from now - a fairly steep training curve.
How do I increase my per mile pace? Today I ran at a 9:30 mile pace; marathon pace is 8:20. I've found that my per mile pace improves as I increase my weekly totals and incorporate sprint training into my running schedule. Sprints seem to really release all sections of the body to empower you to reach a fuller and more efficient stride.
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