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Prepare for A Half Marathon
5 Smart Tips
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Running a marathon is one of the most exhilarating things you can do. People at all levels of fitness can join in, as long as they can pace themselves properly.
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Getting to that finishing line isn’t always about winning, it’s about challenging yourself and taking part in something positive.
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1. Have a Plan
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A marathon (full or half), is not something you can just go for and hope for the best. It takes a lot of practice, determination and planning to ensure you’ll get to that rewarding finish line.
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Usually people start training at least two weeks before the big run. An ideal practice time for beginners is about four weeks of training.
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Set yourself a goal which you think is achievable in relation to your level of fitness. Focus on one day at a time.
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2. Find That Motivation
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It’s important to keep yourself inspired, whether it’s working out with a training buddy, or listening to your favorite playlist of up-tempo songs.
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Go for a jog through scenic spot. Splash out on some nice running shoes. Running is as much about your mental strength as it is about your physical strength; so go for it!
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You’re capable of more than you know. As you see your body become stronger and more toned, that’s going to spur you on week by week.
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3. Pace Yourself
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While training, it’s important to find a comfortable default pace]. Make sure that you always stretch before training to avoid injuries.
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The best way to find out your personal pace is to join a local 5 or 10k run one weekend. You’ll be able to know first hand what to expect, and determine if you need to push yourself a bit more or keep going as you have.
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Don’t overexert yourself, but do push yourself as your levels of fitness increase to avoid reaching a plateau. A good way of doing this is to keep track of your personal best.
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4. Keep Your Body Healthy
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As a form of cardio exercise, running means burning a whole lot of calories, while testing your physical endurance.
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Keeping on a balanced diet is a must, which means reducing your carb intake and taking in lots of protein. Vitamins are also a great to give your body the nutrition it needs.
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Natural supplements are great for boosting your health. You can ask in your local health shop for advice on the best supplements.
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It’s also important to keep well hydrated with water when training.
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5. Allow Yourself Recovery Time
It can be easy to catch the running bug once you get started, but if you push yourself too much, you may never get to that race let alone finish line!
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A muscle strain will remove any chances of you running on the big day, so don’t get so obsessed that you spend every waking hour in the gym. It’s about getting the balance right. You don’t want to do just enough, but it’s equally as bad to do too much.
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For the sake of your body, learn to listen to it.
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