Training for a marathon will take a lot of hard work and will require a great deal of physical exercise. If you've already decided that this is something you want to do, it's essential to find the best possible training plan. Training on a gradual basis to build up your distances over time the best way to improve prior to the race. When training for a marathon, there are a few key principles that you need to keep in mind.

Hydration is one of the most important factors to keep in mind when preparing for a marathon. It is common sense to always drink plenty of water each day, but very important when you are training for the marathon. You should be stopping to drink periodically when doing any long runs. Weighing yourself before and after runs is a good way to monitor your weight. Regaining this weight will lead to a positive recovery. While training, try to avoid overly sweetened sports drinks. The best way to quench your thirst is to stay away from alcoholic and caffeinated beverages which enhance the dehydration process. A tip regarding dehydration is that if your urine is dark yellow, then you are definitely dehydrated.

At the end of the marathon, if you have ever participated in one, you may notice that there are many people that are walking as well as running. It is okay to do some walking during your training especially if you are just starting out. If you're planning to run in a marathon, you should, naturally, run as much as possible, but there's nothing wrong with walking for rest periods. This is preferable to stopping completely, both for keeping your body warmed up and psychologically, as the idea in a marathon is to keep moving forward, no matter what your pace.

One of the best ways to begin training for a marathon is to do shorter races, such as a 5K event, in order to prepare. This 3 mile run, though much shorter, will definitely help you prepare for the 26 mile marathon. Running in this large crowd, even though it is only a 5K race, will help you prepare for the marathon both physically and mentally. This will be great practice prior to racing in the longer event because it will give you an excellent idea of how it will feel to run in an actual marathon.

Proper physical and mental training, along with proper nutrition, are of key importance in regard to doing well at the race. You need to have enough time to prepare for this race in order to do well when the time finally arrives. This article should help you understand what is necessary to prepare for a marathon. Always remember that when the going gets tough, you need to push yourself to keep going.

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