Nicholas “Nick” Boulas serves as the owner of Nick’s Painting Services, Inc., a painting company serving Winchester, Massachusetts, and its surrounding areas. When he isn’t busy overseeing all operations at his business, Nick Boulas enjoys running. He has participated in several marathons over the years.
Whether you are training for a competitive marathon or doing it as a personal challenge, the training process takes time. On average, runners need 16 to 20 weeks to fully train for a marathon. This includes running three to five times every week, along with steady increases in mileage as you get closer to the day of the race.
However, the amount of time you need for training depends on your experience level. If you are a beginner, set aside 5 to 6 months for training safely. If you don’t run at all, you may need a year or more of consistent running.
The main goal of your training program is to get you from where you are to a comfortable pace for marathon running. Since each person is different, training schedules vary. To create something more tailored to you, find your current status in terms of how much you comfortably run and how fast. Starting from that point, slowly build up your stamina and endurance. Be aware of your limits as you train, and don’t be scared to take some time off to recover.
At the same time, don’t train too much. Around 3 to 5 days a week of running is all you need. Use the extra days to rest your legs and exercise with alternative activities, like Pilates or yoga. These low-intensity exercises keep your body warm without straining it too much.
Whether you are training for a competitive marathon or doing it as a personal challenge, the training process takes time. On average, runners need 16 to 20 weeks to fully train for a marathon. This includes running three to five times every week, along with steady increases in mileage as you get closer to the day of the race.
However, the amount of time you need for training depends on your experience level. If you are a beginner, set aside 5 to 6 months for training safely. If you don’t run at all, you may need a year or more of consistent running.
The main goal of your training program is to get you from where you are to a comfortable pace for marathon running. Since each person is different, training schedules vary. To create something more tailored to you, find your current status in terms of how much you comfortably run and how fast. Starting from that point, slowly build up your stamina and endurance. Be aware of your limits as you train, and don’t be scared to take some time off to recover.
At the same time, don’t train too much. Around 3 to 5 days a week of running is all you need. Use the extra days to rest your legs and exercise with alternative activities, like Pilates or yoga. These low-intensity exercises keep your body warm without straining it too much.
