The Traveling Runner

THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE I SEE PEOPLE MAKE when they are new to running or new to marathon training is not listening to their body.

It is so exciting to start running and even sign up for a race! You feel confident and so enthusiastic to work toward your goals! DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES I DID when I first started training! Avoid these 3 things when you begin training for your first race:

✅ Don’t do too much too soon! It’s very easy to increase your mileage quickly if you feel amazing or if you are behind in your training plan. This will lead to burn out and injuries (learned this the hard way)! Increase your weekly mileage NO MORE than 10% each week. 

✅ Not drinking enough fluid! It is common to underestimate how much fluid you lose during long runs. Everyone requires a different amount of water. Pay attention to the color of your urine. If it is dark in color – drink more fluid! This means you are mostly likely dehydrated. The clearer your urine is, the more hydrated you are. Drink plenty of water and fluid with electrolytes before and after your run!

✅ Don’t overtrain! [I used to do this for each marathon I ran and I eventually got injured] Gradually increase mileage while also allowing at least 1️⃣-2️⃣ days of recovery per week. Make sure you stretch, foam roll and properly fuel yourself on your rest days. 

Follow these 3 tips and you will most likely experience a strong and injury-free training plan! What helps you safely get through a race training season?