9 Steps to Run a Marathon, or Any Race – ElPropósito3 min de lectura

Ever wanted to run a marathon? I ran my first in Miami in January 2016, and these are my 9 tips for reaching that big goal

1. Set the goal: writing the goal down helped me get there. It left a mark on my thinking that pushed me every day until I found a way to make every workout happen. My goal carried a reason for the marathon (the why). In my case, the biggest motivation was beating something I’d never liked: running. I’ve always played sports, and my favorite is swimming. I’ve also cycled since 2008, but running was always a challenge
2. Sign up: this went hand in hand with the goal. Once I was convinced about the marathon, the next step was finding the race and registering. Paying the entry fee adds extra motivation. I signed up without thinking twice. I remember it was during a break in one of my master’s classes when a classmate and friend came up and said "I just signed up"… the rest is history
3. Get support: the most important of all. I had the support and motivation of both my wife and my son Rodrigo. I dedicated the race to them, and they lived through all my training until I reached the goal
4. Gadgets and gear: the Polar V800 was with me on every workout. As I used it, I learned to program it, track my training and read all the data (distance, pace, fat burn, heart rate, running index and more). The V800 is built for triathlon and has more than a runner needs, but it’s a good buy if you plan to do a triathlon later (like me). The other gear is shoes and race-day clothes. In both cases, choose for comfort and what you like. One tip: they shouldn’t be new. I recommend using them on several workouts before the race
5. Pick a coach: in my case it was a book (no surprise there), and one I recommend: Marathon, by Hal Higdon. The author is an expert and the book is an easy read. It includes training plans of every kind (the beginner plan is the one I followed to the letter), diet, conditioning and tips. My favorite was to pack at least your shoes and running clothes in your carry-on and never in checked luggage, so if your bag goes missing you still have the essentials
6. Train with discipline: once I’d set the goal with the end in mind, the training habit built up gradually until it became an automatic routine, both incredible and magical
7. Find a training partner: I was lucky to train with a great friend who shared the dream of running Miami. We went out religiously every Wednesday and Saturday (and trained on our own the rest of the week). A training partner is without a doubt one of the pillars for getting through the toughest moments of training and the race, and for celebrating the win
8. Enjoy the race: "The medal is won in training; on race day you just go pick it up." I read that and it hit me. Race day is for enjoying. Every kilometer has its story, every step its glory, and the last step before the finish line brings an electrifying, indescribable mix of emotion, exhaustion, joy and satisfaction. It’s truly a unique moment worth living
9. Celebrate the win: plan where you’ll celebrate. It closes the full cycle. 42K is memorable and deserves a celebration. I was lucky to get together with my brother-in-law and other college friends who also ran the marathon, and we celebrated the win together with a good asado

Have you trained for a marathon or another race? If so, what would you add to this list?

Author: Rodrigo Baccaro

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