Are you shooting to your first long distance running event? For a few long-time joggers, training for like an event-5 kilometer, 10 kilometer, half marathon, or marathon-is not so much of a problem. For first-time distance joggers, however, training is very laborious and boring. In the event that you are currently undergoing training, the following tips may help you get by and get you ready for an experience as exciting as long distance running:
1. Take a little rest days between the trainings. Doing this will give your system lots of time to recover energy and reestablish muscle stamina. Some runners have a week or two of rest in between days of hard workouts. For relatively easy workouts, they schedule at least one day-off.
2. Mind your pace. Running long-distance is less about running fast, yet is more about covering several miles as you can. In order to do this, you must help save your energy and run slow over the first few miles. Alter your pace as you progress and approach the finish line.
3. Work towards improving your speed. Spend 2 to 3 days of fast running per week. There will likely be times, however, that your body won’t seem like working at a faster speed. Don’t push, as your body is wanting to recover energy.
4. Improve your mileage. Successful distance joggers improve their mileage with a gradual pace. Some of them add two to three miles after every week of training, while others have an easier approach, only adding a few more strides at the end of every run. But because your body works differently, you can design or choose a training plan that can help you enhance your mileage at a proper intensity.
5. Set some diversity. To take the monotony out of your training, ensure that you run different routes occasionally, run at different paces in a single session, and run at different paces on given days. The thing is, because running is most likely the same per day, you need to turn it into a little more exciting, something you always prefer to look forward to.
6. Have a running mate at certain points of your run. It’s fine to run solo, a number of athletes even prefer it, nevertheless without someone to talk to your entire run, training gets impossibly uninteresting. Try to catch up with someone, or agree to meet with a fellow runner halfway over the run. Of course, you should be ready to change your pace to encourage small talks.
7. Listen to music. Long distance running is a mental activity as much as it’s a physical challenge, so you really need to get motivated and inspired to keep your body moving. Music does it well by keeping your mind over physical difficulties of running and relaxing your state of mind. Throughout a run, bring an mp3 player with you and load it up along with inspirational or your favorite music. Ensure that your player has enough battery life to last the full run.
8. Bring energy foods together with you. Not only will they pump up your energy level, in addition they will provide you with something else for you to do other than running. Additionally it is wise to have water or energy drink to help keep you hydrated during your training for long distance running.