Training

TRAINING TIPS: Marathon training weight loss

April 6, 2010
By Deen Karim

As spring weather rolls in, more and more runners are starting to put in the training and making plans to enter a few races. Some new runners may be contemplating a full marathon. Maintaining the desire to train and compete in a marathon isn’t easy, though. A study published in 2007 in the Journal of Sports Behavior found that up to 70 per cent of people who begin a marathon training program quit and never make it to the start line. The researchers found that those who indicated that weight was a reason for doing a marathon training program were more likely to drop out.

So how can you make it to the start line of your first marathon? Start by asking yourself your motives for running the marathon. Check in with your motivations for a bit before you settle into the grind. And it doesn’t mean that you should toss out the idea of running a marathon if losing weight is your primary motivation. Instead, understand your drive and use it to help you to set up a realistic training plan and assess your progress using measures that are specific to what you’re going after. Knowing your motives also allows you to find the right people and resources to help you stay on track.

The average marathon training plan takes about 16 weeks, whereas losing weight may take a lot longer, depending on your goals - and it may require more than running. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment by relying on marathon training to achieve all of your weight-loss goals. Enjoy your marathon training for what it is and be realistic about what you’ll get out of it. You may be surprised by how much you like that first marathon, and be encouraged to continue achieving new goals.