Marathon Training For Dummies [Paperback]

“…the Dummies series of books have been a godsend…”(Big Issue, 29 March 2003)

“…a well–laid out book full of hints and tips…” (M2 Best Books, 8 July 2003)

In today’s modern world, there’s no need for anyone to run twenty–five miles to deliver a message, as Pheidippides did from Marathon to Athens around 500 B.C. However, hundreds of runners each year run 26.2 miles at hundreds of marathons worldwide. To conquer this mountainous challenge, you must know how to properly eat, stretch, identify and treat injuries, and develop a running program that hones your mind and body into a running machine.

Marathon Training For Dummies is for everyone who has always thought about running a marathon or half–marathon (13.1 miles) and for seasoned runners who want to tackle the challenge safely and successfully. This quick–read reference helps all runners:

• Add strength and speed
• Weight train
• Improve your technique
• Eat to maximize endurance
• Treat injuries
• Choose your races

In just four to six months of dedicated training, any runner can be full y prepared to tackle a marathon. Map out an exercise program, choose shoes, and plan the race strategy that will get you across the finish line. Marathon Training For Dummies also covers the following topics and more:

• How far how fast?
• Blazing the best trail
• Stretching methods
• Doing LSD (Long, Slow Distance)
• Tempo–run training
• The last 24 hours
• The best tune–up races in North America
• The week after the marathon

With several hundred thousand people finishing marathons each year, you’ll meet plenty of interesting people running along with you. There are numerous rewards for conquering the mental and physical challenges of a marathon, and this fun and friendly guide is your road map to achieving them.

Tips on nutrition, hydration, and injury prevention

Get the right gear and cross that finish line!

Need to train for a marathon? This guide breaks the training process down into easy steps. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, you’ll get in shape with everything from stretching techniques and mental exercises to advice on increasing your mileage, eating properly, and making race day a success.

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear–out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

Tere Stouffer Drenth is one of the top 25 professional road racers in the U.S. today. She was a scholarship runner at the University of Tennessee.