Total Body Transformation Training Blog

Progressing to a Marathon

Does a new runner have to go through the race progression before they run their first marathon? The University of Iowa running program -- a college credited course -- starts with a person just as they are, usually a non-runner, and in the course of a semester prepares the student to run a marathon right away.

There are no intermediate steps along the way. No 5k races, 10k's, half marathons... just training for a marathon. Once the student is able to jog for 30 minutes the 16 week training program for the marathon begins immediately. The prep for a total non-runner may take 10 weeks to get that point but still, this is only 26 weeks total even then. The course is not trying to produce 4:00 hour marathoners -- just people who finish.

And that probably is the essential difference. A possible downside with starting with 5k's and progressing up the race ladder is that preparing for a 5k does not prepare you for a marathon. There is little translation of sports-specific skills from short to middle to long distance endurance events. The only way to train for a marathon is to.. train for a marathon. There may be a psychological benefit of the shorter races. An intermediate goal that can make it easier to get motivated for the big race. But maybe not. A marathon is a unique event because of the physical and emotional strain it puts on the trainee. Most first time marathoners talk about needing to face their inner demons while training for the event. Intermediate goals may help one feel good, but in the mind-body fight that is part of endurance training it isn't clear that there is any clear path other than straight through one's fears.