Marathon You Can Do It

Am starting my training for 2009  Stanchart Nairobi marathon. I have had a seven months rest from serious running. During that time I learn’t how to swim.

My running goal this year is to finish the 2009 stanchart marathon in a time of around 2.45. My personal best is 2.56. I will be a smiling runner if I can be able to shelve 10 more minutes from my PB.

Am confident I can run faster. At the finish line of 2008 Stanchart marathon my legs felt strong, no fatigue & no cramps. I had this feeling that I could still keep running another 10k.

Taking My Running To the Next level

This year I will build on the strength of my three years of marathon running. I believe my body is now physically strong and it can cope  with stress of more weekly miles and faster running.

Advantages of many months of training

To reach to my goal am dedicating 5 months of serious training. More training time means, no over training, more rest and fewer running injuries. If I suffer the unfortunate injury at least I will have enough time to recover.

In the month of June I will focus on cardiovascular fitness. I will do this by  accumulating as many miles I can at a slow pace. I will also assessing my physical condition to see whether I might be carrying a running injury that I might not be aware of.

In July, that is when I will start on speed work. Am yet to decide on my actual mileage and exact tactics so keep reading as I will keep posting my plans and progress.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: 5 Months, Amp, Cardiovascular Fitness, Cramps, fatigue, Finish Line, Marathon Running, Mileage, Month Of June, Nairobi, Next Level, Pb, Personal Best, Running Injuries, running injury, Serious Training, Seven Months, Slow Pace, Speed work, Stanchart Marathon

Every runner must have at one time experienced some unpleasant and painful sensation in the stomach. The pain is what is called cramps and its caused by the overexertion nature of running.

Stomach cramps and diarrhea

Stomach cramps vary from one runner to another, some runners complain of stomach cramps and diarrhoea others stomach cramps and diarrhea others just upper stomach cramps.

What causes painful stomach cramps during running?

1. Dehydration. – For your smooth muscles of the stomach/intestines to function properly they require to be hydrated.
2. Low blood salt – With all the sweating taking place your body will be losing too much salt and your body will soon be starved of salt.
3. Inadequate oxygenation – During running, a lot of your blood will be redirected from the stomach to other muscle. And since your stomach muscles are starved of oxygen they will not work properly.

The above causes are made worse by factors such as a extreme weather conditions. Too high temperatures will increase rate of dehydration.

Medicine for stomach cramps.

This is not your typical medicine to cure cramps but a simple guide on how to avoid them. Its important to make sure you drink enough water. I experience most of my stomach cramps during my training because in training I don’t have water points every 2K like I find in a marathon.

Drinking water is good but drinking too much is dangerous! Drinking too much water will cause your salt levels too go too low causing you stomach pains and in a worst case scenario death! Every runner should remember to put enough salt in his food. During the the race, Eat salt pallets offered. Lastly, Practice good breathing technique.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Breathing Technique, Cramps, Cramps And Diarrhea, Dehydration, Diarrhea Stomach Cramps, Diarrhoea, diet, Drinking Too Much Water, Extreme Weather Conditions, High Temperatures, Intestines, Marathon Running, Oxygenation, Painful Sensation, Pallets, Runnin, Running Cramps, Smooth Muscles, Stomach Cramps And Diarrhea, Stomach Muscles, Stomach Pain, Stomach Pains, Upper Stomach, Water Points, Worst Case Scenario