Marathon You Can Do It

If you asking for the amount of water you should drink before, during and after running half marathon race then this guide will help calculate the right amount.

The question how much water you should drink during a half marathon race depends on 5 factors

1. Your weight
2. How much you sweat
3. The weather of the day
4. The distance
5. Level of experience

Weight and How much water to drink

The leaner you are the less water you require.  If you have watched Kenyan runners run a marathon you might noticed they don’t drink a lot of water, it could be something to do with their lean bodies.

How much you sweat
Runners who happen to have a high rate of sweating will require to drink a lot of water to replace the lost water.

The weather of the day.
When the weather is hot, the rate of sweating is high and you get dehydrated faster. At the 2007 Chicago marathon the race had to be suspended after one runner died and many marathon runners taken to hospital suffering from heat exhaustion. The temperatures were abnormally high and runners complained that there wasn’t enough water stations.

Level of Experience
While elite runner like Kenenisa Bekele can do a mad rush at 10,000 metres without additional water on the way, the same cannot be said of fun runners doing a weekend 10K family fun day.

To know exactly how much water to drink, I recommend you take a sweat test.

The more you train, the fitter you become and you body is able to use water efficiently.

Keep in mind drinking too much water while running can be lethal, at worst too much water can kill, see my post dangers of drinking too much water.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: 2007 Chicago Marathon, Bekele, chicago marathon, Dangers Of Drinking Too Much Water, Drinking Too Much Water, Elite Runner, Fitter, Fun Day, Fun Runners, half marathon, Heat Exhaustion, Kenyan Runners, Lean Bodies, Lot Of Water, Mad Rush, Marathon Race, marathon runners, Running Marathon, Sweat Test, Water Stations

There is a group known as Hash house harriers who describe themselves as a drinking club with a running problem, the members meet for beer + some easy runs! But a guy in San Francisco took it all to a new level. He drunk 13 beers while running the 2010 San Francisco half marathon.

Although beer is served in small amount in certain races, HHH group serves beer at mile 21 of Chicago marathon. Drinking 13 beers while running 13 miles is a bit over the top.

Effects of Beer While Running?

Our hero has done it so he is best placed to tell us ; From his blog this is what he said.

But beer is a very good thing for a run of six miles or less. After those six miles, it slows you down too much and it begins to taste completely awful.

You will not “die” if you drink a beer-per-mile while running a half marathon. But unless you’re cool with swallowing your finger, there will be times when you wish you were dead.

You can read his San Francisco half marathon race report at his awesome blog exercisingwhileintoxicated

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Beer Drinking, Beers, Blog, chicago marathon, Hash House Harriers, Hero, Hhh, Marathon Race Report, Members, Running A Half Marathon, Running Marathon, San Francisco Half Marathon, Six Miles

Registrations for 2011 Boston Marathon will open Monday, October 18 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, online at official Boston marathon organizers website. The 115th edition of the Boston Marathon will be on Monday, April 18, 2011.

Qualifying times for 2011 Boston marathon

The qualifying times remain just like they have been, read my post on qualifying times for Boston marathon.

Qualifying standards for the 2011 Boston Marathon must be met on or after September 20, 2009 at a marathon certified by USA Track & Field, the national governing body for the sport (or foreign equivalent).

The registration fee remains at $130 for American residents. The field size for next year’s Boston Marathon remains as it has been in recent past years.

Full registration information, including a list of qualifying marathons, and a list of the B.A.A.’s Official Charities for the Boston Marathon is at www.baa.org

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: American Residents, Amp, Boston Marathon, Boston Marathon Qualifying Standards, Charities, Marathon Registration, Marathons, Met, National Governing Body, Organizers, Qualifying Times For Boston Marathon, Registration Fee, Registration Information, Registrations, Running Marathon, Sport, Usa Track

Running socks are very important especially when you will be running 26.2 miles. If your heel starts to rub or you get a blister, it will make for a very long day and several painful days thereafter.

There are many running socks brand and most can be bought online or at your local running shoe store. When buying running socks choose one with the following benefits :-

1) Wicks away moisture from your feet

2) Helps prevent blisters

3) Is not made of cotton – you want to avoid cotton. Cotton retains sweat that causes blister

Running socks packs have a list of benefits written at the back.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Blister, Blisters, Choose One, Marathon Running, Running Marathon, Running Shoe, Running Socks, Running Store, Shoe Store, Sweat

A friend of mine is planning to train for his first marathon and he just sent the following 12 step marathon training planning. I don’t know where he got it from but it has a feel of Jeff Galloway, a man who has evangelized on the merits of run walk method for running a marathon.

Step 1

Plan to exercise four days a week for 10 weeks.

Step 2

Begin each session with 10 to 15 minutes of stretching, and end each session with a 10-minute walk followed by more stretching.

Step 3

Take on week one. Walk 10 minutes. Jog 2 to 3 minutes. Walk 4 minutes. Repeat five times each session.

Step 4

Get into it with week two. Walk 10 minutes. Jog 3 minutes. Walk 3 minutes. Repeat five times each session.

Step 5

Settle into week three. Walk 5 to 10 minutes. Jog 5 minutes. Walk 2 minutes. Repeat four times each session.

Step 6

Keep it going into week four. Walk 5 minutes. Run 7 minutes. Walk 3 minutes. Repeat three times each session.

Step 7

Stay on a roll in week five. Walk 5 minutes. Run 8 minutes. Walk 2 minutes. Repeat three times each session.

Step 8

Pat yourself on the back for being halfway there as you enter week six. Walk 3 to 5 minutes. Run 9 minutes. Walk 2 minutes. Repeat three times each session.

Step 9

Recognize your growing stamina in week seven. Walk 3 to 5 minutes. Run 9 minutes. Walk 1 minute. Repeat three times each session.

Step 10

Feel good about yourself as you confront week eight. Walk 3 to 5 minutes. Run 13 minutes. Walk 2 minutes. Repeat twice each session.

Step 11

Visualize the end of your first goal as you begin week nine. Walk 3 minutes. Run 14 minutes. Walk 1 minute. Do this twice each session.

Step 12

Congratulate yourself for your accomplishment in week 10. Walk 3 minutes. Run 30 minutes without stopping.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: 15 Minutes, 30 Minutes, Accomplishment, Exercise, First Marathon, Jeff Galloway, Jog, Marathon Training Plan, Merits, Running A Marathon, Running Marathon, Stamina, Step 1, Step 2, Step 6, Step 8, Three Times

In timeout magazine American Long distance runner Ryan Hall was asked on how he approaches hills

What’s your strategy for those Boston hills–and downhills?

My strategy for the hills in Boston are to run the same effort level whether I am going up, down or flat, which means I will obviously slow down going up the hills and fly down the back of them. I think that energy management is one of the keys to running a good marathon. The better I can keep it locked in at the right effort level, despite the terrain, the better I will run.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Boston Hills, Effort Level, Energy Management, Fly, Long Distance Runner, Right Effort, Running Marathon, Ryan Hall, Timeout Magazine

The California International Marathon in Sacramento happened yesterday and as usual the wonderful spectators were on the side to take some amazing race photos.

From a loving mom following her two sons running the Sacramento Marathon comes this race image.

From a local news outlet I found this sacramento runners images

After 8+ hours of running this how dirty a marathon route gets!

For more california marathon pictures check this slideshow

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Amazing Photos, Amazing Race, California International Marathon, California Photos, Local News, Loving Mom, Marathon Photos, Marathon Pictures, Marathon Route, News Outlet, Photos Images, Photos Pictures, Race Image, Race Photos, Runners, Running Marathon, Sacramento California, Sacramento Marathon, Slideshow, Spectators

If you are age 50+ and you think you should start running as a new hobby, this story of 80 year old runner Bob Dolphin should inspire you.

Bob has finished 456 marathon, a total that includes 44 ultramarathons ranging from 31 to 101 miles.

Bob ran his first marathon in 1981 at a prime age of 51. An age when most naysayers would consider too old to think of running a marathon.

In an article in Seattle times Bob sums his love for the 26 miles, “I like the difficulty, the competition in my age class, the sociality among runners, the satisfaction I feel when I complete a race. That’s when I feel most of my runner’s high — when I can sit down and rest and don’t have to count down the miles anymore.”

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Bob Dolphin, Boston Marathon, Columbia Mo, Dolphin, First Marathon, June 14, Location Time, Milestone, Milestones, Mo 3, Naysayers, Oct 11, Ore 3, Running A Marathon, Running Marathon, Seattle Marathon, Seattle Times, Sociality, Ultramarathons, West Seattle

“I want to beat Oprah!” That is the goal of many runners. Oprah Winfrey finished 1994 Marine Corps marathon in a time of 4 hrs,  29 mins, 15 Secs.

If Frank Shorter inspired the first (1970s) running boom across US, Oprah Winfrey inspired the second, by running the Marine Corps Marathon. If Oprah could run a marathon, shame on anyone who couldn’t.

How Oprah ruined the Marathon.

While race directors across US were happy to welcome the new generation of runners or is it marathon walkers, the hard core runners were not happy. Edward Mccleland writing for salon.com thinks :-

America’s competitive spirit has been wrecked by feel-good amateurs like Oprah whose only goal is to stagger across the finish line.

I totally agree with him! The marathon is a race, the goal should be to finish it and to finish as fast as you can.

Read the fantastic salon article here

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: 1970s, Amateurs, Boom, Finish Line, Frank Shorter, Hard Core, Marathon Time, Marathon Walkers, Marine Corps Marathon, Marine Marathon, New Generation, Oprah Winfrey, Race Directors, Runners, Running Marathon, Salon Article, Secs, Shame, Spirit, Time Marine

Runners planning to run a race should pay attention to their nutrition during the last week before planning to run a 5k , 10K , half marathon or a full marathon.

Nutrition last week before the big race

Increase your daily intake of carbohydrate, particularly whole grains, fruits and vegetables, during training. An increase in daily protein intake is also recommended, with the balance coming from dietary fat.

Carbohydrate is the major fuel used during training, and both carbohydrate and protein may help facilitate muscle recovery.

Practice fluid and carbohydrate intake, both as water and sports drinks, during training so that you are comfortable with the procedure during the marathon. Know the sport drink that will be used in your marathon, and train with it. You may also wish to experiment with carbohydrate gels (some contain caffeine; see comment below on Running a faster marathon); if the marathon provides gels at points on the course, try to experiment with the specific brand.

P.S. Remember to take plenty of sleep during the week so that, even if you don’t sleep on the eve of the race, it won’t matter.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Carbohydrate Intake, Daily Protein Intake, Eve, Fruits And Vegetables, half marathon, marathon runners, Muscle Recovery, Nutrition, Running Marathon, sleep, Sport Drink, Sports Drinks, Train, Whole Grains Fruits And Vegetables