What is the best way to train for a marathon?

I am running/walking a 10k race on April 5, 2008. What is going to be the best way to train for this marathon. It's my first!|||The first answer is just a small part of a training ritual. I have been running for 8 years now and would recommend the following:





I would strengthen the core: calves, quads, hams, back and abdominal (the "six pack" muscles along with the obleks), chest and arms. But when strengthening these muscles, I would focus more on the muscle endurance not the muscle bulk. For more advice for this, I would consult with a personal trainer. For the running part, I would stay flexible as it helps/contributes to your balance (so do the muscles in your core) but also helps prevent some injuries like pulled muscles and shin splints. Also, I would try to make up a schedule where you can run for X amount of days and try to have a long run. I would start off slowly, running about 2-3 miles per run for the first week and increase my mileage per week. Make sure you have the following: a good diet, hydration, sleep, a good sense on how to take care of your body, and sleep. Good Luck!!!|||eat plenty of pasta like lance armstrong avoid sodas instead drink alot of water and instead of running alot jog it will keep you from wearing down your mucsles but yet help build them up and keep you in healthy condition also avoid junk food and fast food they are full of fats and sugars whitch can slow you down and DO NOT drink redbulls rockstars monsters or any other energy drinks when training these things will also decrease strength and harm your imune system also it is important not to drink them before exercising because as soon as it wears of your weak and may pass out bring plenty of water and healthy snacks like fruit with you anyways good luck :))|||First off, your race is not a marathon. People often make this mistake and think any race is a marathon, a marathon is a 26.2 mile race and was named after a Greek Soldier ran from Marathon to Athens Greece with the news that the Persians had been defeated. He then dropped dead.





However, to train the best thing to do is start logging in some long distance runs/walks. I assume that this will be your first race, so try and start out slow (20-30 minutes) then step it up every week. I would suggested training by minutes than miles because you need to train your body to stay up and active for probably 60-80 minutes during the race. But it would hurt you to train for 2-3 miles, then bump it up every week for the 6.2 mile race.





Good Luck|||pray, take lots of time off work to train|||I agree with Handsome, there. 5 miles isn't a marathon, technically. But, since you haven't done any racing or long distances, it very well seems like it!





I'd suggest you start by learning how to run. Get outside and practice, practice, practice. Go on google.com, type in pedometer, and find your own town. Find two mile courses and practice running them. Run slow and easy so you don't get out of breath. It might take 20-30 minutes, but that's okay. You'll be burning fat, anyway, so it is good training.





Other then learning how to run, you don't need to do anything special. If you're doing a 10 mile race or more, I'd tell you some other stuff, but it would get too confusing.





Go out and run your 5 miles! Have fun and good luck!|||Marathon is 26 miles not 6.


Lots of miles. 35 - 40 miles a week base. 20 - 22 miles once a week increasing from your longest now, a mile every other week. You need to run 20 miles without walking. Otherwise during the marathon you'll be on the road too long.