5 Tips for Marathon Training

Avoid common marathon saboteurs with these pointers from marathon runner and trainer Joel Matalon.
1. Toss your old sneakers.
They wear out after about 200 miles, so don’t put off replacing them.
2. Know when you’re overtraining.
Listen to your body—if you feel lethargic and uninspired for more than two days, you need to cut back.
3. Don’t ignore an injury.
“Never take the attitude that you can run through it,” says Matalon. Err on the side of caution by getting checked out by your doctor as soon as possible.
4. Get all your ZZZs.
Many of us sleep only 6 hours a night, which won’t cut it during training. Make the effort to get a full 8 hours a night.
5. Keep your muscles loose.
“As you run, your muscles are in a contracted state, so you need to stretch after each workout to return them to an elongated position,” says Matalon. Stretching expands your body’s range of motion, which will enhance your ability to run faster while cutting your risk of injury.