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Is It Better To Train For A Marathon Alone Or Train In a Group?
By Christina | September 20, 2009
There are many marathon teams that you can join to help you train for a marathon as well as help raise money for a worthy cause. Being a part of a marathon team is an excellent way to properly train in order to successfully complete your marathon. It is important to remember, however, that marathon team training is not for everyone.
In order to determine whether you are the type of runner who would benefit from team training, you have to first take a look at your goals, your personality, and your running habits. Team training is ideal for runners who like the social component of being part of a large group. Running is an individual sport. Training for marathons can be grueling, monotonous, and isolating at times. By running with a group of like minded individuals who are all experiencing the same set of aches, pains, and experiences can be helpful in overcoming the pitfalls of training.
If you are not a competitive person, however, training with a group can also be daunting. Even though runners are usually split into groups based on ability level, there is still an element of competition when running with other runners. Sometimes, one of the more difficult aspects of being part of a running group is when other runners force you to run faster than you are physically capable of because you are trying to keep up with the pack. Running is all about running your own race. If you are lose focus of your own race, you will not be able to have the wherewithal to complete your marathon.
If you are new to running, on the other hand, training with a team can also be extremely helpful to you. Often, marathon teams are led by running coaches who are trained in teaching you the proper way to train for a marathon and are specialists that can help you with proper running form and technique. They can also assist you with helping you learn to properly pace yourself so you will be able to ultimately go the distance.
The truth is there is no right way to train for a marathon. If you are the type of person that is motivated by other people and is running because other people are expecting you to show up and train with them, then running as part of a team is the way to go for you. If you are disciplined, independent, and willing to put in the time that marathon training requires on your own, then you will be just as successful training on your own.
You become a marathon runner by running…a lot. Whether you run on your own or as part of a team will not ultimately affect your success if you are dedicated and committed to accomplishing your goal.
Topics: Marathon Training |
