The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon - February Newsletter

20th February 2013

First steps to marathon success: 

Former National duathlon champion turned running coach and writer Martin Yelling explains your steps to running success.

'Reaching the start line of a marathon is in many ways a marathon itself but rest assured with eight months to go you've got plenty of time to get it right.

'Starting on a marathon journey, particularly if you are a novice or first timer can be a daunting thing. 26.2 miles is a long way! The whole point of your training and preparation between now and race day is to make the marathon feel easier.  That's right, you want it to feel as easy as you can on your big day.  Appropriate, progressive, well-structured consistent training will help you do just that.  Training prepares you for what to expect on race day. 

But what now?  You certainly shouldn't be looking at going at your build up full tilt from now. You have plenty of time.  Whether you are an experienced or regular runner the first and best place to start is with a strong foundation and a healthy body.  If you're new to running and especially if you're new to exercise then a quick visit to your GP to get the all clear for a regular training plan to commence is a good start.

Top tips for getting started.

First time marathoners:

• Start slowly and progressively. Just get out and do some regular walking. Become a habitual exerciser.
• It's natural to be enthusiastic about your marathon but keep your excitement under control and try not to do too much too soon.
• Get the right running footwear. Comfortable, functional and specialist.

 

Regular runners:

• Focus on your long-term goal by paying attention to your conditioning and any injury weaknesses.  The time for more miles will come later. Build a strong foundation.
• Don't increase your miles this far out from race day.  Focus on something shorter to keep motivation high.

 

Martin Yelling is one of the co-founders of Marathon Talk. For more tips and to download the Marathon Talk podcast, go to www.marathontalk.com 

 

Getting the right gear:

If you're just getting started, don't be befuddled by terms like wicking, pronation or GPS. Get everything you need - not what the shop assistant wants to sell you - with the Runner's World guide to key kit essentials.

If you've been running for a while, you'll probably own a version of most of these items. But if you're a beginner, this list should get you on the right track and help you enjoy years of safe, rewarding running. Read more about basic kit here.

There's no single 'best shoe' - everyone has different needs. All sorts of things - your biomechanics, your weight, the surfaces you run on, and obviously, the shape of your feet - mean that one person's ideal shoe can be terrible for another person.

We divide our shoes into three main categories (cushioned, stability and motion control); and three minor ones (performance training, racing and off-road). The first three are everyday options and are categorised essentially by your biomechanical needs; the second three are more-specialised and you'd often only consider them as second shoes.

The first step in finding your basic shoe needs is to try our 'Wet Test', below or, preferably, to visit a biomechanics expert or experienced shoe retailer.

The Wet Test works on the basis that the shape of your wet footprint on a dry floor or piece of paper roughly correlates with the amount of stability you might need in your shoe. It will show you what features you should look for and equip you with the basic knowledge you need to make the most of the Runner's World shoe finder and the choosing a shoe guide.

 

All for one and one FOR ALL!

A small army of volunteers are needed to make each of our events a success.

And while the initial capacity of the marathon has sold-out, people can still play their part by volunteering on the day and becoming an Eventeer!

Everyone is welcome to volunteer, the only recommendation being that volunteers are aged over 16 to volunteer independently, although 14 and 15-year-olds can volunteer with a supervising parent or guardian.

Roles at the event include volunteers at the start and finish, route marshals, senior marshals, drink station marshals, baggage store marshals and race office volunteers.

Whether you're volunteering on behalf of one of our partner charities, a group or organisation or simply for yourself, The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon Team will be very grateful for your support and so will thousands of participants.

All Eventeers will receive an electronic certificate of appreciation after the event.

To get involved, click here.