Before you throw yourself into a structured training regimen, be sure your body is prepared. Even though the schedules that I’ve designed are for the beginning runner and the beginning marathoner, they assume that you are active, or at least capable of being athletic. If you’re jumping into this from the comfort of your couch, well, first of all, I salute you, but more importantly, I recommend that you see a doctor.
Now, I did not see a doctor, I’ll admit – at least not for the express purpose of running a marathon. But I do get a physical and blood work done annually to ensure that I am ticking at optimum tick. Absent regular visits to the doctor, it is important that you know that your body is up for the challenge. Marathon running – and training – is tough and can wreak havoc on the unprepared, unhealthy body.
If this is your first marathon, you should start slowly by walking, and then graduate to interval training or jogging and walking. At this slow, methodical pace, your body will tell you if you need a medical look-see. And at the risk of being blunt, if your body is stressed out from walking, you’ve got bigger trouble than marathon training. See a doctor, fix your body, and pick up this book again. Your immediate goal is life is to be healthy.
Look, you need to see a doctor anyway. You need an annual check-up. Go, go see the doctor and then hit the road.
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