If your 50th birthday is on the horizon and you believe the opportunity to complete a marathon has passed you by, think again.
While aging may make it more difficult to accomplish such an amazing feat, it by no means is impossible.
People of a certain age have to be more aware of what their body is capable of, but once you consult with your primary care physician about any cardiac or musculoskeletal issues you may have, you can begin training to run a marathon once you have a clean bill of health.
The following are the ways to get started to reach the milestone.
Setting Ground Rules for Training
The first rule of thumb is to set realistic expectations and remind yourself that you are no longer 30 and that your hormones, metabolism, and body have changed considerably since that age.
Simply by adjusting your expectations, you can gain more insight into your current body and what it can do.
With 50 approaching, you will learn quickly that training longer and not harder is the best way to ramp your way up to being able to run a full marathon in about 18 to 20 weeks of intense training that focuses on quality miles during training cycles.
Trainers advise on adding supplemental workouts like Pilates and yoga as athletes over 40 are more likely to suffer from injuries to the joints.
Sleep Is Critical to Success
The second step in running the first marathon by the age of 50 is emphasizing how important eating and sleeping are in the training process.
At this age bracket, maintaining a proper diet involves more inclusion than exclusion which amounts to more healthy proteins and fats, plus foods with a higher caloric content to ensure you stay fueled.
Getting adequate sleep is one area where many training for a marathon nearing the age of 50 fail and it is important to get as much rest as possible before the big day to get the kind of performance you’ve been working towards.
