A College Student's Guide to Marathon Training
Becoming part of the small percentage of people who run a marathon is hard enough. Doing it in college is a completely different challenge.
Squeezing in long runs before a packed day of classes and feeling hungry 24/7 can be difficult to manage, especially on top of a full course load, club meetings, and all the social opportunities college has to offer. However, with the right support system and unlimited dining hall access, college can be the best time for marathon training.
Running 26.2 miles may seem daunting, but it was the highlight of my sophomore year. I could not have done it without these tips!
1. Find a Training Partner or Join a Run Club
I did all of my long runs with one of my best friends, which made twenty miles feel like nothing. We would spend hours debriefing our weeks and talking about our plans for the future.
I also participated in my school's running club and did all of my shorter runs and workouts with them. Running with people not only helps the time fly; it is also a great bonding experience.
2. Take Advantage of Your Dining Hall
My school required students to be on the unlimited meal plan for at least two years. This was great for marathon training, as I was constantly hungry. I ate four full meals a day plus snacks, all compliments of my dining hall.
The dining hall also had Rice Krispies Treats, which I always ate on my long runs for quick carbs and sugar. On my way out, I would always grab a couple of them, plus some bananas and oatmeal.
3. Plan Runs Around Schoolwork
Instead of letting my training plan rule my life, I made it fit into the life I already had.
If I knew I would be swamped with studying on a Sunday, I would do my long runs on a Saturday. If I had a club meeting on Tuesday, I would save my longer workout for Wednesday. Marathon training should not take focus away from your other priorities.
4. Find Running Routes That You Love
I found a variety of routes that had different distances, elevations, and sights to see. In my opinion, running is one of the best ways to get to know a city. My runs took me to the Capitol, the outskirts of Maryland, the Potomac River, the Virginia suburbs, and even Ronald Reagan National Airport.
Having a plethora of running options keeps things interesting and helps with motivation.
5. Have Fun!
I always tried to remember that no one was forcing me to run this marathon. It was completely my choice.
So even when I felt awful on a training run or had a bad case of pre-race nerves, I grounded myself with the reminder that I was privileged to even be able to run, and especially to be able to run in my college city with all of my college friends.
Running a marathon is an incredible opportunity that I cannot recommend highly enough, and college might just be an ideal time to do it. So lace up your shoes, take some Rice Krispies Treats from your dining hall, grab a buddy, and get out there! You will not regret it.
Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog? If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started!