Photo courtesy of Healthy New Albany, Inc.
One might assume that walking a marathon is easier than running one, but both activities have their own demands and require extensive training.
The real challenge in walking a marathon is keeping your stamina up for long periods of time and distance. Some marathon walkers give themselves up to nine months to train.
But if you haven’t put in quite so many hours with the New Albany Walking Classic only a month away, there’s no need to panic.
The race’s host, the New Albany Walking Club, offers group training on Sunday mornings, and anyone is welcome. The club’s president, Dr. Phil Heit, has also developed training schedules that give an expert’s guide to walking in a healthy and productive way.
The best method to prepare yourself for a marathon is walking several days a week in order to build up your endurance. For best results, train in time rather than distance.
You’ll want to pace yourself, too. Start walking slowly before gradually increasing your speed over time. Try not to pressure yourself by working too hard in the remaining month; remember, rest is also important. Taking a day off a couple times a week allows your body time to adjust to the new workout, preventing injuries.
Lindsey Capritta is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
