How to train for a marathon in 3 months

September, 17, 2021

It is officially marathon season and I have started training for my first ever marathon, the Dorset Coastal Marathon on the 4th of December. Not only is it a marathon, but it is also a coastal marathon which means hills galore! And I have less than 3 months to go.  

Happy Marathon Season!  How to get motivated to run.

You don’t have to book a marathon to get motivated to run, just tap into the excitement of those around you!

I have run all my life since school cross country. I ran my first half marathon in my early 20s and immediately booked the London marathon but had to pull out due to an injury – gutted! I didn’t think it would take me 20 years to muster up the courage to book another one!

I have done heaps of half marathons, but a marathon is obviously twice as long about 20 times as daunting! Although I have run all of my life I have had huge breaks in between due to having children and other commitments like when I got two horses which were all consuming. So I know a little bit about having to start running again from scratch, it isn’t easy BUT it is so worthwhile and it makes you feel incredible!

I am running my marathon for World Land Trust which as you may know is a partner of Voucher Shares, we partnered with them when we launched in 2019. You can read more about our partnership on our website.

WLT is a charity that is very close to my heart, I have always been hugely passionate about protecting the environment and one of my all-time hero's David Attenborough is a Patron too!

“The money that is given to the World Land Trust, in my estimation, has more effect on the wild world than almost anything I can think of.” Sir David Attenborough

WLT protects the world's most biologically significant and threatened habitats acre by acre. Through a network of partner organisations around the world, WLT funds the creation of reserves and provides permanent protection for habitats and wildlife. Partnerships are developed with established and highly respected local organisations who engage support and commitment among the local community.

I have set up a sponsorship page if you want to support WLT and me.

Top tips for getting motivated to run

1. Set yourself a goal. Whether it’s couch to 5k or booking in for your first 5k or 10k race. Goals are vital to success because they set a target.

2. If you are doing an organised run do it for charity and set yourself a fundraising goal, if you work for a large company they might sponsor you or match what you manage to raise yourself.

3. Draw up a weekly and monthly plan that is do-able. Don’t set yourself high targets or you will injure yourself or set yourself up for failure. Remind yourself that once you get into the swing of it, probably after about 5-10 runs your body will start to crave running because of those all-important endorphins that your bran releases.

4. Find a running buddy or join a running club. It is so motivational to run with others even if they are better or worse than you. It really doesn’t matter, just agree to meet and start off together then exchange notes and like each other’s runs on Strava. If I agree to run with someone, I never let them down.

5. Join a gym or create a home gym, don’t just rely on running because it is very erosive on the joints. Combine running with a low impact sport like weights and yoga for strength and a low impact cardio sport like cycling. Try Rutland, Chain Reaction Cycles and Tredz for road bikes. Discover the lates Rutland voucher codes, Chain Reaction voucher codes and Tredz voucher codes today. 

6. Strengthen your core. Your core is vital to overall body fitness and health, it supports everything else. Weak core means you could be more prone to injury.

7. Buy a sports watch. Sports watches are great at tracking performance, my favourite make is Garmin, they range from £100-£1000 and more! I have a mid range one and it is brilliant at tracking my runs and connecting to Strava. Wiggle have some great Garmin watches to choose from. Make sure you shop the latest Wiggle voucher codes!

8. Get on Strava. It is amazing to be able to see how you are progressing and also, compare your times with your running partners. If you are competitive, it can certainly give you an edge and force you up those hills or to go faster on the flat to try and get a Strava Crown.

How to get motivated to run a marathon

Well, it took me over 20 years so I may not be the best person to ask … and I haven’t completed one yet! However, just like any other run I have ever booked I know once I book it, I am immediately committed, and I train for it and it is constantly in sight. I feel really to take on the next running challenge now my kids are a bit older, and I have prepared myself mentally and physically by doing so many half marathons, a half doesn’t feel as much of a challenge anymore.

If you are considering running a marathon then I would certainly get comfortable with running half marathons first. Put in for 2 or 3 and train really carefully for them. Once you are comfortable with that put in for a marathon but give yourself at least 3 months (or much longer if you aren’t a regular long distance runner), long and slow is the motto my personal trainer gave me and it is so true. Don’t rush it or you are more likely to get injured.

I am running a half marathon on the 9th of October in Salcombe, Devon. It’s a coastal half marathon but all my recent half marathons have been coastal so that is what I am used to. I love it, you can really get into the run as you cant see what’s next and it is surprisingly easy to switch off as you soak up the amazing scenery. It is also, great hill training for the marathon in December.

I am then running the HOKA half marathon in Wales on the 13th November, then I have less than a month to go until the big deal – my first marathon! Again loads of hills!

HOKA are a trainer brand, I have a pair of their trainers and they are great! So comfy. I have some road trainers but will be buying a new pair, possibly a pair of the Goat. You can try a pair of HOKA’s for 30 days with the HOKA flight test and you can return or exchange them within 30 days of the original purchase, no questions asked if you don’t like them! Discover the latest Hoka voucher codes today. 

I will continue to bring updates on what I learn when training for a marathon in 3 months including training, what you need to eat and what you need to wear and take with you when doing the actual event itself.

More blogs from Miranda:

Happy Organic September

Sustainable Shopping Spotlight

Celebrating the Tokyo Olympics

Women's Sustainable Fashion Styles for Summer

5 Running Tips to Improve Performance

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