When you train for a marathon, or any other distance, you put a lot of work and effort into achieving your goals and getting the best result possible. However, there is no "magical" way to a good result, and there are many missteps and traps you can fall into on the way to your goal. Everyone makes mistakes, and runners are certainly no exception here. Below you can read more about common mistakes among runners, which apply to both beginners and professional runners.
- Running too hard on easy runs/days.
It is easy to think that the more and harder you train, the better you get. This is true to a certain extent, but one must always be aware of giving the body enough rest and recovery. Many people think that running fast on the "easy" days will automatically make you a better runner, but this is not true. Instead, you should be careful to actually let the easy days be easy. In this way you will have more energy and power for the most important sessions of the week. Which leads to the next mistake:
- Focusing too little on the most important sessions
One thing that characterizes many of the best runners, and professional athletes in general, is that they are able to have maximum focus on the sessions that are most important to prepare them for a good result in the competition they are aiming for. This means that they are not afraid to take it easy on training for several days, only to be completely ready for a super important session later in the week. For a marathon runner, this can be a long run of 30 km or more. It is these types of sessions that help you be most ready for what you will meet at the competition and therefore you must be as well prepared as possible for these sessions.
- Not doing enough to prevent injuries
The most important component to make progress in running is to have good continuity in your training and avoid long periods of injury. Many runners focus too much on running the exact amount of kilometers each week, and end up forgetting to do exercises to prevent injuries. Don't get me wrong, of course it's the training you do with running shoes that is most important in order to become a better runner, but it doesn't matter how much you run in one month if that means you're injured for the next 3 months.
- Underestimate the effect of energy intake during long runs and races
In long training sessions and competitions from half marathons and longer, the energy intake can have a major impact on your performance. Many people actually underestimate the effect a well-planned intake of energy can have. For the end result of a marathon, there can be huge differences between a regular intake of carbohydrates or no energy at all. During training sessions, a good energy intake will also mean that you recover faster after the workout, and thus get a greater benefit from the training session.
- Not having enough fun!
Running should be fun! For many, training can end up being too serious, and the pursuit of getting better takes too much focus. Unfortunately, this can make much of the joy and spontaneity of running disappear. Therefore, don't be afraid to race against the kids when you pick them up from nursery school or don’t be afraid to join training sessions with others. By challenging yourself and having fun with running, you will be able to develop yourself even more, both with and without running shoes!
Be the best version of yourself – BE running!