Marathon Runner to Ironman

For many a marathon runner, there is a natural interest in other competitions that they can enter after they have successfully reached their personal best in marathon running. Running in a Triathlon is an exciting event that many marathon runners turn to as the next big thing in their lives. Chances are you can use much of your old marathon training strategy:

• Cross training
• Speed work
• Weight lifting

Here a few tips on what to work on as you train for your first Ironman that might be different than how you trained for your marathon:

• Working on how to best run in a fatigued state
• Lose weight
• Training in a fatigued state

 

How you can go from running a marathon to running in a Triathlon

Instead of looking at how to improve your speed in general, you’ve got to consider how to improve your running technique when you’re already tired from swimming and biking in your Ironman. The best way to do this is to work with multi-event coaches who understand the unique challenges runners will face on their last event.

Also consider how losing weight will let you run faster. Most efficient triathletes are extremely fit and carry little or no extra body fat. This will basically let runners run faster with less since they have less to move around. If you can shed a couple of pounds, do so.

Finally, triathletes need to run in a fatigued state during their training to get their body used to running in a fatigued state. This will help your body become more efficient at utilizing fat stores so that your body doesn’t quit on you come race day.

As a practical guide to the 26.2-mile journey, How To Run And Enjoy The Marathon is a series of 15 self-help and service-oriented articles about running marathons - the proper shoes to running etiquette - is written by James Raia, a journalist and veteran middle-of-the-pack marathon and ultramarathon runner in Sacramento, Calif. Click Here to download the ebook!
 

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