Marathon training: schedule your long runs along trails you love!

Following one common sense piece of advice can make it much easier to stick to your marathon training schedule. Plan your long runs along interesting courses!

I was talking to a friend recently who hates out and back courses. He takes the time to find a nice loop along twisty turny roads so he never knows what’s coming up.

Personally, I hate running along roads. When I began running, I was attending college in Houston. I had the option of running around and around the 3-mile dirt path outside my college campus, or taking off along the streets of downtown. I hated it.

I never actually enjoyed running until arriving at graduate school in Berkeley, CA. There, I discovered trail running. The difference between running on a road vs. running on a trail in the forest is like the difference between running on a treadmill and running on a road outside. There’s no comparison.

When I run along neighborhood streets, I feel like I’m working out. It’s like weightlifting. I’m doing something miserable so that I can get better at doing something fun. But when I take off along a dirt fire trail through the woods I’m transported. All of a sudden I’m in my own little bubble. I can just enjoy the experience and I can run until my legs give out.

Running should be fun. Find a way to enjoy your marathon training. Schedule your long runs so you can take them along courses you really enjoy. Make your training fun. And if you’re looking for another resource, I really like The Non-Runner’s Marathon Trainer.