Marathon Runners

Marathon Runners “The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start. ” Those are the words spoken by John Bingham, an American marathon runner and author, who has encouraged runners of all shapes, sizes and speeds to change their lives for the better as a result of this miracle. The miracle he speaks about is the marathon race. Legend holds that the world’s first marathon was run, unintentionally in 490 B. C. by a Greek soldier named, Pheidippides, who ran the 25 miles to Athens from the town of Marathon to announce the victory over the Persians. Greetings, we win! ” he shouted and then fell to the ground, dead (James). It would be more than 2,000 years before the marathon would make its return, at the revival of the modern Olympic Games in Greece in 1896. In that event, 17 runners ran 24. 8 miles, with Greek runner Spyridon Louis taking the gold medal with a time of 2 hr. 58 min. 50 sec (James). Inspired by the event’s success, Boston inaugurated its race the next year, and it is now the oldest annual marathon in the world.

In 1908, the marathon course at the London Olympics ran from Windsor Castle to the royal box at the Olympic stadium in White City. The length of the race continued varying for years, but in 1924 that specific distance of 42,195 m, or 26 miles, 385 yd. was made the worldwide standard (James). The marathon race is a prestigious event that requires motivation, proper nutrition, and countless hours of training. People run for many reasons. Some compete, while others run out of passion. Whatever the reason, motivation plays a major role in running a marathon.

Countless runners from beginners to the most experienced veterans can sometimes fall victim to lapses. Nevertheless, they find ways to stay motivated. “I just tell myself, if I don’t do my work out today, my competitors are training harder to beat me. That’s the competitive side of me talking,” says Rhea Macaluso, 29, assistant medical claims auditor, who ran three marathons and is currently training for the Guam International Marathon this coming April. She also mentioned that running a marathon is 90% mental and 10% physical. You motivate the mind, the body will follow.

Similar to motivation, taking the right nutrition is imperative to accomplishing the completion of a marathon. Marathon training always requires more mileage, which boosts the number of calories that burn as well as the appetite (Marshall 31). Carbohydrates provide the fuel runners need. Consuming the right nutrition plays a vital role before, during, and after the race. Throughout Macaluso’s training before the race, she revealed that she was under a strict diet, which means she ate mostly organics and proteins, firmly no sweets, sodas, or junk foods.

In addition, she stated that educating herself on proper nutrition was key to helping her finish strong on her first marathon and allowing her adequate recovery. Two days before the race Macaluso begins proper “carbo-loading. ” She begins fueling on pasta, potatoes, or other high-carb foods before a full marathon, which are a great source of energy to cover 26. 2 miles. During the race she takes in midrace fuel, such as energy gels. After the race, she replenishes her body with hydrating fluids; chocolate milks are perfect for muscle recovery after a long distance run.

Equal commitment also goes through the training. Training for a marathon consist strategic planning. Macaluso trains 3 to 4 months prior to the race to acquire a certain mileage per week to help get her body used to the distance. Nevertheless, running too much mileage can also exhaust the legs. To prevent injuries, runners cross train. They alternate their training either to cycling, hiking, swimming, or building upper body strength (Ryan 45). Macaluso’s training regiment is cross training. At times, she does not care about how many miles she puts in a week, just as long as she is running every other day.

In addition to running, she does other types of cardiovascular workouts such as spin class which is a stationary bike exercise, zumba and body combat. When asked, what would be the most important advice about marathon training a veteran runner could give to a novice? Macaluso replied, “Train for it! Plan in advance! Do not decide on running a marathon a month before the race. You have to respect the miles. Just like how me and my husband did our first marathon. Three months of training, longest mile we ran was 19 miles, ate the right kind food, took it easy and crossed the finish line smiling and not crawling. Someone who can gain from this advice is Macaluso’s training buddy, 29 years old, Sherwin Paet, teacher, who is presently training for his first marathon this coming April, “I’ve ran four half-marathons. The longest distance I’ve ran is 21 miles, and I know this will be completely different. So, having training buddies to run with every morning helps me prepare for the big race day both physically and also mentally. Any advice is always appreciated, especially coming from an experienced marathoner. ” “If you want to win something, run 100 meters.

If you want to experience something, run a marathon. ” Quoted by Emil Zatopek, 1952 Olympic Marathon gold medalist. Finishing a marathon is an accomplishment that less than 1% of people in the United States can say they have achieved (Runnersworld 2012). During my early morning observance to Macaluso and her diverse group training on, February 12, 2013 at precisely 4:30 am in the track field. I can see the determination those runners have on their eyes. No matter their age division, sex, or occupation. Weather it is to beat their competitor or beating their personal time.

They all share the same willpower to staying supremely motivated, maintain the proper nutrition and gaining the right training regiment to accomplish the ultimate goal which is essential to crossing the finish line. The Marathon Race I. Introduction A. Legend holds that the world’s first marathon was run, unintentionally in 490 B. C. by a Greek soldier named, Pheidippides, who ran the 25 miles to Athens from the town of Marathon to announce the victory over the Persians. “Greetings, we win! ” he shouted and then fell to the ground, dead. B.

The marathon race is a prestigious event that requires motivation, proper nutrition, and countless hours of training. II. Countless runners from beginners to the most experienced veterans can sometimes fall victim to lapses, nevertheless, they find ways to stay motivated. III. Similar to motivation, taking the right nutrition is imperative to accomplishing the completion of a marathon. IV. Training for a marathon consist strategic planning. V. Conclusion A. “If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon. ” – Emil Zatopek, 1952 Olympic Marathon gold medalist.

B. During my early morning observance to Macaluso and her diverse group training on, February 12, 2013 at precisely 4:30 am in the track field. Works Cited James, Randy. “A Brief History of: The Marathon”. US Times Magazine Article. 30 October 2009. Web. 25 February 2013. Macaluso, Rhea. Personal Interview. 12 February 2013. Marshall, Lisa. “Runner’s World Magazine. ” March 2013: 31. Print. Paet, Sherwin. Personal Interview. 12 February 2013. Runner’s World Magazine. Marathon Running Statistics. 11 September 2012. Web. 25 February 2013. Ryan, Monique. “Runner’s World Magazine. ” November 2012: 45. Print.