Training for your next marathon?
Here’s exactly how to set a realistic marathon goal for yourself, according to experts.
Maybe Id heard about a friend who did it and it sounded impressive while also somewhat attainable.
Heres how experts recommend you approach setting marathon goalsyes, pluralfor your next 26.2.
The purpose of a marathon goal
The marathon is a daunting endeavor and an enormous commitment.
Goals help us to be more purposeful and create accountability and motivation.
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(And if that happens to align with one of those big milestones, great!)
The math gets trickier if its your first time tackling 26.2.
Corkum suggests running a half marathon first to get some information about your current fitness.
Just dont make the mistake of doubling your time and making that your marathon goal.
Be open to the possibility of being faster than you ever dreamed.
When you think about your goal, it should energize you.
Experiential goals are about the experience of running the race and how you want it to feel.
Maybe you commit to usingpositive self-talkor to making sure you stay fueled and hydrated through your race.
Its easy to assume that if youre training for a marathon, youre supposed to have a time goal.
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Running sans time goal may just make sense based on life circumstances, Corkum says.
Its also totally possible to have outcome goals that arent tied to the time on the clock.
Thats a backdoor attempt at tricking yourself into feeling less pressure, Saul says.
But I dont think thats an effective way of actually addressing the anxiety or worry.
But what might be even more telling is how your goal makes you feel.
Its creating a defensive or protective response rather than an excited response.
When you think about your goal, it should energize you.
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