Running is a sport that is growing dramatically everywhere across the country. There has never been a time where local races, such as the 5k and 10k, have seen so much support. On a grander scale, Marathonsand even Ultramarathons have developed a following never seen before. Runners like Dean Karnazes have made a living proving just how far the human body can go. What does this mean to you? It means that it has never been a better time to start running, whether for fun, exercise, or sport. It is likely that your community has a local running group you can join. We have worked hard to make sure this Runners Training site is useful and informative and invite you to check out your interval guide, hill running guide, 5k running guide and others for great running tips. Fitness experts have shown numerous benefits of a weekly running program and I’ve highlighted many of them on this site. So bottom line, take some time to look around and use our guides to help you get started running. I promise you won’t regret it.
Author’s Bio: As a competitive USATF runner, I’ve found that many people have the same basic questions about runnning. I’ve designed this site as a means to both answer those questions and to help you improve in as many aspects of your running as I can. It is my hope that by coming to this site, you will find the help you need to accomplish your running goals.
One Response to “Welcome to the Runner’s Training Guide”
Please pass this on to the relevant person: Many Thanks !!
Hi there Coach,
I have entered for Comrades and am a bag of nerves at the moment. I only started running in January of this year, and as it normally happens, the bug bit…badly. Never the less, I have run a few half marathons and I completed my first full marathon in September of this year, the Cape Town marathon, in 4h34min36sec. It was a good run and I felt strong through-out most of it, except towards the end, say the last 4km or so, as my top legs started taking a wee bit of strain – pulling stiff(ish).
So my first question is…1) should I go to gym and do exercises to strengthen my top legs, as that was just 42.2km and I want to do 89km? Or with me doing my long distance runs once a week, Saturdays, that my legs will automatically strengthen as I increase my distance from 40km to 45km to 50km and so forth?
2) I was told for a half marathon you only have to do your practice runs up to 37km…what amount for Comrades??
3) At the moment I run 3 x a week doing 10km a time, go to gym and to an aerobics class once a week for an hour and do a long run of 37 – 40km (which will increase as times goes by) on a Saturday. Is this an okay program or what do you suggest?
4) I was told that I must practice to speed run as this is vital for Comrades…is this so? And if so…advise what I should do.
5) I think as this is my first Comrades and I am a ‘Learner Runner’ I would be happy to do the Comrades in 10 to 11 hours. Look if it takes me 12, so be it but in my heart I truly would like it to be more towards the eleven hour mark than twelve. Please could you give me some type of break down that I could work towards and pace myself? Something like…at the 20km mark your time must be 2hours…30km mark 3h10min and so forth…work on eleven hours Comrades, I think that might be a more realistic time for me and if I go a wee bit faster…GREAT STUFF!
6) Lastly, any advise you can give me about eating, rest, what to take with on the run…ETC. it all will be of such great help, as I truly am very in need of all the advice available being ‘Learner Runner!’
Please pass this on to the relevant person: Many Thanks !!
Hi there Coach,
I have entered for Comrades and am a bag of nerves at the moment. I only started running in January of this year, and as it normally happens, the bug bit…badly. Never the less, I have run a few half marathons and I completed my first full marathon in September of this year, the Cape Town marathon, in 4h34min36sec. It was a good run and I felt strong through-out most of it, except towards the end, say the last 4km or so, as my top legs started taking a wee bit of strain – pulling stiff(ish).
So my first question is…1) should I go to gym and do exercises to strengthen my top legs, as that was just 42.2km and I want to do 89km? Or with me doing my long distance runs once a week, Saturdays, that my legs will automatically strengthen as I increase my distance from 40km to 45km to 50km and so forth?
2) I was told for a half marathon you only have to do your practice runs up to 37km…what amount for Comrades??
3) At the moment I run 3 x a week doing 10km a time, go to gym and to an aerobics class once a week for an hour and do a long run of 37 – 40km (which will increase as times goes by) on a Saturday. Is this an okay program or what do you suggest?
4) I was told that I must practice to speed run as this is vital for Comrades…is this so? And if so…advise what I should do.
5) I think as this is my first Comrades and I am a ‘Learner Runner’ I would be happy to do the Comrades in 10 to 11 hours. Look if it takes me 12, so be it but in my heart I truly would like it to be more towards the eleven hour mark than twelve. Please could you give me some type of break down that I could work towards and pace myself? Something like…at the 20km mark your time must be 2hours…30km mark 3h10min and so forth…work on eleven hours Comrades, I think that might be a more realistic time for me and if I go a wee bit faster…GREAT STUFF!
6) Lastly, any advise you can give me about eating, rest, what to take with on the run…ETC. it all will be of such great help, as I truly am very in need of all the advice available being ‘Learner Runner!’
Thanks Coach!!
Looking forward to your reply
Many Thanks
Kind Regards
Lynette =)