As I found out the hard way last Christmas, realising your potential through running can give you a sense of satisfaction. Not everyone can run a marathon or even a half marathon for that matter. It takes a lot of dedication not only through training but through your nutrition too. If you’re interested in learning more about training for your first marathon, you can read some of our marathon tips here.

The EMF

One event that has caught my eye over the years is the Edinburgh Marathon Festival or the EMF for short. It’s an annual festival in the month of May and it attracts over 30,000 runners. The festival has several races available for all ages and abilities. These include the Marathon, Half Marathon, Team Relay, 10k, 5k and junior races.

The Edinburgh Marathon will kick off an extraordinary year of sport across the country with a line-up that includes the Commonwealth Games in July and the 40th Ryder Cup in September. The Edinburgh Marathon has a fast, flat route and is one of the fastest in the world. Edinburgh was recently voted the second best destination in the UK for a city marathon.

If you’re still not convinced then why not read some of the EMF runner’s comments from last year?

Accommodation

If you’re planning on entering the festival then suitable hotel accommodation is very important. Here at 4Ever Fitness, we’d like to recommend the following two hotels. The Holiday Inn Edinburgh hotel is situated midway between the airport and the city centre. The Holiday Inn Edinburgh – City West hotel is located only 1.5 miles from the city centre and only 2 miles from Edinburgh Castle. Both of these hotels have perfect positions and are well respected hotels too.

Get Social

The EMF are being social so if you haven’t already done so, it’s definitely worth liking them on Facebook and following Mr Hairy Haggis on Twitter. There will be plenty of updates popping up over the coming weeks I’m sure. They also have an EMF Instagram page, so share your pics with using the #edinburghmarathon. So get social and make friends today!

Running Tips

If you are interested in running at the EMF then you may wish to read some of our running tips here. By following some of our advice you could shave valuable seconds off your PB. Realise your potential in Edinburgh!

Thanks as always for reading,

We have set out this guide so that you can set the time you feel comfortable with on your first marathon, without any trouble along the way.

Know your target time

It is always nice to have a dream, but to run a marathon in 02:03:23 if you’re a man – Wilson Kipsang’s world record time – and 02:15:25 if you’re a woman – the time Paula Radcliffe set in London in 2003 – are both very unrealistic targets.

Take a few moments to work out the fastest time you think you’ll be able to complete a marathon without causing yourself stress or physical harm. You should consider how much you exercise currently and whether you’re accustomed to running for miles or just for sprints when determining your target.

Start your training early

You are setting yourself up for a fall if you think you can just train a few weeks before running your first marathon.

The training sessions should begin a few months prior to the big day and see you running for gradually increasing distances up to five days a week.

Don’t feel that you need to jog for 20 miles straight on your first day of training either. Instead, start with something like a ten-mile run and then increase the distance by around ten per cent every week. That way, your body should begin to easily adjust to the rigorous exercise.

Remember to rest

While plenty of training is important when preparing for your first marathon, resting is just as vital. This is because your muscles will need time to recover from all the stress that you are putting on them by running for miles at a time.

Plan out your fitness regime and make sure you mark at least two days of rest per week. On these days, you should avoid doing any workouts – this includes everything from sit-ups and press-ups, to competing in another sport.

Your body will feel all the better for it.

Buy adequate clothing

Do you find that your current jogging shirt and shorts chafe against your body after you have been running for a few miles? Just imagine having to carry that pain for the best part of 20 miles; that target time you set yourself earlier will quickly fly out of the window.

Shop for specialist marathon clothing to keep yourself as comfortable as possible as you rack up the miles, such as the huge range at ActivInstinct. Their triathlon shortsare particularly appealing, as they are constructed using state-of-the-art material technology that help you to maintain peak performance from the start line all the way through to the finish.

Remember to pack some warm clothing too. This will prevent your muscles from becoming cold and stiff before the marathon and ensure you fly off the start line with the best possible chance of achieving your targets.

Thanks for reading and good luck!