Well, here it is—the start of July(!) and you’ve made it through the first four weeks of marathon training (and if you live in the Chicago area you survived a really hot and humid long-run this past Saturday).

And so now is a really, really good time to measure the commitment you’re making to your marathon training.

During the week I try to do two or three 'run' workouts, and a couple of cross-training days—either bike or strength.

Add-in my weekend long-run, and my commitment is to train 6 days a week.

Okay. That's me. Do I train 6 days every week? Some weeks it's only 4 or 5 days, but most weeks its 6. (Please don't train 7 days—our bodies DO need a “rest and recover” day!)

What about you?

If all you’re doing are the weekend long-runs and maybe just one or two weekday workouts—you really need to do more. And if ALL you’re doing is running 5 or 6 days a week... stop that(!) and add a couple of cross-training days to your schedule. (For most of us, too much running can be as great a risk of injury as too little running. And besides, cross-training helps develop other muscle groups used in endurance running.)

The point is, now that you've made the commitment to run the marathon, be sure you're making the commitment to train for the marathon… and right now, while it’s still early in the training season, is a great time to re-commit to your training schedule if re-committing is called for.

Having and following a ‘proven’ training program will help get you to the ‘START’ on October 13 with confidence, and with the least likelihood of injury; and will get you to the 'FINISH' with the certainty that on race day… you ran your best.

And “running your best” on marathon day is the best any of us can do.

(My apologies to all of you who ARE following your training schedule, which I'm sure includes MOST of you—but there are others who need a little 'kick,' and my writing here is the only way for me to reach them.)

The old joke about the tourist visiting New York City and asking, "How do I get to Carnegie Hall?" and being told, "Practice. Practice. Practice." applies to marathon training as well... "How do I get to the 'FINISH' of a marathon?"

"Training. Training. Training."

One day at a time. One week at a time.

Week after week. After week.

All of which reminds me of one of my favorite quotes about training, from Muhammad Ali…
"I run on the road long before I dance under the lights."

For Team RMHC, the 'big dance' is October 13—so put on those "dancing shoes" (whether they be NIKE, Brooks, Mizuno, Saucony, HOKA, Asics...) and GET OUT THERE!

Keep training safe.

And (of course), keep running strong.

Always.

C.