Science Daily has a short report out listing four common reasons people fail to finish marathons. Have you considered these reasons and developed plans to deal with each of them?

1. Discounting the importance of the long run. It’s important to get your body ready for the stress of 26.2 miles!
2. Picking a race without thinking about the weather or lifestyle implications. For a spring marathon, do you really want to run in the dark and rain?
3. Failing to practice the race day routine. Can you get to the start line on time? Know what you are going to have for breakfast? Have your clothing laying sorted out?
4. Starting running the race too fast. Starting slow and running the second half faster than the first half can oftentimes prevent you from hitting that proverbial mile 20 wall.

I would also add injuries to this list.

This week I had my first client of the Rock N Roll Marathon training season. He had been having really bad shin splints, had tried all sorts of things, and was to the point where he was afraid he was going to have to give up running. We spent about 45 minutes trying some different drills, and in the end found the three that were the most helpful for him and I sent those home with him for homework. The next day the pain was gone, he’s back happily running again. And, he has his “happy drills” to keep the shin splints at bay.

Running injuries? Shin splints? IT band issues? Knee pain? Back pain? Foot pain? You don’t have to run in pain or give up running. Drop me a note and let’s figure out a custom rehab/pre-hab program so you can cross the finish line in June!