Sign-up now for the Marathon
- By Doug Kurtis
Free Press Columnist

The Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank Marathon and Half Marathon are 17 weeks away; October 29th. Make the commitment by signing up now. Doing so will improve your training and increase the level of focus.

Some runners will worry about losing their entry fee, less they be forced to drop out before the event. Usually about ten percent of entrants don't make it to the starting line, whether they sign up early or late.  You will discover a heightened mental aspect by making a commitment to the marathon now.

Runners will enter less consequential races to help gauge their fitness beforehand. But there is nothing that compares to the visceral connection when tackling the marathon. Putting money down on a major event is like a deposit on your wedding reception. The excitement keeps building from there. In the long run, it's an inexpensive investment to your in-training program.

If you don't have a training plan, log onto the marathon web site and click the training bar.  As the Free Press Marathon training expert, I've set up different programs for both the marathon and half marathon that include post race recovery weeks. The programs are in progress and it's OK to jump into week 3 or 4 if you have already been doing some training.   These programs are meant as a guide.   Move some of the days around to fit your schedule. The keys to success are settling on a consistent routine and loading up the miles. Training for the marathon is all about endurance and strength with speed coming naturally from these efforts.

If you want to do some track work to improve you leg turnover, that's OK too.   I've provided some track suggestions in the intermediate levels and above. I strongly believe in splitting some of your long run days into two workouts. So instead of an eighteen miler try 9 miles followed by another 9 miles just 3 or 4 hours later. Recovery is quicker from two workouts in a day and you will have a better chance of staying away from injury.

The farther you run over 15 miles the less and less you will gain physically from the exertion. A few long runs will help with the mental fatigue you'll experience late in the marathon. Some runners think about running distances longer than the marathon.   I don't see a need to do this. Otherwise you might as well sign up for a prequel marathon and have all the course amenities available to you.

If you're a first timer it's not too late to sign up for one of the many running specialty store in-training programs. Go to the marathon web site for a list of locations convenient for you. Most offer weekly runs and a place to meet other first timers and experienced marathoners. These stores also bring in experts to share various aspects of training and racing.

Several specialty shops offer organized twenty-mile training runs a few weeks before the marathon. Why struggle through your preparations when you can enlist the help of other runners who will make the work fun.

In training programs at:

Bauman's Running Center - [email protected] - 810 238-5981

Gazelle Sports - www.rungazelle.com - 616 940-9888

Endurance Sports - www.endurancesports.biz - 231-744-9138

Hanson's Running Shop - www.hansons-running.com - 248 616-9665

Playmakers - www.playmakers.com - 517 349-3803

Runner's Choice - www.runnerschoice.on.com - 519 672-5928

The Running Factory - www.runningfactory.com - 519 945-3786

Running Fit - www.runningfit.com - 248 380-3338

Running Gear - [email protected] - 248 623-7296

Total Runner - www.totalrunner.com - 248 354-1177

Contact Doug Kurtis at Detroit Free Press, 600 W. Fort St. Detroit, 48226