The long run is the single most important ingredient to marathon success.

The long run is the single most important ingredient to marathon success.

Vary your training, your running partners, and your environment. Only your imagination limits the ways you can spice up your running routine.

Your goal is simple: Finish. Experience your first race, don't race it. Your first race should be slightly longer or slightly faster than your normal run. Run your first race. Later you can race. You will be a hero just for finishing, so don't put pressure on yourself by announcing a time goal. Look at it this way: The slower you run the distance, the easier it will be to show off by improving your time the next race!