Marathon Training for the Real World
Pulling an all nighter? Stuck in line at the DMV? Breeze through these and more real-world tests of endurance (and patience)
In general, several global principles apply to most real-life marathons, says Cindy Trowbridge, PhD, ATC, CSCS, associate professor and clinical educator coordinator of the athletic training education program at the University of Texas at Arlington. "All too often during real-life marathons we forget to drink or we drink dehydrating beverages such as coffee or alcohol, for example. Even a two to three percent loss in body weight is significant dehydration."
As in any marathon, in addition to proper hydration, nutrition, preparation, and rest all play major roles to help you cross the finish line in good form.
"Okay, we all do this, so eat a good dinner, prepare some healthy snacks, have water available, and sparingly use caffeine or other stimulants," Trowbridge says.
Training tips: Relieve, rehydrate, and refuel throughout the night, Trowbridge says. Make sure you go to the bathroom regularly (drink often so you can go to the bathroom) and don’t forget to eat. Plus, set up your workstation correctly. Read some good guidelines here.
Stop every one to two hours for a quick exercise bout, which can make a world of difference in your mental acuity and overall feelings of health, Trowbridge says. Even if you just stand up and walk around while reading documents, it’ll help keep your body awake.
