The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer

Athlete.Runner.Marathoner.Arethesewordsyouwouldn'texactlyusetodescribeyourself?Doyouconsideryourselftoooldortoooutofshapetorunamarathon?Butsomewheredeepinsidehaveyoualwaysadmiredthepeoplewhocouldreachdownandcomeupwiththementalandphysicalstrengthtocompletesuchadauntingandrewardingaccomplishment?Itdoesn'thavetobesomebodyelsecrossingthefinishline.Youcanbeamarathoner.TheNon-Runner'sMarathonTrainerisbasedonthehighlysuccessfulmarathonclassofferedbytheUniversityofNorthernIowa,whichwasfeaturedinaRunner'sWorldarticletitled"Marathoning101."Theclasshasbeenofferedfivetimesover10years,andallbutonestudentfinishedthemarathon.Thatisapproximately200students—allfirsttimemarathonersandmanywithabsolutelynorunningbackground.Thisbookfollowsthesame16-week,four-day-a-weekworkoutplan.Whatmakesthesuccessrateofthisprogramsomuchhigherthananyother?Thespecialemphasisonthepsychologicalaspectsofenduranceactivities.Youdon'thavetolovetorun—youdon'tevenhavetolikeit—butyouhavetorealizethatyouarecapableofmorethanyouhaveeverthoughtpossible.Oneparticipantintheprogramexplaineditlikethis:"I'mdoingthisforme—notforothersorthetimeclock.IjustfeelbetterwhenIrun,plusithelpsmetocopewiththingsingeneral.Theskillswe'velearnedinthisclassdon'tapplyjusttomarathoning—theyapplytolife!Justlikeyouneverknowwhatthenextstepinamarathonwillbring,sotoo,youneverknowwhatwillhappennextinlife.Butifyoudon'tkeepgoing,you'renevergoingtofindout.Bystayingrelaxed,centered,andpositiveyouhandlejustaboutanythingthatcomesyourway."Thisismarathonrunningforrealpeople,peoplewithjobsandfamiliesandobligationsoutsideofrunning.TheNon-Runner'sMarathonTrainerhasprovensuccessfulformenandwomenofallages.Nowletitworkforyou.