ENG325 - Intermediate Composition

In my ENG325 - Intermediate Composition course at Ashford University, we were asked to write compositions on various subjects that we found interesting. At the time I wrote this composition, I was training for the San Antonio Rock N Roll Half Marathon. I thought it would make a good blog post to illustrate my writing skills.

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Training for a Marathon

Chicago Marathon, 2012. Chicago Tribune.com

People take up running for many reasons. Some run to improve their cardiovascular health or to lose weight. Some run to raise money for charity while others run for stress relief. There are those who run just a few miles a week. Then there are those who train for long distance runs such as half marathons (13.1 miles) or full marathons (26.2 miles). 

Marathon runners are different from those who run for health and leisure. Marathon running takes serious dedication in physical training, requires personal sacrifice, and can be cost prohibitive for some. 

Dedication

The marathon runner has to be completely dedicated to their training which begins months in advance of race day. Ogles and Masters (2003) describe marathon training as “a serious undertaking” of personal training sessions that include months of “numerous hours and miles” of running. 

If the person has never participated in long distance running, this training may begin more than six months prior to the event. These novice runners may underestimate the challenge they are undertaking and begin training too aggressively which will result in injury or loss of motivation (Dolgener, Kolkhorst, & Whitsett, 1994). Someone who has been running and is already prepared may not have to begin training so far in advance. 

There are other forms of training the runner must participate in to prepare for race day. Those forms include “aerobic and anaerobic training, strength training, drills and mental training” (Poston, 2005). This intense training can take a toll on the runner’s body causing fatigue or injury. Therefore, only people who are extremely serious about training for a marathon should take on such a major training regimen.

Personal Sacrifice

Training for a marathon takes personal sacrifice on the part of the runner and his or her family and friends. Schedules for social activities, meals, and family time take a ‘back seat’ to the training routine (Ogles & Masters, 2003). Since it takes so many hours of training to prepare for a marathon, personal relationships can suffer. 

The runner spends numerous hours each week training on their own unless their partner or friend is training with them. If time at work and rest are included in the week, very little time is left to nurture relationships. Explaining the runner’s motivation for the race can help prepare family and friends for the absence during the training months. It can also go a long way in determining who is there to cheer the 
runner on and meet them at the finish line, thus saving the relationship.

Cost

When someone thinks about marathon running, they may not understand the costs that can add up. Running in the street or on a path through a park may be free. However, the runner must pay race entry fees, purchase good quality shoes and appropriate attire, and incur possible travel costs (Ogles & Masters, 2003).  All of these items together can cost hundreds of dollars. It is recommended that running shoes be replaced after a certain number of miles. Running in the summer requires different attire than cold weather or rainy days. Planning ahead of time can help those with limited resources be able to afford this hobby. If someone cannot afford these costs, it may be best to take up another sport or run for leisure and health only. 

        

Google Images, 2015

Each person that decides to run a marathon does so for their own personal reasons. They must go into the challenge with a clear understanding of what it will take to be successful. They are unique in their dedication due to the physical endurance, sacrifices and monetary costs required to participate in the sport. However, the feeling they get after crossing that finish line on race day must be priceless.

References

Dolgener, F. A., Kolkhorst, F. W., & Whitsett, D. A. (1994). Long slow distance training in novice marathoners. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 65(4), 339-46. Retrieved from ProQuest.

Ogles, B. M., & Masters, K. S. (2003). A typology of marathon runners based on cluster analysis of motivations. Journal of Sport Behavior, 26(1), 69-85. Retrieved from ProQuest.

Poston, J. (2005). Training for the half-marathon. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 27(6), 81- 83. Retrieved from ProQuest.