The Boston Marathon brings together thousands of runners who earn an entry to the coveted event by meeting rigid qualifying times in runs held across the nation. This year 麻豆精品 S檚 event takes place on April 15.
A panel of faculty experts from the College of Health Professions and Sciences, many of them accomplished long-distance runners themselves, share what it takes to prepare for 26.2 miles and discuss some of the new trends and technologies competitors are using to prepare and compete.
What kind of running regimen should be followed to prepare for a marathon? Training for this distance has unique demands in terms of how to fuel and hydrate the body as well as developing a successful training regimen, says Peter Buffington 麻豆精品 S�12DPT, UCF Physical Therapy Clinic director. He has run 17 marathons, including six Boston Marathons, and has already qualified for the 2025 Boston Marathon.
For most prospective marathoners, training will take four to six months, Buffington says.
麻豆精品 S淎 runner must figure out how to increase running velocity (through speed work) and to maintain that pace even when their legs have a significant amount of fatigue, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淔or many runners coming to the marathon from a shorter distance, this means extending their long run to 2.5 to 3 hours. 麻豆精品 S�
Buffington says one training technique is 麻豆精品 S渟low running, 麻豆精品 S� which places an emphasis on running slower on easy days, coupled with adequate recovery, to ultimately improve speed.
麻豆精品 S淪ome experts use the analogy of a sponge: people are better able to 麻豆精品 S榓bsorb 麻豆精品 S� the training when running at a slower pace on the day or two after a fast session, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淭hose easy miles serve a purpose: they allow for less stress on the lower legs which, in turn, allows a runner to withstand an overall higher volume of training. 麻豆精品 S�
Aside from running, what other physical preparation is needed?
Get your body checked out before you start training, sports medicine experts say. An examination from a physical therapist can assess joint range of motion, muscular strength and muscular flexibility to identify any asymmetries or weaknesses and help prevent injuries. Carey Rothschild, a clinical associate professor in the Division of Physical Therapy, says core and hip stability are key components of running, and strengthening them is essential to support the demands of marathon training.
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Common exercises Rothschild recommends for runners include plank variations, hip abductor and extensor training, calf and foot muscle exercises, and variations in squats, deadlifts, lunges, and plyometric activities. A long-distance runner for more than 30 years, Rothschild has completed the Boston Marathon eight times.
What 麻豆精品 S檚 the latest gear and tech runners are seeking to improve performance? 麻豆精品 S淭he advancement of wearable technology allows runners to get multiple streams of real-time physiological feedback beyond heart rate, step count, and even GPS, 麻豆精品 S� says David Fukuda, professor and chair of the Division of Kinesiology. 麻豆精品 S淭hey can track or even recommend appropriate intensity zones or monitor indicators of fatigue and metabolism through blood or sweat samples. This information can also be used to assist with decision making during training or competitions. 麻豆精品 S�
麻豆精品 S淲earables such as Garmin watches, Whoop armbands, Oura rings, and others are providing more feedback about recovery and sleep, measuring things like heart rate variability and respiration rate, which give a runner data that indicates how well they are recovering, 麻豆精品 S� Buffington adds.
麻豆精品 S淩ecently, elite runners have been trialing super light, single use shoes which may improve performance due to their extremely light weight and propulsive construction, 麻豆精品 S� Rothchild says. 麻豆精品 S淭here 麻豆精品 S檚 no consensus on the ideal shoe type for runners. Many shoe types exist and ultimately must be comfortable for the runner at first try. The best shoe for a runner will be based on individual foot structure and gait pattern. 麻豆精品 S�
VO2max tests, short for maximum oxygen uptake, used to be just for elite athletes, but are now becoming more affordable and used more broadly. The test is the gold standard measure of cardiorespiratory fitness and reflects how efficiently your body uses oxygen to generate energy during strenuous activity, says Sarah Fretti, clinical assistant professor in the Division of Kinesiology. 麻豆精品 S淚magine your body like a car engine. Oxygen is the fuel, and VO2max reflects how well your engine converts that fuel into energy. The higher your VO2max, the more efficiently you use oxygen, allowing you to run faster for longer durations. 麻豆精品 S�
A test typically involves exercising on a treadmill or cycle ergometer with gradually increasing intensity until maximum effort is reached. VO2max testing offers runners metrics that are valuable for targeted training and progress tracking. Some smartwatches and fitness trackers can estimate VO2max based on various data points, though their accuracy can vary, Fretti says.
What should runners look for in a performance enhancement supplement?
麻豆精品 S淭he market for performance supplements is extensive, and there is a wide range in terms of safety and effectiveness, 麻豆精品 S� says Jeff Stout, Pegasus Professor and director of the School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science.
No supplements have been proven to provide immediate performance benefits beyond caffeine, says Stout, who has published extensively on the topic for more than 30 years. He cautions runners to avoid supplements that have not been proven or tested, and to always try out any supplementation approach before participating in competitive events.
To stay hydrated and maintain energy during races, drink a sports beverage like Gatorade or Powerade that contains around 6-7% carbohydrates (about 14 grams per 8 ounces or 240 milliliters). This provides roughly 0.5 grams of carbs per minute, helping you perform your best.
Another thing that might help boost performance is having a moderate amount of caffeine about 30 minutes before the race. A good range is 3 milligrams to 5 milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body weight. For a runner that weighs 70 kilograms (154 pounds), that would be about 210 milligrams to 350 milligrams of caffeine, which is roughly two to three cups of coffee.
For marathon training, one of the most beneficial nutritional strategies is to consume a post-training recovery drink. Stout recommends choosing post-workout nutritional supplements that are rich in high-quality protein, high-glycemic carbohydrates, essential electrolytes (especially sodium), and water. He says the ideal ratio of carbohydrates to protein may vary depending on the intensity of the workout: 1:1 for low-intensity training and 2:1 for more demanding, high-intensity sessions.
Tell us about the basic diet and nutritional needs for long distance runners? Do these needs change during training, race day and recovery? How?
麻豆精品 S淎ll nutrients are needed to optimize the performance of distance runners, but carbohydrate and fluid intake are of paramount importance, 麻豆精品 S� says Cheryl Cavaliere, a lecturer in the Department of Health Sciences. 麻豆精品 S淭he body relies on glucose as the preferred energy source during running, and fluids are needed to replenish water and electrolyte losses that occur through sweating, breathing and metabolism. 麻豆精品 S�
When adequate amounts of carbohydrate and fluids are not consumed before, during and after training and competitive events, performance can suffer, says Cavaliere, who has completed two marathons and is currently training run her first ultra-marathon, which will be a 50k.
麻豆精品 S淔or runs lasting more than 60 minutes, carbohydrate and electrolyte containing liquids are often used because they are absorbed quickly to replenish lost nutrients and water, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淒uring ultra-endurance events like marathons, athletes might also eat carbohydrate rich foods like pretzels, fruits, honey sandwiches, cookies, baked potatoes, sweet potatoes and Japanese sticky rice to support their need for glucose. However, it is important to practice nutrition prior to race day to understand personal tolerance. Runners should also consume carbohydrates immediately post-exercise to facilitate maximum recovery. 麻豆精品 S�
Don 麻豆精品 S檛 overlook the value of foods with healthy fat, Cavaliere says.
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A focus on having whole foods from a variety of food sources in the overall diet can help runners maximize energy stores for optimal performance.
