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Running a marathon is no small feat – it requires a lot of physical training and meticulous planning ahead, especially if you’ll be running abroad. Here are five tips to help you pick the right destination and prepare your marathon like a champ \ By Oren Herschlag, Shvoong How to prepare for a destination marathon: 5 expert tips

Choosing your destination 01

The first questions to ask yourself are when and where you intend to run. Marathons in April or May - when

many such races take place in Europe and the United-States - mean training in December or January, i.e., the colder, damper months. If your marathon is in September or in October, training will start in the summertime, i.e., extreme heat and humidity if you happen to be doing your training in Israel - opt for what is most bearable to you. Register early 02 Make sure you register for the marathon as soon as possible. Early registration will save you money, time, and stress. Plus, it will help you focus - once you’ve registered and paid for the run, you’ll be fully committed to training. Also, the most prestigious marathons have waiting lists and quotas, so if you wait too long, you might not be able to book your spot. Choosing your hotel 03 Though people don’t always give this much thought, picking the right hotel is very important. Stay somewhere close to the marathon’s location as parts of the city will probably be closed off for the race.

Gear 05 Preparing for a marathon requires mountains of effort, both physical and mental. You will have made many sacrifices to make it to the race. Keep this is mind, as it will help you stay motivated to plan everything as best you can. It won’t always be easy to find the gear you need once you’re abroad, so make lists way ahead of time and pack accordingly : clothes (shirts, shorts, socks, shoes, anti-chafing cream, a hat, etc.) and nutrition (isotonic drinks, salt tablets, magnesium, a water bottle, etc.). And of course, first and foremost: don’t forget to pick up your race packet the day before the race.

Avoid having to commute to the run itself and stay in a hotel that’s not beyond 1 or 2 kilometers away.

Nutrition 04 If your hotel has

partnered with the marathon organizers, it will undoubtedly have

adapted its menu to your needs, i.e., complex carbs and lean protein will surely be available. That said, it’s up to you to check this before you arrive. And of course, it’s always an option to check out the restaurants in the neighborhood. Whatever you do, make sure you get all the carbohydrates and protein you need to be at your best on the day of the race.

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ATMOSPHERE NOVEMBER 2022

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