Competing in a marathon is a popular bucket-list item for many people across the country. It is an incredibly difficult task, but enough people do it, so clearly running a marathon is a reachable goal.
One problem many aspiring runners face is they may not even know how to start, especially when running is not part of their regular routine. If you’re one of those people, here’s a guide to qualifying for a marathon as a noob.
First of all, a lot depends on the marathon you are aiming for. In many cases, all you will need to do is pay the entry fee to participate and then show up on race day. That’s a pretty easy way to qualify for a marathon. But for other races, it’s not that simple.
Some of the most prestigious (and popular) marathons may have to limit the number of runners participating. Still, there are a number of ways to qualify for those marathons that do not allow just anybody to sign up and run.
One way to qualify for a marathon is by completing a running time that meets the criteria for your age and gender. If you can finish within a certain time, you may be eligible to compete in that marathon, though each one will likely feature different qualifying times that are deemed necessary.
In theory, this sounds like the easiest of the options because you control your own fate for the most part. However, it’s an incredibly difficult task that requires tons of training over several months. Assuming you are a beginner, goal No. 1 of your first marathon should simply be to complete the whole thing, and not worry about a qualifying time that gets you into a specific race.
Some marathons may have a lottery system where a select number of individuals can have their name called to participate. Another option many races have for entry is to raise money for a charitable cause, allowing marathon hopefuls the ability to hit a minimum amount of money raised in order to have a chance at qualifying.
Popular marathons like the Boston Marathon or New York City Marathon are getting increasingly harder and harder to get into due to the rising number of hopeful competitors each year. Despite this, there are still a number of avenues to get into the field of runners whether it’s one of the most prestigious events or not.
Picture Credit: Pixabay, Google Creative Commons Licences
