"How many kilometers do you run a marathon?" - such a question should not be asked by a real runner, because a marathon is only one length: exactly 42 kilometers and 195 meters. If you don't feel up to running that long in one go, you can choose between 5, 10 kilometers or a half marathon run. See what characterizes the most popular running distances and which one best suits your abilities.

What are the types and lengths of the most popular runs?Running events across the country give both beginners and advanced runners the opportunity to participate in several types of runs. You don't have to start with the murderous distance of 42 kilometers and 195 meters, i.e. a full marathon - it's better to leave it for later.

In the beginning, it is worth checking out on shorter routes. This will allow you to assess your real possibilities and get to know the realities of a large race in which from several hundred to tens of thousands of people take part. After all, running among so many people is a completely different experience than training alone with headphones in your ears.

5 km run - not only for beginners

You don't need great skills to participate in the 5 km run - unless you want to make a "personal best" and reach the finish line in the lead. However, to complete it, you only need to train once a week. For this reason, some people immediately give up the "five", treating it as too little prestigious distance and intended for complete amateurs.

Nothing could be more wrong - the 5 km distance is recommended for beginners, but for advanced runners it can be a way to improve your results in longer runs. Many professional marathon runners started by breaking records in "Fridays" - incl. Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie, current world record holder in the marathon.

10 km run - for ambitious amateurs

10 km is the favorite distance of amateurs. It is more prestigious than a 5 km run, and at the same time it does not require such advanced preparations as a marathon or half marathon. As 10 km runs are held relatively often and in many Polish cities, some people treat the "tense" not as a race, but an opportunity to visit interesting places and meet people with a similar passion.

On the route you can meet both people who measure their time with a watch in their hands and want to be as close to the leaders as possible, as well as groups of friends or couplesrunning just for fun. 10 km is therefore one of the most universal distances, which will be perfect for both recreational runners and ambitious amateurs.

Half marathon - a good start to the marathon

The half marathon requires much more preparation than the 5 and 10 km runs. Traveling 21 kilometers takes about two hours, so it is a considerable effort for the body. Before starting the event, you need to train at least 3-4 times a week, which means that you have to have enough time to prepare.

For some people, it may be too difficult to reconcile preparations with work and private life, which is why the half marathon is a distance primarily for people who are serious about running and are ready to devote a large part of their free time to training. Taking part in a half-marathon can be a good practice before an even bigger challenge - a 42-kilometer marathon.

Marathon - for advanced runners with long experience

Participation in the marathon is for many the only and ultimate goal of their training, for others - an impossible distance. Years of preparation are required for an inexperienced runner to run a marathon. Before the start, you need to work out the right tactics for several months, plan the pace of the run in individual sections, carefully follow the route of the event and know what to do when the so-called "Wall" - the critical moment when fatigue takes over and legs refuse to obey.

A marathon runner must know his body inside out and be able to force his body to cooperate again. For this reason, such a long distance is recommended only to advanced runners who treat almost every day of the year as a preparation time for the marathon.

Worth knowing

Ultramarathon - ultra-effort for the hardest

Ultramarathon is a run of more than 42 km and 195 m. The most popular routes are 50 km, 100 miles or 6, 12 and 24 hours. Due to the extreme effort for the body, which is running on such a long distance, ultramarathoners must be resistant to pain and well prepared not only physically but also mentally.

This option is reserved only for real tough guys and tough guys.

Category:

Running