Marathon running and vegan diets for beginners

Maybe you’re considering going vegan, but don’t see how you’re going to get there. Maybe you also dreamed of running a marathon, but you gave it up as impossible?

If so, reflect on the expression of William Arthur Ward:

“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.”

Five short years ago, I hadn’t started a vegan diet, nor had I run more than the occasional 1-2 miles on the treadmill (staring at the wall in the gym felt like a death sentence). Growing up, he’d been a miserable athlete, skipping all physical education classes from ninth grade on to avoid humiliation.

Just as a plant-based diet often starts with small steps, like avoiding meat for one meal a day (or one day a week) or eliminating a single type of meat from your diet, until you’ve started running, it’s entirely natural. that you think you are not capable of getting in shape to run a marathon.

Only after you’ve run around the block or survived 5 minutes on the dreaded treadmill do you begin to recognize your true potential. After getting used to a training routine, you get a few 5K and 10K under your belt and start to realize that a half marathon is within your grasp.

I don’t mean to underestimate the preparation and commitment it takes to run a marathon. But while you shouldn’t expect to get there overnight, it’s not as difficult as you might think. There are unlimited resources available to develop your marathon training plan, and first-time runners should generally wait 4-6 months, depending on their condition.

It’s okay if it takes several months or years to build the confidence to sign up for a marathon, as long as you keep moving in a positive direction. Whether preparing for a marathon or starting a plant-based diet, you should expect the occasional hiccup and doubt along the way. The key is not to be deterred from reaching your goal.

Although I ran the Tokyo Marathon, my first, in March 2009, after a year and a half, I began to doubt whether I could run another marathon and whether I could make it to Honolulu, due to time, finances, as well as minor injuries that they include knee pain and Achilles tendon pain. There were also last-minute surprises, like finding out I’d forgotten to pack my 5-finger grip socks just before I went to bed on marathon eve.

Once you decide to run a marathon, you must decide your specific training goals. Avoiding injuries, rather than running fast, was my first priority during training last year. In addition to running (cardio), I have been doing basic exercises and yoga for strength, balance and flexibility. Although I was sucking wind at the end, I had finished the Honolulu marathon, in a time that even surprised me.

After finishing a marathon, you will feel like you can achieve anything. If you’ve prepared well, I guarantee you’ll enjoy it and want to do it again. Scheduling another running event in the future will also give you a purpose to continue your training. Like a healthy vegan diet, running benefits your fitness and mental outlook.

Whether you’re running a marathon or adopting a vegan diet, you’ll be prepared for bigger challenges and realize that you really can do anything you can imagine.

For more information on upcoming racing events in picturesque Hawaii:

maui marathon

Honolulu Marathon