Health & Beauty Tips

It's really hard to determine a good marathon training schedule, let alone sticking with it. The terrible temptations are strong, and they are many. It's way too tempting to eat that whole chocolate in one sitting. (I know.) It's much too tempting to lay around in bed all day on Saturday, never once getting up unless you have to go to the bathroom. (I know.)

Since I am now the voice of experience, I can give you some tips on what you SHOULDN'T do so that you'll successfully stick with your schedule. Once you've decided on your marathon training schedule, you should keep a few things in mind.

- Running your butt off for a few minutes will not substitute jogging for 30 minutes. You have to do all the jogging you've got planned on your schedule.

- Get creative and involve your family when you can't find the motivation to run every weekend for three months. Here's what I did. My husband dangled a snickers bar out the window of the car while he drove three feet in front of me.

- Yes, you do need to break in your jogging shoes. No, it does not mean using a meat mallet. It means you have to put on your new shoes and run with them.

- 'Choosing a running partner' means a human, and not a bottle of Jack Daniels.

- When I say 'stick with your marathon training schedule,' I don't mean taping the paper to your butt.

- While you're jogging those three miles back home, resist the temptation to hitchhike.

- It is neither advisable, nor sanitary to take a small nap in the ditch off the side of the road.

Need more motivation to stick with your running training schedule? Just picture the horrified faces of all the other competitors when you beat them to the finish line. Visualize them crying, howling, and roaring as you use false modesty although all the while you're thinking, "No autographs please, just gaze upon the champion!" Good Luck with your marathon!