How to be a successful long distance runner

For both beginners and advanced afficionados, I believe that the question of how to be a successful long distance runner is one that rings clear and is common with both groups. Perhaps you've seen the last year's olympics or the recently concluded World Track Championships. Perhaps you've always been, to a certain extent, captivated by these runners at the Boston or NYC Marathons. I mean, how do they friggin survive that kind of punishment right? What kind of alien training regimen is necessary in order to have some glimmer of success in the field of long distance running?

To be sure, this level of success is more often than not relative and can be measured, tailored and suited according to each individual's own goals and aspirations. For the great many people new to the field of running and are interested in progressively developing their skills, success may be measured in the slow but progressive elongation of mileage, or in the mastering of basic techniques. For the more advanced runners however, this level of success can be measured by any of the following: the mastery of endurance, the number of medals and awards won, the dramatic decrease in lap times, and more. So, for the beginners out there, don't cowed into thinking that there is absolutely only one standard for success. There are indeed, plenty of them and as they say, to each his own.

But what do you actually do in order to become a competent long distance runner? What steps should be taken? I'm sure these questions flash in your minds from time to time. I mean they hit even the best in the business. They are constantly on the look out for different methods in order to improve themselves in terms of being a better long distance athlete. They hire personal coaches (which I highly suggest, even if you already have a coach in your high school/ college cross country/track team) in order to provide a more personalized system which is again tailor made based on the individual's strengths and weaknesses.

Now, getting a coach is no doubt hard, and highly, highly infeasible, if you're already working as I am and you have a 9-4pm job on your hands to juggle at the same time; or if you're short on budget and just want to run as a hobby. If you're the latter type then I suggest setting a number of personal goals that measure the extent of your improvement. In addition, you should make it a point to scour for resources (such as this) which focuses on giving you premiere routines and info about the PROPER FORM INVOLVED IN RUNNING so that even beginners new to the field could follow.

Another aspect that you would like to focus on is your gear. What long distance running shoes should you use? What gadgets/accessories should you include? I mean there is a whole list of them. Step counters. Split stopwatches. Shades (personally though I never run cross country in the morning without them). Ipod mini-nappies (sorry, that's what I call my Ipod holder). Again, depending on your budget, you could decide on purchasing these.

Finally, the quality of the time you devote to actual running is important. Coz if you're planning to slack off, to not follow a decent training system, then surprise surprise you're not only wasting my time, you're also wasting YOUR OWN. So heed my advice, get your head in the game and your ass off the clouds and just focus. That's the best thing you could do in my book. In fact, by merely sitting down and making a commitment to follow your routine religiously and wholeheartedly, you are already well on your way to becoming a better long distance runner. But of course you can't just rest on mere plans and the like. You have to make the conscious decision to actually live them out.

How? You ask? Well for starters, by actually running. By experimenting with the various routines. By testing the different stretches/exercises/routes that will hopefully suit your fancy as a runner, no matter what your developmental stage, or age is. Successful long distance running is like what a block of bronze is to a sculptor: you constantly (and consistently) have to hammer out the edges (by working on your form) and smoothen out the different parts (by self assessment) in order to be able to come up with a marvelous piece of art.

It's no easy task I tell you. But it's fairly doable. Assuming you properly plot your progress, you should see dramatic improvements over a span of 3-5 months. Be warned though, these changes do not come easily. You can't expect to be a Kenyan superstar overnight, right? My simple yet time proven advice is: WORK. WORK. WORK. I guarantee that you will not regret it as these will hopefully lead you (yes, even you beginners) on the paved road (but by no means is it gentle!) to becoming a successful long distance runner.