Running into Marathon Season

On Saturday, May 6, 2023, more than 20,000 people will gather in Indianapolis for the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. 

And no wonder, because distance running has great health benefits. Running is great for improving your cardiovascular health, maintaining a healthy weight, and relieving stress. Even going for a light walk or jog each day will not only keep your heart healthy, but build your stamina. 

Now, you might be thinking it’s already March, and May is too late to begin training for a distance run. But it’s never too late for you to begin getting into shape and start training if you plan to participate in the future. And even if distance running isn’t really your thing, we’ve got you covered on all the best training tips for how to be successful when running.

You might be nervous about pounding the pavement when it could still be icy out, and trust us, we get it: Running in the cold may not sound like a good time. But the cool weather actually helps you stay alert, become less fatigued, and much more. Your body spends a good chunk of its energy simply cooling off while you exercise, and when it’s already cool out, half the work is done for you.

Okay, so maybe you’re less inclined to go running when it’s still cold outside. Luckily, the Hancock Health Wellness Centers have tons of indoor training opportunities, and even places for you to run. Whether you just want to train on the treadmill, you’re in need of a personal trainer, or you’re looking for a class or two to meet a running buddy, the wellness centers have everything you could possibly need.

Don’t get us wrong: Training for a distance run is going to take a lot of work, but here are some great ways to get off on the right foot. 

Change up your diet. If you’re grabbing fast food on the way home from work, maybe it’s time to cut that back in favor of heart-healthy foods that will keep your cardiovascular health up while you’re in training mode. 

Invest in the stretch. There are plenty of amazing stretches that will keep your body loose and limber before you run, and will keep your heart happy, too.  

Get a running buddy. We weren’t kidding about meeting a friend in a wellness center class. Sometimes the best motivator for running a marathon is having somebody to do it with you and hold you accountable. 

So, what are you waiting for? Hop off that couch and get started! Sure, it’ll take a lot of dedication and time to get into marathon mode, but we’re confident you can do it. We’ll see you at the finish line!