What does it take to run a marathon?

“All you got,” said Kim Smith, professor of journalism and mass communication.

Smith has completed multiple marathons, which are 26.2 miles by default – an exhausting number for those who haven’t participated in the lengthy undertaking.

He said, however, that running a marathon is not as difficult as it is made out to be.

“Running a marathon is an overstated yuppie achievement. With the correct training, anyone can finish it,” Smith said.

The lower temperatures of fall make it an opportune time to begin training if you wish to participate in a marathon. Experts recommend training for about 24 weeks prior to the race so you can be in great shape for a race held in April.

To begin training, run a minimum of four days a week for a total of at least 20 miles. Specific training routines can be found on various Web sites and in many books.

The “10 percent rule” is followed by most individuals training for a marathon. This rule states that you should not increase your mileage or distance by more than 10 percent each week. Another tip is to spread out long, hard training runs so that you do not run two hard workouts in a row.

“When you’re training, your body gets stronger while sleeping. It is broken down each time you run,” Smith said.

Although experts recommend training for 24 weeks, some active individuals require less preparation. Sarah Seehusen, sophomore in health and human performance, trained for a total of 10 weeks after working a physically demanding summer job. During her training she suffered from Achilles tendonitis and had to undergo physical therapy.

“I learned not to give up, even with an injury,” Seehusen said.

Running a marathon is most often more mentally challenging than physically challenging. You must listen to your body while training and rest when you need to. Before the race, you need to complete at least two or three training runs more than 20 miles.

A recent study performed by Arizona State and Texas Tech universities tested what motivates people to go through the whole training and race process.

The study found that runners were much more likely to continue training and participate in the race if they were motivated by self-esteem and intrinsic factors rather than recognition from others or weight loss.

Goal setting is another great motivator for marathons.

“Your brain influences how your body performs,” Smith said. “If you doubt yourself, you won’t finish.”

When Smith signed up for his first marathon – after he was talked into it by his brother – he admitted he was at least 40 to 50 pounds overweight. He said the race motivated him and forced him to get into shape.

“When my brother called and asked me if I wanted to run a marathon on the Great Wall of China, I thought he was drunk and would not remember it the next morning,” Smith said.

He was surprised the next day when the registration papers for the race arrived by fax. Smith said he bought a book about marathons to educate himself about proper training.

Seehusen decided to run a marathon because she had friends who had signed up, and she believed that it would be exciting to say that she had finished a marathon.

Dan Aderton, freshman in pre-business, decided to train for a marathon because he didn’t have anything to do over the summer. The Des Moines marathon this fall was Aderton’s first.

“I just wanted to get a marathon under my belt. I want to get competitive later,” Aderton said.

He said he realized the importance of a proper diet during training. After staying out all night, Aderton woke up in the afternoon and went for a run without eating. His running schedule called for a 14-mile run, but his body shut down without proper fuel.

“I was three miles away from home, and it took about an hour to walk back. I felt like I was about to collapse,” Aderton said.