6 Great Reasons Why You Should Consider Taking Part in a Marathon

If you are new to marathons, then you might be intimidated by the long distance. Yes, I know that 26.2 miles is a very long distance to run, but with each passing year more and more people are taking on a marathon. If you are contemplating running in a marathon, but are still not sure that it is something that you want to commit to (you need to be fully committed if you are going to run a marathon), then perhaps the following reasons to take part in a marathon will help you make up your mind.

You Will Get Fit

If you are going to be running 26.2 miles, then you need to take your training seriously if you have any hope of completing the race. Thanks to your regular training to prepare you for the longest race of your life, your heart and muscles will get stronger and the blood circulation around your body will improve drastically. Good blood circulation means that more oxygen will be carried around your body, meaning you will be able to run much longer distances. You will also see a lot of mental improvements such as being less stressed out and a lot more upbeat. When you finish the marathon, you will feel a sense of accomplishment that you have never felt before, that is for sure.

You Can Raise Money for Charity

Many marathon runners now combine their aim of completing a marathon with their goal of helping others out by raising money for a charity that is close to their heart. You can use the fact that you are helping others out to motivate you to get to the finish line. After all, you will not want to quit when you know that people have donated their hard-earned money on your behalf.

You Can Take a Step Out Your Comfort Zone

All of us have at least one insecurity or fear. For the majority of people, completing a marathon seems like a huge task that is close to impossible to complete. Now, I agree that taking part in a marathon is a challenge that will require a lot of perseverance and commitment, but it is one that is worth sticking with because whenever you take a step outside your comfort zone and accomplish something that you have never done before, you will grow and become more confident in yourself.

You Can Make New Friends

You will find that the running community is a tight knit one that is diverse and welcoming. Training for a challenge such as a marathon with some friends is much easier and most marathoners are happy to welcome newbies with open arms. Once you have decided that you are going to take on the challenge of a marathon, you should reach out to the local running club or other runners from your community. There is a high chance that you will be able to find someone that you can train with, and these can become great friends. It is quite difficult not to bond with someone you have just run 26.2 miles with.

You Will Get a Great Sense of Accomplishment

There is nothing that is more rewarding than completing a big goal that you set yourself. Completing a marathon is one of the biggest physical challenges that you can possibly set yourself. Most people who run marathons will never forget the first one that they completed, and will often talk about it like they are talking about their wedding day or the day they became a parent for the first time. Who cares if you come last, you can still call yourself a marathoner that has just run a staggering 26.2 miles.

You Can Inspire Others

You probably do not realise just how much your actions can have an impact on others that you come across in your daily life. You might think that nothing you do makes a difference, but this is completely wrong. If none of the reasons that I just mentioned above motivate you, then you should think about turning your focus outward. You should think about running a marathon to inspire those who know you to try something that they thought was impossible. When your friends and family members see you cross that finish line, I guarantee there will be some people who want to follow in your footsteps.