Training is an important aspect of being a runner. Whether you are a beginner and you are looking to increase your stamina or you’ve been running for a while and want to run faster or train for an event such as a marathon, training is something that is an essential part of the sport.

There is an art to choosing a good training program. The program you choose will depend on your goals and your needs. Here is some advice that will help you find a runner training program that will work for you.

Decide on Your Goals

The first step to choosing a runner training program is to decide on your goals. If you are a beginner, your training program will look a lot different than someone who is running their third marathon.

Sometimes a goal will be personal such as a desire to run five miles without stopping to rest. Other times a goal will be focused on an event such as running a 10K or a marathon. And often, people will run to help them lose weight or to build up their overall state of health.

Once you decide on your goals, write them down and put them in places where you can see them often. Turn the goal statements into affirmations and recite them a few times each day. For example, if you want to use running to help you lose ten pounds, your affirmation could be: “Running is helping me lose ten pounds.”

Choose a Program

Based on your list of goals, you are ready to choose or develop a runner training program that will work for you. If you need help, consult with someone who has more experience than you.

For example, if your goal is to run a marathon, you will want to choose a training schedule that will help you run a successful race. But, there are so many programs out there that it can be difficult choosing the one that is right for you. A beginning marathon runner will not follow the same program as someone who is racing in their fifth marathon.

In general, look for a runner training program that is a little challenging but not out of your reach. You don’t want to get discouraged and then give up.

Stick With It

You can spend a lot of time setting goals and fining a training program, but if you don’t stick with it, your efforts will not mean anything. Everyone has different ways of finding their motivation. Once you find what motivates you, sticking with your training plan will get much easier.

It takes a while to establish a routine. Before a routine is in place, you may feel disorganized or unmotivated. Give yourself a few weeks to establish a good routine before you start getting discouraged. Often, the routine will make you more motivated.

Gray Rollins is a writer for TheRunnersGuide.com - a great resource for distance runners. Be sure to visit us to learn about the benefits of running and also for a marathon training guide.