Here, you will find our top tips to prepare for running a marathon and not make it harder than it already is.  It’s a common misconception that even if you’re already in shape that running a marathon should be easy.  It most definitely is not.  Running a marathon takes not only physical fitness, but mental fitness, discipline, stamina, and a very strong desire to succeed at it.  These 25 tips should help you prepare yourself for what lies ahead for you.

1. Be clear what your objectives are and plan how to reach them with time.  For your first marathon, it may be enough to train at least 4 months in advance, if you already practice some sport regularly, or one year if you’re an inveterate sedentary person.
2. Do a training plan consistent with your goals and stick to it.  Like many things in life, the marathon has only one secret:  training.
3. Try to train with someone with the same objectives and with similar physical conditions.  Ideally, a diverse group where you always have someone you can go with at your own pace.
4. Do not get obsessed with training.  If one day you are tired or you do not fancy to train, rest for one day.
5. The best way not to start jumping the training days is to incorporate a fun routine into your training, including friends, a partner, different routes.
6. Make changes in your training. You are training for a marathon. That means training for some months. Blend long and short, intense and relaxed training days. Follow any of the plans that are published in professional journals or on many athletics website.
7. Try to do at least one day a week a long training in the company of your training partners.
8. Ideally train sometimes with a professional trainer.  It will be provide you with essential feedback and make you improve more quickly. In some places there are even schools for marathon runners.  Join one.
9. Compete in some races of 10 km or half marathon to go picking up the pace of the competition. Anyway, remember that the marathon is different. A marathon, from Km 30 is another world.
10. No new clothes or shoes on the test day. Use only materials that you used thoroughly along your training and you know that it’s okay, which absorbs sweat well, that is comfortable, that is not too tight, and so on. There is no greater torment, than to feel uncomfortable with the clothes when you’re running a marathon. Marathons are hard enough.
11. Leave all your stuff ready the night before the race, your bag with your clothes, your shoes, the special supplies you wear, some money, and so on.
12. Tie your shoes with a double knot to avoid having to stop. Try not to tighten them too much.
13. Put some vaseline in the groin, armpits, nipples and toes. Generally in areas where you are going to have friction. This point is generality forgotten by many runners.
14. Go to the rest-room an hour before the race and “release” all you can. If you find it hard, coffee may help you.
15. Warm-up properly with a very smooth trot.
16. Arrive an hour ahead of time, so you can prepare with tranquility.
17. Try to get in a position commensurate with your capacity, if you do well or you push the human tide or the human tide pushes you, you will be unable to run at your pace, this is especially important in very crowded races.
18. Do not run with your friends with the system “to cover the street.” Try to go in a single file from the start to not interrupt the passage of runners who are faster.
19. Try to enjoy the first half of the marathon, but without wasting energy, you’ll need lots of energy for the second half.
20. Set a steady pace to achieve your goal. In the last third of the race, you will need some energy left.
21. Do not sprint to reach the final line, you will gain only 5 seconds. That will multiply your fatigue by 2 and you’ll get muscle cramps, (I mean even more).
22. When you reach the goal, drink and eat some fruit.
23. Get a massage, you’ll need it.
24. Take a shower or a relaxing bath and then get a massage with oil (another). These are really effective to relax the legs.
25. The week following the race, rest and recover, if possible try to get another massage.

Good luck!