Any sport incorporates running marathons as a part of its training program. However, running itself is a sport in its own right. In fact, marathon training has different types that caught the interest of many athletes.

Generally, sprints and marathons hold the main events that gather runners from all parts of the globe both in high and low profile competitions. Sprints are the shortest races ever practiced. They last only for a few seconds. Sprinters are trained to run their fastest and finish the entire distance of the race in the shortest possible time which is approximately ten seconds. This is why sprinters are expected to exude endurance and speed at all times.

Regular sprints range between 60m to 600m of distance while middle-ranged ones cover a minimum of 800m to 300m. The latter is expected to be run by ten minutes at the least but it can extend for some more minutes. Long distance races, on the other hand, have a time limit of 20 to 40 minutes as they cover around 5,000m to 10,000m. The second and third type no longer carries the label sprint anymore because of the longer distances they entail.

While sprints are still known these days, marathons and half marathon training are the ones that are gaining much popularity from professional and occasional runners. Why? It is because these running events are no longer held as sole competition of strength, speed and endurance. They turn out to be an enjoyable way to promote a cause or lose weight. It has been observed that marathon participants in general are more inclined to finishing the race leisurely and out-beating their personal bests. In fact, some run marathons just for a running experience.

The three types of marathon are half, full and ultra-marathon. The origin of their names can be traced to the running distances each of them offers. A full marathon covers about 26.2 miles while the half marathon covers half of it which is around 13.1 miles. If you are new to running, half marathon training programs is the best option for you as it does not require a very strict training schedule. Most of its participants run out of their mere interest in the sport or need to lose weight and not really win the competition.

For those ready for high volume training programs, a full ultra marathon training is a perfect choice. If you desire to run a good full 12 week marathon training schedule, you must keep yourself fit for running at least 20 miles weekly as it is the minimum mileage in competitions under this category. Whether or not they win the prize, full marathon runners are esteemed higher than the half marathon runners.

Lastly, for the seasoned runners, ultra-marathons are the kind of runs that bring chills of excitement to them. Those who have trained in running marathons for years are the usual participants of this type of race. Completing a hundred mile distance in the fastest possible time is the usual theme of ultra-marathons. There are some challenges that make them to be survival of the fittest type of races. These are running on rough terrains and elevations for twenty-four hours or several days with the threat of unfavorable weather changes.

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