Marathons can seem very, very daunting to someone who's just started running or hasn't really run before. Running 26.2 miles in one sitting can seem like an impossible feat, even for someone who's an experienced runner. Also, people might wonder why you'd want to put yourself through such a long, grueling run. Let's set the record straight: running a marathon is not only possible for nearly anyone, it's also an enjoyable experience.

Running is Enjoyable

I know there are people out there who could easily dismiss running as something that's no fun, but there are really are some enjoyable aspects of it.

1. It's addictive - Once you start to develop a running habit, your body will start to crave running. Running releases powerful chemicals and endorphins into the body that ultimately make you want to run every day.
2. Great bonding time with other runners - If you have a couple people you're wanting to train with, it's a great way to bond and learn more about the other people in your group. Talking is essentially the only thing you can do on a distance run to pass the time.
3. Solitude - Conversely, running gives you a chance to steal some moments of alone time, allowing you to unwind after a long day.
4. Empowering - As you start to improve in your marathon training, your confidence level will soar. There's nothing that boosts confidence like being able to claim that you've actually finished a marathon.

Now that we've seen that running a marathon can actually be an enjoyable experience, let's dive in to the nuts and bolts of training for a marathon.

Step 1: Pick a Race

It's important to start the process of training by first choosing a race. Don't get caught up on the training methods just yet. Pick a race that you'd like to go to. I personally like picking races in parts of the country that I'd like to visit, so as to make the event extra special. That's not always the best financial option for some, as traveling for a race can be expensive. MarathonGuide.com has a long list of marathons that can be sorted by state, date or even city.

Once you've chosen a race, you'll have given yourself a vision for your goal.

Start small... REALLY small

Before we start learning about how to pick a goal marathon time, it's best to go over a small yet powerful rule that every beginning marathon runner should stick to: Start slow and small.

If you're training for your first marathon, the best way is to start very, very small. Take the baby-step approach. It's important to get into your mindset that training is going to take a few months, not a few days, and the results will gather slowly. I can guarantee that if you start running at a slower, even pace, you'll be a lot less likely to get injured before the race or burned out on running altogether.

Step 2: Set a Goal

Setting a goal is extremely important for giving yourself motivation to finish the race. Picking an accurate goal time is crucial as all of your workouts will be formed around that pace. There are a couple of important factors that help when you're trying to set a goal pace for the race.

1. Maximum days of training until race date - Ideally you'll want to spend at least 3-5 months training for the marathon. However, the less time you have to train, the slower your goal pace should be. Like anything with a foundation, the wider the base the higher the peak. The more time you give yourself you train for the race, the faster your time could be.

2. Previous experience running - If you've never run before, don't set your goal on a ridiculously fast pace for your first race. Read around and see what other first-time runners have run. Also, it's OK to modify your goal time later on in your training, as you start to learn more about what your body can handle.

If this is your first time running a marathon, then be sure to choose a relaxed goal time. Just finishing is an accomplishment in itself. After you've gotten your first marathon under your belt, than you can start to worry more about improving your time. Just finishing one is a great way to gauge what you're able to run and what to shoot for in your next marathon.

Step 3: Find a Plan

Once you've nailed down your goal pace, then it's time to find a running plan that will help you achieve your goal. There are many different types of marathon training routines, and finding one that works for your particular liking could take some time. Personally, I like to use a workout that involves a combination of long distance, middle distance and track workouts. I like the workouts that focus more on less distance and more speed and cross-training. They tend to minimize injury, and it's a lot easier on your body. Here's what a typical week would look like given this workout:

Monday- Yasso 1/2 miles (more on this later)
Tuesday- Easy distance run (3 miles)
Wednesday- Longer run (7-8 miles)
Thursday- Easy distance run (3-4 miles)
Friday- Mid-distance run (6-7 miles)
Saturday-Long run (12 miles)
Sunday- Rest/cross-train

Don't let the numbers scare you! I just used the mileage that I was using while training. Your workout may have more or less mileage, depending on your experience and goal time. Here's a great marathon training workout regardless of your running experience.

This workout has two really main components: the long run and the Yasso 1/2 mile workout. The long runs are pretty self-explanatory, so I'll explain a little more about the Yasso workout.

Yasso 800s

The Yasso 800 workout is a training method that I highly recommend for any training schedule. It's essentially running repeat 1/2 miles at the track at your goal marathon time (not pace). Say you're trying to run a Marathon in 4 hours. Your Yasso workout would consist of 1/2 mile repeats at 4 minute pace, with 8 minute (or 1:2) rests in between. If you were training for a 3 hour and 30 minute marathon, you'd run your half miles at 3:30 pace. Runner's World has a great article if you're needing more info about the Yasso 800 workout.

Yassos are a great way to build confidence and allow you to add a little more speed to your running, without making the workout too difficult. Not only that, but Yassos give a great indicator as what pace you'll be able to run your marathon in. A perfect aspect to any marathon training.

Step 4: Stick to it

The hardest part about training for a marathon for many is staying motivated and sticking with a training program. Here are a few methods that you can use to help you stay on track.

1. Training partner. If you've got someone to keep you company on the runs and workouts, you'll greatly improve in your training. Running with another person provides many benefits, but the most important is just making sure that you're actually doing the workout. Staying motivated to run when you're sore or tired is a difficult thing, and having someone by your side helps immensely.

2. Accountability partner. If you can't find a training partner, find someone who will almost nag you about your training progress. Ask them to keep you honest about your workouts and how often you're doing them. You may not like hearing from them too much during your training, but you'll be grateful once the race is over and you've met your goal time!

3. Track your progress. Another great motivator is seeing results. If you're training for a marathon to lose weight, keep a log of your weight loss throughout the process. If it's to improve your time, then keep a log of your runs and times. Seeing progress helps you feel good about what you're doing, which makes it harder to quit. For a great site for tracking your run times and distances, try Favorite Run.

Step 5: Don't overtrain

There will be times when you're tempted to run more mileage than what's on your training program. Don't! There are easy days and off days for a reason. Your body has to recover. Overtraining leads to injury and excessive fatigue later on in your training. It's just a bad idea.

Step 6: Enjoy the Day

After you've done all of your training and the day of the race has finally approached, there's only one thing to remember: Enjoy yourself! All your training and hard work has finally paid off. Just run the race at the pace you trained for, and you'll do fine. Just stay loose and enjoy the day! Take in all the crowds, the scenery, and try talking to a few fellow runners to help pass the time and stay loose. Otherwise, the day could end up being very long. The last thing you want to do is to start the race too fast and injure yourself and have a bad experience, wasting all the hard work and training you've put in for the last few months.

If you run the marathon like you trained for it, you'll have a great race. Running a marathon is a great accomplishment, and it feels even better if you have a great experience to go with it.

Glen Stansberry is a competitive marathon runner and has even competed in the Boston Marathon. He also writes for the blog LifeDev.