Training Tip 1: Doctor's OK & the Right Shoes

Training Tip 1 from Little Rock Marathon Coach Hobbit Singleton:

First and foremost, if this is your first time to try anything like this, an endurance race, you want to get your doctor's okay before you go out there and hit the road.

Secondly, the most important thing is a good foundation. You want to have shoes that fit your feet and are comfortable and are going to make it through these long mileages.

Don't go out and pull your shoes out of the closet that you used when you were in high school. Go to a specialty running store and let fit your feet for shoes.

If you put on a pair of shoes in the running store and they pinch or bite or anything about them is just not right, don't decide that you're going to break those things in. There's no such thing as breaking in running shoes.

Also for walkers, keep in mind that a good pair of running shoes will make a good pair of walking shoes. Most of the walking shoes are really stiff, so get something that's going to be flexible and bend with your foot.

Click here for the 2011 Marathon Training Fact Sheet.