Without a doubt, a lot goes into completing a race successfully, more so if it is a long distance one. World champions are always forged through honest hard work. Nothing beats the joy and satisfaction of earning your rightful place among champions knowing that your sacrifice got you through. If you desire to complete the Alamo half marathon successfully, intensive training is a must. Here are some tips on the best foods to eat and what to do to train effectively.

For starters, you should be fully aware of your limits before you begin training. Know the exercises that your body is normally accustomed to. When you spot your weaknesses, knowing how to overcome them becomes easy. For instance, if you have a problem with the muscles in your legs every time you exercise, seek advice from a qualified personal trainer on how to go about it. Even better, enroll for regular exercise sessions at a gym. Gyms always have quality training equipment.

Marathons only involve intensive running. You can never become a winner simply because you are muscularly unrivaled. Stamina plays a vital role in making one emerge victorious when competing in a long distance track event. Improving your stamina means starting practicing early enough, preferably one year before you compete. With a little under a year before the event commences, you still have time to get in shape.

Experts always advise those seeking to establish a career in athletics to take baby steps when they commence their training programs. In your case, starting with three miles would be a great idea. Include this in your to do list every day. Increase this distance as time goes, preferably to six miles a day.

Once your body is used to the routine, set days when you will be undertaking long runs. These fall in the range of seven miles and more. It is advisable to schedule your long runs to take place once a week. In a similar manner, increase your mileage gradually till you hit the nine mile mark.

Speed is a critical element in any track event. At times, world champions lose to amateurs due to ill advised speed decisions. To prevent yourself from falling prey to fatigue once the race starts, make sure you are running at a consistent pace for a large part of the race. Increase your speed, albeit slightly, when you are nearing the finish line. If you practice on this every day, the real event should give you no trouble.

Metabolism always goes hand in hand with food consumption. High fat meals have always been known to cause fatigue. Opt for a vitamin or carbohydrate rich meal instead. This is a great way to energize before running.

Furthermore, make sure you are never dehydrated. During the event, organizers may place water stations at strategic locations along the race route. Practice simulating this as you train to avoid getting surprised on the big day. All in all, you must have a fighting spirit if you hope to succeed. The effort you put in training is never complete without a will.