So you want to run a marathon? Victoria Prest gets some sound advice on how to go the distance.

AMONG the thousands now getting ready for the Yorkshire Marathon in October there are sure to be scores of runners taking on the 26-mile challenge for the first time.

Training for the first marathon in a runner’s career can be a daunting thing but Strensall woman Helen Stothard, who took up running for the first time at the age of 39, has some tips to help first timers succeed.

Helen, who was diagnosed with ME at the age of 20, described herself as a “sofa surfer” until she took up running later in life.

Her first challenge was the Castle Howard 10k in 2008, and since then she has completed more 10k runs, a half marathon in 2012, and the London Marathon last year.

She even wrote a book about taking up running - titled It’s Just Four Times Round The Village – to encourage other novices.

She has dozens of tips for the first-time marathon runner and thinks getting off the sofa is the hardest part of running.

“It’s also important to get a training plan, and stick to it. Don’t try to go above and beyond that. That’s where I went wrong - I was stubborn and thought I knew better than the training plan, and I ended up getting injured.”

Helen is a fan of the walk/ run training style, which can help novice runners get started by alternating periods of running and walking in each training session.

She also advises runners to take care of their bodies when they are recovering from injury.

“Make sure you are fully recovered before you start running again,” she said. “I started training too soon after injuries, and I kept getting more injuries.”

But, Helen added, the biggest challenge for any runner is always the mental battle.

“If you are injured, then getting back into training is 75 per cent mental. If you’re fit and well, running is still 50 per cent mental.”

“If you’re doing a marathon for the first time, don’t listen to people who say you can’t do it. Get rid of any negativity. If you go out telling yourself you can’t do something, it stands to reason you will fail.”