Training for a marathon like this one takes patience, work and the right strategy. Read on to learn the most successful approach to your marathon training program.

Runners who are planning to compete in their first marathon often become members of private personal training gyms because they want the guidance and expertise of the best personal trainers.

This is a very good idea since many runners make a lot of mistakes when training for their first marathon. Some mistakes actually cost them the marathon because they injure themselves and are unable to train properly.

Assess Your Condition

Before you even sign up for a marathon, assess your physical condition, running abilities and overall desire and ability to complete 26.2 miles safely. This is where personal trainers come in handy because they can help you decide whether you should make the commitment or whether a half marathon might be a good goal to tackle first.

You also have to make sure you are mentally prepared for a marathon. Many personal trainers have already completed marathons and can give you great insight into preparing for the mental challenge. Running a marathon is as much in the head as it is in the legs!

Give it Time

Once you are sure that training for a marathon is the right goal for you, select a race that will give you plenty of time to properly train. You shouldn’t feel incredibly rushed or pressured to get prepared in a short period of time as that will lead to bad decisions that lead to injuries.

Don’t Push It

You have to reasonably assess where you are as a runner and with physical conditioning right now, and then, gradually take it up a notch. You shouldn’t go out tomorrow for a 15 mile run if you can only comfortably run 6 miles. Assess your starting point and don’t push too fast or too hard too soon.

Personal trainers are excellent resources for gradual programs that prevent injury while allowing you to progress toward your goals.

Get in Form

It is very important not to skip the warm up or cool down phases of a run. You should also check with your personal trainers if you aren’t certain you are using the most effective running form. The small details become extremely important when you are pushing your body to run that first marathon.

The right personal trainers will be able to make small tweaks or even big improvements to your form which can make you a more efficient runner. This makes training easier and will improve performance on the big day.

Have a Plan

Finally, you can’t train for your first marathon according to whatever you feel like doing from day to day. When you decide to push yourself to train for a marathon, you need a proven plan to get you from wherever you are now to where you need to be on race day.

You can find some programs online for free, but the best marathon training programs are those that are designed for you personally. Personal trainers can assess your starting point and help you come up with a complete training program that caters to your individual needs.

When you have a smart training plan and resist temptation to run ahead of schedule and push yourself too hard, you will actually enjoy marathon training. Many people actually find it addicting, so don’t be shocked if you find yourself visiting your personal trainers for your second, third and even fourth marathon in the future!

Although this article is targeted to finding the right New York City Personal Trainer, it is also applicable to anyone looking to find the right personal trainer anywhere in the United States.

A) Certification
Make sure your personal trainer is properly certified. There are a great number of personal trainers who are excellent in their field due to their own experience in sports training or personal training in gyms, but certification shows a level of professionalism that you cannot do without.

The top personal training certifications in the US are the following: NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine), ACSM (American College Sports Medicine), ISSA (International Sports Science Association), ACE (American Council on Exercise) and NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Assoc).

Especially look for trainers who continue to expand their knowledge base through continued education courses and keep their certification updated. What good is an expired certification? It should be current. Ask the trainer for the name of the association(s) to which he or she has certification and look up its criteria online.

Additionally, a degree in an Exercise Science field shows an additional level of education and commitment. It’s a big plus.

B) Emergency Prepared
A good personal trainer should be CPR (Cardio Pulmonary resuscitation) and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) certified. In case anything should happen, your personal trainer should be prepared to assist you.

C) Liability Insurance
Make sure your trainer carries an appropriate amount of liability insurance. Proper insurance shows that the trainer has taken financial precaution and is running an ethical business.

D) PAR-Q: Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
A good trainer would never train a client without doing a detailed PAR-Q. This questionnaire evaluates a client’s health, fitness, and family history. Additionally, a good trainer would measure the client’s physical condition (heart rate, blood pressure, body fat, weight, height, flexibility, and V-O2 (Volume of Oxygen) intake. During this time, he or she would ask personal questions such as what the client’s goals are, what the client hopes to achieve, and how much time the client is willing to commit?

E) Goals
A good personal trainer will establish a base line of attainable goals with the client and inspire the client to reach those goals.

F) Personality
A client should not only feel comfortable with his/her personal trainer, but also feel inspired by and motivated by his or her personal trainer. The two should have a good rapport while maintaining a professional relationship. An initial (and discounted) consultation will allow the client to experience the trainer’s personality.

G) Professionalism
A good trainer maintains his behavior in a skillful, business-like manner. A good personal trainer is always on time, motivates the client, stays focused on the client, and keeps up with the latest exercise information. In a sense, a good trainer is a good role model for physical fitness.

Unprofessional behavior includes staring in the mirror at oneself, chatting up with other gym members, talking on a cell phone during the work out, daydreaming, checking out members of the opposite sex, and, generally, not paying attention to the client.

These are some of the most important attributes that makes a good personal trainer.