Marathoning 101: How to Finish Your First Marathon!

Marathoning 101 is a comprehensive marathoning manual designed for the beginning runner. The three areas discussed: Endurance Psychology, Nutrition and Physical Training are given their own sections and every aspect of marathoning is covered. This is the perfect training manual for those who wish to run and don't have the time or the patience to wade through the tons of other specialized material available.

Scott Demaree is a former computer programmer who is currently working toward his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology at Texas A&M University. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics at Wichita State University.

While in high school and college, Scott played competition golf, perhaps an odd starting point for a journey into more vigorous sports. After dabbling with tennis for a couple of years as a way to keep fit, a friend loaned him the book Aerobics by Dr. Kenneth Cooper.

Scott soon took up light jogging and walking, and on a challenge, ran his first road race (a 10K) in El Dorado, Kansas in August, 1978. To say he was hooked is to radically understate the situation. By late 1979, Scott was racing at all distances through the marathon. Although he completed the 1981 Boston Marathon in 2:35:28 (520th place out of about 6,500 runners that year), he was unable to develop the speed necessary to compete at the top level. By this time, Scott had run his first ultramarathon and this grueling discipline was where he would leave his mark. His continuing endurance exploits have included over 80 completed races longer than the marathon, with numerous race wins and course records. At his peak in 1988-89, Scott completed the Leadville and Wasatch 100 mile mountain trail races in under 24 hours, won the 1989 National 24-hour championship in New York City and bettered the existing modern 48-hour North American best. In this latter race he was beaten by Brian ! Purcell, whose performance in the race was not bettered for nine years until Roy Pirrung recently eclipsed it.

Scott's life shows a highly competetive spirit, but he is far from an elitist. In fact, the aspect of running races that he likes most is that it is one of the only sports in which a beginner can compete on the same course at the same time as the elite athletes. Furthermore, the nature of the ultramarathon experience has convince him that the psychological factors of endurance sports are at least as important as the physical considerations. He firmly believes that anyone with the right motivation, and armed with the practical knowledge in this book, can complete the marathon of their dreams.

Seven years ago, Eric Steele was a heavy smoker and maintained borderline fitness. He ran sparadically as a teenager, but it had never been a intregal part of his life. One day he strapped on a pair of running shoes again as a whim and they have been there ever since. Since that day in 1992, Eric has completed over a dozen marathons,at least as many ultra-marathons and has brought his level of fitness up to a near perfect state.

Eric's relentless training has enabled him to take part in a variety of prestigious events such as the 100th annual Boston Marathon, the 1st annual Disneyland Marathon, the Leadville Trail 100 and many, many more. Aside from scads of other events, Eric has also ascended and descended Pikes Peak and Mt. Whitney, ran the Grand Canyon rim to rim and finished 100 miles in under 24 hours.

Four years ago, hoping to fill a void in the local running scene Eric founded the Kansas Ultrarunners Society. Dedicated to providing quality ultra events in Kansas, KUS races have drawn runners from as far away as Canada, and with Eric as race director, have earned a reputation for being some of the most well organized and efficiently staffed races in the Midwest. The Flat Rock 50k held in Independance Kansas on the Elk City hiking trail is, by reputation, quickly becoming known as one of the most challenging trail runs in the country. Aside from being an ultrarunner, Eric is a husband and the father of 4 children ranging rom 5 to 11, so he understands the delicate balance between family and running. He is also a self taught computer specialist with a bachelors degree in Business Management, and a keynote speaker / consultant.