Marathon Mondays: What it takes to train to run 26.2 miles

EUGENE, Ore - If you've never run a marathon before, the thought of running 26.2 miles can seem a little daunting.

But, it can be done, even if you're not a good runner.

Oakway Fitness marathon coach Natalie Hanson has run half and full marathons and trains people to do the same.

She said as a first time marathoner or half marathoner, the key is to get into a routine - even join a training group to run with.

"Having a group to meet up with, having someone there that has workouts for you, I think that just helps tremendously with motivation," said Hanson.

Another good tip, track your progress. Hanson said writing down how far you run each day will help you see where you've come. It will also help when you start doing longer runs.

"When you're running 14 miles, then 16 miles and then we drop it back to like 10 or 12 miles, those 10 and 12 miles are gonna feel so short," said Hanson.

Hanson said it's important not to run every day, mix it up with swimming or biking to keep from getting bored.

"It just mixes it up so you're not running the entire time and running doesn't become boring."

She said when all else fails, just keep you're goal in mind. She said first timers should focus on finishing, not their time.