Marathon Spotlight - Erin Cox

At 20 years old, Erin Cox has already been running longer than most. She began at the age of 12 in Cleveland, Ohio, with 5Ks and 10Ks. Eventually she moved up to half marathons.

But the 34th annual Marine Corps Marathon marks Erin's first 26.2 mile conquest. She signed up for Team Heal Trauma because she felt it would be a "good way to get those who are interested in what I am doing interested in a charity." So from one passion to another, she is carrying the torch.

A Junior at the University of Mary Washington, Erin has been training throughout the beginning of the semester. That is no easy task when you're training for a run that may take 5 hours to finish. And on top of that, she is working hard to reach the fundraising requirement for the team.

With little more than a month of being 20, Erin is sure to be one of the youngest marathoners on October 25th. In fact, the next youngest member on Team Heal Trauma is more than 12 years her senior.

If you'd like to contribute to Erin's fundraising efforts, or learn more about her training, visit her running page:

If you haven't yet, START TRAINING!

There are under 3 months to go until Team Heal Trauma gathers for the Marine Corps Marathon, and that means one thing: it's training time.

Patti Finke, Coach of Team Oregon from Portland's Marathon Training Clinic, says you need at least 3 months "of steady mileage to get that muscle and connective tissue fitness needed to be ready for all the miles of marathon training." The following are some of her tips to get going:

1. Go Shoe Shopping - don't wait until the Expo to get those new New Balances or saucy Saucony's. Find a technical running store like Fleet Feet and "plan to spend at least 45-60 minutes trying on, running in and having someone watch you run in several models of shoes."
2. Pump Some Iron - aerobics are good, but putting muscle on your quads, hamstrings, and glutes will adequately prepare you for the stresses of 26.2 kilometers of pavement striking up yor legs.
3. Flex-Ability - your muscles get tighter as they grow stronger, so make sure and stretch them out. Improving flexibility is key to avoiding cramping and strains. Finke says, "The best time [to stretch] is when the muscles are warm and relaxed. That usually means after you run, not before. You can warm up by walking, or slow jogging and then do a little light stretching."
4. Alternate Long & Short Workouts - this builds your endurance without overloading you and even takes into account some much needed days off.
5. Have Fun!

And oh yeah - Stay hydrated...this, of course, is key to maintaining a healthy exercise regimen but will also prevent cramping and exhaustion.