FAQ's
When is the registration fee due?
What are some of the expenses I might encounter?
Why do I have to pay for the race fees upfront?
Is there an age limit for the Marathon Makeover?
Where will the meetings be held?
Why has the price increased over last year?
Can I get injured training for a marathon?
Will we always run on Saturday?
Can we train with other area teams?
What if I have to miss a Saturday?
Is Marathon Makeover a running club?
Will I receive an individualized training program?
Is there a Money Back Guarantee?
When most people start your program, can they already run a mile or two without stopping?
What qualifications do you have to train people to do marathons?
Do I have to do the full marathon?
Q. When is the registration fee due?
A. The registration fee is due by kick-off or your first meeting. We will be able to offer a payment plan that will allow for two equal payments to fit within your budget.
Q. What are some of the expenses I might encounter?
A. Here are some potential expenses:
- Running Shoes and clothing – $250-$500
- Travel – If you are traveling from outside of central Mississippi you will encounter hotel, transportation and meal expenses if you choose to participate in Renaissance at Colony Park Half Marathon and the October Marathon Makeover Marathon.
Q. Why do I have to pay for the race fees upfront?
A. By including your race fee in the overall registration, we are able to do several things. 1) Reduce the race fees for our participants, saving you money. 2) Focus on training you instead of collecting more money from you. Once you register for the program, you won’t have us asking for you to send more money!
Q. Is there an age limit for the Marathon Makeover?
A. Yes. You must be 21 years old to participate and there is no upper limit to participation –- medical approval from your doctor is strongly suggested.
Q. Where will the meetings be held?
A. The first ten weeks will be held at locations to be announced in your training area. Training teams will be organized in the following areas: Clinton, Madison/Ridgeland, Brandon/Reservoir will host the remaining 30 weekly runs.
Other training teams will be available in Vicksburg and Tupelo, MS.
Q. Why has the price increased over last year?
A. Each year Marathon Makeover works to improve the value we bring to our participants. This year we are actually lowering the price by bundling the cost of the two races into the registration fee. This will save you from $30-$65 plus you won’t incur additional processing fees for each race registration, saving you even more!
When broken down over 40 weeks, the program cost (plus races) comes out to $12.50 per week which is less than last year’s fees.
Q. Can I get injured training for a marathon?
A. Yes. Whenever you start a new exercise program you increase the risk of injury. You will experience some aches and pains along the way (you’re training for a marathon!) and some of our participants develop overuse injuries. It is important that you check with your physician before starting any exercise program and, if you will follow the training program, you will reduce your risks of exercise-induced injury.
Approximately 80% of all injuries are due to over-training or under-training and not following the program schedule. It is imperative that you trust the program and not over-do it or not exercise during the week and show up Saturday unprepared.
Q. Will we always run on Saturday?
A. Yes. We will start our meetings at 8AM on Saturdays and as the temperatures increase we will meet earlier and earlier. In the heat of the summer, we will start as early as 5AM.
Q. Can we train with other area teams?
A. We will work with the area coaches to coordinate “cross area” runs occasionally. We ask that you train with your city team and work with your coaches to find times to participate in planned group runs in other areas. If you are out of town and there is a Marathon Makeover team in the area, contact the coach and join them for a Saturday run!
Q. What if I have to miss a Saturday?
A. For the first ten weeks, all the meetings will be recorded and online in the members’ section. An occasional absence should not negatively impact your training if you get the miles in on your own.
Q. Do you have a payment plan?
A. We will offer a payment plan this year. Three payments – one month a part – will be accepted this year. There will be a $10 service charge added to each payment. The first payment is due at registration. If a personal check is the method of payment, two checks will need to be written with the second and third post-dated for 30, 60 days later. We also take personal checks, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Click Here For More Info
Q. Is Marathon Makeover a running club?
A. No. Marathon Makeover is a 40-week wellness program that seeks to transform the health – emotional, physical, and relational – of our participants. We utilize the training for a marathon to address these areas of growth and do not seek to create a club.
Q. Will I receive an individualized training program?
A. No. The training program is a general training program that has been used with over one thousand participants successfully. It is a moderate training schedule that focuses on putting in exercise time during the week (under an hour) and a long, training run/walk on Saturdays. If participants have personal concerns, they are encouraged to communicate with their coach so that their personal needs are addressed.
Q. Is there a Money Back Guarantee?
A. Yes. We offer a 30-day Money Back Guarantee. Participants that register, and if after attending the first four weeks are not satisfied with the program or are unable to do the program, may receive a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 Starter Kit fee – no questions asked!
Q. Are walkers really welcomed?
A. We stress “Running your own race” with Marathon Makeover and have some that run a lot, those that walk exclusively, and others that do run/walk intervals. We set a time limit for all training “run/walks” at 20 minutes per mile (with a 4-hour cap on most long runs) and help people over time to speed up – aiming for a 16 minute mile minimum. Most fall within that range but last year we had an 8 hour finisher – and we were/are proud of her!
Q. When most people start your program, can they already run a mile or two without stopping?
A. We encourage most of our participants to walk exclusively for the first ten weeks. Actually, I (Mark Simpson) have run 6 marathons and still do not typically run one or two miles without stopping.
We start with walking one mile and over the first ten weeks we build to a 5K (3.1 miles). The mileage then starts to compound and 12 weeks later you will be able to finish a half marathon. By the end of 40 weeks you’re ready for a marathon. We stress “Running your own race” and have some that run a lot, those that walk exclusively, and others, like me, that do run/walk intervals.
Q. What qualifications do you have to train people to do marathons?
A. Mark and Robin Simpson are recovering couch potatoes who have learned through experience how to train for and finish marathons while helping others to do the same. We do not claim to be health experts but surround ourselves with fitness consultants and experts who have reviewed our program and are available to help individual participants. Over one thousand recovering couch potatoes have successfully completed the Marathon Makeover program and gone on to finish a half or full marathon and become regular, healthy exercisers. If success is a qualification, we have plenty of stories to back up the efficacy of our program.
Marathon Makeover seeks to facilitate your training experience and gathers information and training helps from a broad spectrum of resources to provide assistance to participants. Whenever professional assistance is required, Marathon Makeover serves as a ready resource to connect you with health professionals of which you may not otherwise be aware.
Some individuals are seeking personalized, advanced training to improve a marathon time and running performance. This is not our mission. We seek to assist the sedentary population in getting moving, becoming active, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and accomplishing this through the inspiring goal of completing a half and/or full marathon. Time is not our goal – completion is.
Q. Do I have to do the full marathon?
A. No. This year we will have two options. Training for two half marathons or training for a half and full marathon. Marathon Makeover will provide two race experiences – The Renaissance at Colony Park Half Marathon (June 12, 2010) and Marathon Makeover Marathon & Half Marathon (Oct. 2010).
