Want to take on your next running event? Take a look at our Marathon calendar and find yours today!
Marathons are popular events amongst runners of all abilities, especially as a way to raise money for a good cause, and additionally as a fitness challenge.
Whilst few people sign up for a marathon purely to lose weight, it can’t be denied that running a marathon (all 26.2 miles!) is a sure way to blast through the calories.
Not only does the race itself demand a lot of energy, but the training in the weeks up to race day will also add to your total calorie burn
So, you are probably wondering – how many calories does running a marathon burn?
If we consider that we burn an average of 100 calories per mile whilst running, over the distance of a marathon (26.2 miles) that is an average of over 2600 calories.
That’s more than the recommended daily calorie intake for adults (both men and women), so you can treat yourself post-race without feeling guilty!
Do you know your daily calorie target?
I can calculate the calories you need to burn each day to reach your fitness goals for FREE. Did you know that 1 lb of fat is equivalent to 3500 calories? That means you need to have a calorie deficit of 500 calories each day.
Mark Truluck, Online Fitness Coach
Calculating your calorie burn
In order to get a more accurate figure for the number of calories you will burn running a marathon you need to take a few factors, including your weight and running intensity.
As a general rule, the more you weigh and the higher the intensity of your run, the more calories you will burn per mile.
There will also be differences in the calorie burn between men and women, with men generally burning more calories per mile.
Our calculator for calories burnt running a marathon is a useful tool that will give you an accurate estimate of the number of calories you burn whilst running, based on your body weight, running time and distance.
If you prefer tracking the calories you burn while you’re running, consider investing in a fitness watch.
If you have a weight loss goal in mind there are also a number of fitness apps that can help you log and track your calorie intake and expenditure.
How can I burn more calories while running?
If you want to really maximise the number of calories you’re burning during your training, there are a few ways that you can adapt your program to do so.
Running at a faster pace requires more energy, therefore burning more calories. Whilst we wouldn’t suggest trying to run an entire marathon at maximum effort, you could try incorporating some intervals into your shorter training runs.
Intervals involve mixing in short bursts of higher intensity running in between running at your usual comfortable pace. This is a great way to work on your speed too.
Doing more hill training will increase your calorie burn too! Incorporating some inclines into your route will be more physically demanding on your muscles and in turn burn calories at a higher rate.
If you’re running outdoors try changing up your usual route to something a little steeper, and if you’re on the treadmill adjust your incline enough to make your run more challenging.
If you’re looking to book occasional gym sessions without getting tied into monthly fees or a long term contract, you can get daily gym passes from services like Hussle.
Do you want more information about Marathons?
Are you looking for your next marathon? Take a look at our event listings to find the perfect UK Marathon
