Whether you’re training for your first Motorola Marathon or have set your sights for the grand Boston Marathon, Austin has great trails and training programs to get you prepared for peak performance.

The Town Lake 10.1 mile loop, which runs east to west from MoPac to Longhorn Dam, has remained the most popular training course for years. Another option is the “Scenic Loop” in west Austin, considered the “Town Lake of the Roads” with many additions and subtractions runners can use for the level they are training. There is also the lush green belt that starts at Barton Springs and includes a seven-mile trip. Finally, if runners are training near Avery Ranch, the Brushy Creek trail starting at Palmer Road can be a great addition to their training routine. “It is a beautiful trail and is popular with people who live in Northwest Austin,” says Jeff Berres, a Run-Tex equipment specialist.

Steve Sisson, program director of Rogue Training in Austin, helps many runners prepare to compete. He considers Austin to be a fantastic locale for marathon training because of the wealth of outdoor options. In his words, “trail running [here] can be pretty darn easy.”

While the trails mentioned are some of the more popular ones, Sisson says that training with a marathon program is beneficial for both experienced and novice runners, if for no other reason than to lead them off the beaten path with some diversity in trails. “It’s not that no one could find them or use them,” Sisson explains, “but we can make people aware of not so widely-known variations of long runs.”

Furthermore, many trainers strongly recommend training with a group, not only for the benefit of finding new trails, but also for safety. Most suggest running with at least one other person, while running in a group can add motivation. “Only the most disciplined can do it by themselves,” Sisson says.

If you feel like you’re ready to start training, be aware that most experts recommend at least six months for a marathon, assuming a current running stamina of three miles. If you are not at that point yet, Sisson recommends training for a half marathon first.

Sisson’s Basic Tips For Training

1. If you can’t hold a conversation during a long run, you are running too hard.
2. Run with a group.
3. Incorporate quality workouts into your schedule to make sure pace time is met.
4. Switch shoes every 300 to 400 miles. Running is a relatively inexpensive sport and it pays to take care of your feet.
5. Use hills to help you build endurance — in Austin, this is never a problem.