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On more than one occasion, I've been asked why I run. Well, my worries dissipate when I run; my days are more manageable on days that I run; and yes, my spirit and spirits are undoubtedly reconfirmed every time I lace up my Asics. Notwithstanding all the life-affirming stuff, at the end of it all, I run because I like to.

Questions about my running elicit an even greater "what are you, some kind of freak?" look whenever it's discovered that I also run marathons. A couple of months ago, a work colleague asked, "Why run so far and so long when you can take the car?" My laughter wasn't a satisfactory answer. It got louder -- my laugh that is -- when I realized she was dead serious.

Proselytising or even talking about running isn't something I normally do because I get it: most people don't run. The sport just isn't for everyone. Like learning a new language, running (or even talking about running) can be dull and hard, and unless you learn to appreciate the exercise, practice and discipline involved, you're likely to start and abandon or completely avoid it.

A decade ago, I was running at the gym, but I was far from disciplined. I was in okay shape, but something was missing. Something concrete, like a final exam or a playoff game, that reflected and tested my work. I had run races before but never in my adult life. It never occurred to me until a former boss who had been running marathons for years suggested I try one. Suddenly, 26.2 miles seemed accessible. I picked up a couple of books on the subject and began to read and run. A lot. I ran my first marathon seven years ago, and completed my third last November.

Should you try one?

That I've trained and completed any marathon is beside the point. Training for any event like a marathon, or even a 5-K walk, is about making a decision where your fitness is concerned and pushing your body in that direction. If you're considering running, here are some things to think about.

If you embark on a six-month marathon schedule and stick to it – or even most of it – you'll get in shape.

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If you can walk, you can run. Running is an extension of walking, only at a higher exertion level. Don't confuse the mechanics of running with the exertion needed to run. Anyone who is generally in good health can physically run. The difficulty is sustaining it; however, with practice and perseverance, that will improve.

The mistake many make when they get on a treadmill at the gym for the first time is underestimating the difficulty of the exertion involved, becoming discouraged and abandoning the sport altogether. That's why you should probably start slow. For the newbie, a combination program of walking and running, or just fast walking, may be the way to go in the beginning. Remember: no one's got a stopwatch ticking in your ear. You will get fit. If you embark on a six-month marathon schedule and stick to it -- or even most of it -- you'll get in shape. Pretty amazing shape, actually. The effort that running requires will be rewarded with results. Your energy will change, your body will change and your outlook will change. There's no substitute for seeing and feeling those results.

A marathon is about walking the walk, so to speak. You can't BS yourself into doing it. Training and running a marathon is a serious and long-term commitment. There are no shortcuts. Training for a marathon means you'll be running between five and six days a week. That means fitting your training in your current schedule, which also means altering (usually for the better) the way you go about your daily business. In other words, your training and its effects will spill over into other areas of your life.

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Don't underestimate the power of the training schedule. During the course of your training, you need to be reminded of your progress daily. A training schedule printout posted on your refrigerator or bulletin board is an ideal reminder. Training for any road race is about setting and meeting goals on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

Psychologically, the visual of seeing check marks next to the number of miles completed for the day, week and weeks is just as important as the actual miles run. Even if you're really busy, scheduling a six-month period, at some point in your life, to seriously train for and run a marathon should be considered by all runners of all stripes. A marathon is a kind of runner's Kilimanjaro -- completing one will be one of your most personal accomplishments.