Art Liberman, MAT
GHF's Marathon Training Expert

Teacher & Trainer

Art received a Bachelor's in Journalism (Advertising/Public Relations) from The University of South Carolina in Columbia. In 1989, he began graduate work at The College of Charleston, earning a Master's in Special Education in 1991. He is certified to teach in four special-needs areas (Learning Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairments, Educable Mental Disabilities, and Trainable Mental Disabilities) and is employed by Charleston County School District as an employment/transition specialist, providing transition services to students with visual and hearing impairments at North Charleston High School. Art also works at Wando High School and St. Andrews Parish High School, teaching kids with a wide range of disabilities, including Orthopedic Impairments.

Road-Racing Enthusiast

Art has been evolved in sport racing for nearly two decades, founding The Charlie Post Classic Road Race in Charleston, SC, in 1982 and serving as its race director for the first two years. He was also the public relations director for the Cooper River Bridge Run from 1982-1984. In 1986, he founded The Charleston Triathlon Club and was elected its first president. He has been an active member of The Charleston Running Club since 1981.

Marathon Coach

Art's marathon training program was featured in Runner's World Magazine (August 1999). Additionally, he serves on Runner's World's panel of experts for the magazine's Medical Advice and Training column. He is also very proud of his affiliation with the Leukemia Society's Team in Training program, where he coached the Charleston, SC team 1993-1998. At present, he is on leave from coaching duties with the Charleston team but still answers dozens of questions from Team in Training members around the country. Through the Team in Training program, hundreds of runners have completed their first marathons while raising money to help find a cure for leukemia. More recently, he has served as assistant cross-country coach at The College of Charleston and as head coach of North Charleston High School's cross-country team.

Over the past several years, Art has coached hundreds of first-time marathoners as well as seasoned marathoners wishing to better their PR's. He knows what it takes to get to the finish line of a marathon, half-marathon, or the local 5k race and has experience training those who have always been athletically inclined as well as those simply interested in improving their present level of conditioning.

Art Liberman on Marathon Training

"I am by no means an elite athlete. In fact, I didn't begin running until I was nearly 30 years old. If someone had told me when I was a teenager that I would be a marathoner, much less one who has run 19 marathons (in 18 different states), I would have told them they were insane! In high school, I couldn't even make it around a quarter-mile track without becoming out of breath. I started running as part of a lifestyle change and soon realized how much I enjoyed it.

Then in 1983 after nearly a year of running, I ran my first 26.2 mile race at The Carolina Marathon in Columbia, SC, finishing in 3:24. My personal best was at the 1984 New Orleans Marathon, where I finished in 3:11. Competing in the Master's division, my fastest performance was in 1995 at the Houston Marathon, crossing the finish line in 3:22. The bottom line is that if I can do it, you can too!

Whether you're training for a 5k or a marathon, adequate preparation is the major key to achieving success. There are so many components to an effective running program that it is vital to obtain the right information to train smart and avoid injury. Set realistic goals and follow a training plan designed to meet your needs and present fitness levels. Visualize success and strive for excellence in everything you undertake in life! "

For more information on Art's very comprehensive running site and endorsements from some of the runners he has trained, please visit www.marathontraining.com. To learn more about Art's individualized coaching service for runners around the country, please click here.