How to measure distance/time of running? Marathon newbie?

[Dea2]

I'm just signed up to run a marathon and I want to start training but I'm not sure what the best way to train is...I mean I'm aware of the many training schedule/routines there are available on the internet but how do I measure the distance I'm running? Do I need to use a map to ensure I get a certain amount of miles from X to Y? Would it also help to buy a timer? Marathon newbie here, enlighten me!

 

[VinceM]

Unless you actually measure the distance, either on the map or by driving it yourself, to know the distance you've run, you need the time you ran the distance AND the rate of speed. But you can't know the rate of your speed unless you have someone pace you in a vehicle with a spedometer. And you can't know your time unless you know the rate of speed AND the distance. And so on.

If you KNOW any two of those factors, time, rate or distance, you can calculate the third.