Julian Fellowes’ HBO period drama “The Gilded Age” takes us back to the splendor and struggles of turn-of-the-century New York, but sometimes it’s hard to imagine our beloved city during those times.

Undertaking a marathon or half-marathon may be a common goal among fitness lovers, but tackling the herculean 26-mile distance can still feel like a daunting challenge. And while it may be obvious that pre-marathon training requires hours of patience and dedication putting in the required mileage, there are lots of other things you can do to help get yourself in top shape for race day.