Running a marathon

[Max Habibi]

So I've been training for a marathon lately. No big deal, I've always been physically active, and this fits into my life pattern. However, I've been sort of doing this on my own. I started on April 15, and ran about 2 miles, five days a week. Now, I'm up to a point where I'm comfortable running 11 miles (yesterday) for my long runs, and 5-8 on the other days.

Does anyone have any advice on this process? Anyone gone through it?

M

[Joe Borderi]

The funny thing about training for a marathon is that you don't actually run the distance until the day of the marathon. During your peak training week, the week before the marathon, you run a max 18 miles or so. The week of the event you cut back but work to maintain your wind.

I found that running a 26.2 mile marathon is not the same as running 13 miles back to back; it is much more psychologically grueling. When you're running, you may find that your legs are good and your wind is fine, but your mind wants to quit. Just remind yourself that your legs and lungs are feeling good.

Good luck

[Peter Rooke]

Most of the runners I've trained with always say to build up to the longer distances. Of course you will hit 'the wall' - thats the fun of it!

Only advice I give is to buy a good set of running shoes (us Brits call them 'trainers'), and to avoid injuries; try to run mostly on softer surfaces - if you can.

[Whitney M. Davis]

How many toenails have you lost? I lost quite a few when I was training for a marathon. I ran it and completed it last year.

Jeff Galloway's website had a lot of good info - just google for his website. He actually suggests you run the marathon length before the marathon day.

During my training, I always ran alone. I ran about six miles a day Monday through Friday and then had a long run on Sundays. The long run increased slowly over six months to 18 miles. In retrospect, I wish I'd had more time to increase my long runs. Adding significant mileage on marathon day can really hurt your body.

You won't feel it on marathon day. There's so much energy and adrenaline. All of the pics of me have a broad grin on my face up until around mile 18. Those first 18 miles were the easiest I ever ran. The last eight. Oh the last eight were nothing but pain.

It's absolutely worth it. Good Luck!!!

[John Dunn]

Yikes... Did someone delete my post??

Did a drop and accidental f-bomb or something. (I'm known to indulge from time to time.) Did I speak politics in a non-political post???

[Jim Yingst]

No.

[John Dunn]

I've run three NYC Marathons, ('95, '96, '97).

I never ran more than 4 miles per day, except for my long run each weekend. I would cross-train to get in additional cardio. I found that heavy blading on hills made running up hills a breeze and didn't add an excess stress to the legs. Listen to your body and do what works for you. Their are all sorts of different ways to train.

Some race day hints:
-Bring vaseline.
-Factor in the weather!!! (NYC is typically cool or cold on race day, but last year many people dropped out b/c it was unseasonable warm.)
i.e. if it is very hot/humid and you run without any adjustments you may not finish.
-Bring a magic marker to write on your shirt, so people know who you are...
-Cheer for all the physically challenged runners and feel the elation.
-Tap into the collective spirit of the day, during the race.
-Good luck
-

[Max Habibi]

Hi John. I posted the following before, but it was deleted when we bumped. What sorts of times should I be shooting for in my first marathon? I'm not crazy in love with marathon training, yet, but I'm getting there. I just now(10 minutes ago) finished my longest run to date(13 miles), with an average time of 7:56 p/m. Does that say anything about a marathon pace?

Thanks,
M

[John Dunn]

Yeah man, it says your pretty f***in' fast!

It is a great pace. I bet if you do speed work you can improve on it. On Marathon Day you will be hyped up and may find yourself in a position to pick it up a bit every now and again. I used to train at a 9:00 minute pace and would do from 9:00 - 9:20's in the race. (In NYC that puts you smack in the meat of the pack.) My times were 4:33, 5:11, 4:07

Oh yeah, make sure you check out the course beforehand. It's really nice to know where you are, and after 23 miles your mind will get a bit frazzled, so it'd be nice not to have to think too hard of landmarks, etc.

Check out the Pace calculator This came from the running club I belonged to when I ran. Those clubs are awesome to have folks to hang out with before and after the run. You get so much more out of the event, plus there is a real wealth of knowledge from a group of folks that run every year. See if your area has one...

Wow... writing this makes me really miss the Marathon!!

[Chetan Parekh]

I also have hidden dream to run a a marathon.

Is there any trainer or guild in Mumbai? Please contact me at [email protected].