Your first marathon

I am running my first marathon in Cork in the morning...the biggest regret I have is not following through on my training plan. I missed far too many runs with the attitude of 'i'll do the long run next week instead' etc etc.

So if you are going to commit to a marathon, get your plan in place early and try to execute all the runs. Account for maybe 1 or 2 weeks in the plan that you wont be able to run due to niggles or sickness and you will be doing great.

I've done two. After both I felt I should have trained more. Don't skip sessions, never skip long runs.

I comfortably beat my goal time on both, but at some point after signing up I decided to aim for a faster time and go with a faster pace group to see of I could "hang on". It didn't work and I ended up hobbling along the N11 hoping I could creep in before my original goal time. So don't get sucked into goal creep.

The best race I ever ran was a Half Marathon earlier this year in Carlingford. I wasn't overly confident in my preparation so I decided I would go easy and run a pace I knew I could hold for the distance. I figured I could pick up the pace after 11k if I felt good. I ran a negative split and beat my previous best by 10 minutes. That's how I'd like to run Dublin this year.

I was woefully undertrained for my first marathon. If I could do it again I would make sure I would pick a training plan in advance and stick to it - which is what I did for my subsequent marathons, and they went so much better as a result.

scriba wrote: »

Also doing ny first marathon (in a couple of hours). I would do two things differently. I should have built a couple of months base, of about 50km a week, and I should have given myself a couple of extra weeks to allow for injury or life mini-crises! An extra two weeks would have made a huge difference, given that my injuries occurred in the last 5 weeks of the programme.

One other thing I'll do differently next time is find someone to do some of the longer runs with.

I would agree with that I am doing my first in about 2 and hours time, while I'm looking forward to it, I know I didn't train properly for it, you need to give yourself plenty of time, do the long runs I missed 3 due to injury, it's a big commitment especially with a family, I wouldn't worry about times just maybe six weeks before when you know how your training is going, most of all enjoy and best of luck

If you could run your first marathon again, what would you do differently in training/preparation?

Mine went almost perfectly according to plan. My goal was sub-4, my time was 4:02. Most of that extra 2 minutes went on not allowing for the extra 300-400m you will run on the day. Schoolboy error.


Or, if you were happy with your first marathon, what were the factors (in training and prep) that you feel led to your success?

A plan that suited my base. For me that was Hal Higdon Novice 2 as I wasn't a complete beginner having been running regularly 2-3 times a week for about a year. The suitable plan meant I could stick to it, not get injured, and do all the long runs. Not having to make toilet stops is also a huge bonus on your first marathon (you won't believe the amount of peeing you see happening along the route) so arrive at the line well hydrated, and don't drink too much on the day.

Unless you are an experienced runner, do not focus on a goal time in your first marathon. Focus on trying to enjoy the day, on running the whole 26.2 miles, on running to finish, on staying positive, ...

Run my LSRs at 1.5 - 2 mins per mile slower than my target race pace rather than at race pace.

If you could run your first marathon again, what would you do differently in training/preparation?

Like many others have said already, more miles. The longest run I did was 13.1 miles(race series half). Should've done a good few 20+ milers but I thought I could blag my way through somehow. Blew up at 22miles and for the next 3 miles or so it was a suffer-fest like no other with me taking both sides of the road like a drunk. Just after 25miles though I got it back and was fine???? Crazy sh1t.

Or, if you were happy with your first marathon, what were the factors (in training and prep) that you feel led to your success?

But having said all that it was the marathon I was the most fresh for, I got to the startline feeling very strong and super confident(somewhat misplaced as it turned out) and up until 22miles gone I was in great shape. Subsequent marathons have gone the opposite direction, I've overcooked training and gotten to the startline carrying injuries as a result. So if you can get the balance right you're laughing. Dont overcook it but do a few long runs aswell. I know this is a controversial subject but I think its a good idea to do some training runs on empty. And I dont agree with the philosophy of just completing the distance for your first marathon. Aim high, pick a time and go for it. Theres nothing like a target to drag you up a level. Also it makes things more enjoyable when you got something to race for.

Did my first marathon, DCM, last year, would advise not skimping on footware, make sure you have decent runners fitted in a sports shop like Elverys or Amphibian King - would have saveed me numerous trips to the physio if I'd known:o.
Best of luck with training and the marathon - it'll be the best thing you'll ever do!

If you could run your first marathon again, what would you do differently in training/preparation?

Tricky question this. You're a different person coming at it from a different view point after you've ran the first marathon. There are plenty of things that I could have done differently, would do differently in the future but that's because now I'm thinking of better times / performances and what could be done to achieve these rather than the mindset of I simply want to finish the marathon that I was in last year.

My short comings from last year were:

I was both under trained and over trained. Makes no sense at first glance so I best explain that one. I only started running in January, came from absolutely no fitness base at all - pure couch potato stuff and started a couch to 5 k program. By the time I could run 5k I wanted to run 10k, then I wanted to run 15k then it was a half marathon etc - As a noob I equated progress with distance which now that I'm older and wiser can appreciate this is not always the case. Ultimately I set my sights on running DCM 10 months after beginning running and starting from 16 stone in weight. Ultimately carrying so much weight coupled with stepping up the mileage required to train for the marathon caused a serious enough injury which laid me out a few weeks before the race. I stubbornly ignored all advice not to go ahead with the race (as is documented in these parts ) and completed it anyway in a relatively (to most on here anyway) poor time and with a lot of walking involved. I didn't have the miles done to hit the marathon at any kind of speed (longest LSR was 16 miles) but at same time had too many miles done over the course of the months for the body to handle. All that said - I went into DCM with the sole focus of finishing it. I had no time goals, was very happy with the result and have no regrets about it. After laying off with the injury I found myself back at the start this year - in a similar position fitness wise and indeed weight wise. It was my intention to run DCM this year but that would be making the same mistake again and I'm now taking a long term approach and aiming for DCM 14 (or perhaps a spring marathon next year) Either way I will be doing it off a reasonably well established base rather than hurtling along trying to keep up with the program from week 1. I'd also be aiming for a respectable time too and will be giving this time over the distance the respect it deserves.

The advice from all of the above is simply this: Make sure you balance off your own goals for the race versus the training required to meet them and the proper established base you currently have. Just because you ran week 1 of whatever program you are following a couple of weeks before the program starts doesn't neccessarily mean you are strong enough to use that week as a basis to be building on in the medium term. If you are short on the training at any point in the journeyt, even if that's now before starting the programs then consider revising your goals or revising when you will do your first marathon.

Other very important thing is to get kitted out properly - a good pair of runners competently fitted by a professional running store is the best investment you will make.

Also when you get to the finish line - remember to smile and look up for the camera. It's a great moment - don't have yourself looking down fumbling with your garmin as the image captured for posterity.