Marathon experiences

Running Bing

I know there is already a ****load on this forum about marathons (tis the season and all) and people are probably sick hearing about them but I thought this would be an interesting thread, not to mention great motivation for people who, like myself are running a marathon for the first time. So basically tell us about your experiences good or bad. Would you do it again? what would you do differently and most importantly did you achieve your goals. stuff like that.

Transform

First one last year (29 years young). Ran with client in 4hs 3mins - was very very very slow for me and found it quite easy but legs were quite stiff the next day.

New York this year (best supported marathon) in november and will finish 2hr50min -3hr 10min all going well.

Been training for it since feb this year.

Recommendations

1) have a plan and stick to it.
2) Get massage every 2-3 weeks
3) Stertch more than you think you need to
4) Pasta is not the marathon running food people make it out to be
5) Get light - the lower your weight the easier the run so watch your diet
6) Get a buddy for long runs - makes you honest about your distance and times

All the best

hunnymonster

I always give 2 pieces of advice to people preparing for their first marathon
1. enjoy it. You'll only ever have one first marathon and it's a pretty special event. Take it at a pace you can comfortabley handle. You can always go back for a second if you've got things to prove.
2. Having said that, always have a goal in mind. So many people say "I just want to finish". Noone doesn't want to finish, do they? It might be 3 hours, 5 hours, hey, it might even be 7 hours but have a goal to beat. It will give your preparation more structure.

hunnymonster

Transform, I'd seriously take your own advise on the stretching front if 4:03 left you in any way stiff, 2:50 is going to kill your legs. I've run a few 3:50's with people to get them in under 4 hours and I'm perfect the next day. 3:20 and faster though leaves me stiff for 48-72 hours.

daveirl

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hunnymonster

The course is reversed these days. You hit the park in the early part of the race not at 20 miles or where ever it used to be. Most people these days curse the "bump" (everest if you believe some people) that is the UCD flyover. The lovely thing for first timers is that the last 5 miles are gently downhill. It will hurt but not too much. The thing that caught me out as a very inexpereinced runner the first time I did it was the course back to Merrion square. Knowing that area quite well, I thought I had it made when we got to St Vincent's hospital. After all that's only a 15 min walk, let alone run, from the finish. However the course doens't go straight back into town. What I didn't contimplate doing to the poor guard on point duty that day doesn't bare thinking about!

daveirl

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Running Bing

Transform wrote:

4) Pasta is not the marathon running food people make it out to be

Thats interesting. Care to elaborate a bit.

StaggerLee

2) Get massage every 2-3 weeks


Transform, Can you recommend anywhere for a sports massage, in Dublin city Centre or on the Northside? I'm training for my first marathon sore every day!

hunnymonster

Staggerlee, sore in what way? If you're sore every day I would be concerned. A bit fatigued is maybe ok as the milage creeps up, and soreness after a particularly hard or long session is to be expected. I would maybe get a good physiotherapist to have a look at you, to check for biomechanical problems and have a feel to see if there is anything obviously causing the problem.

StaggerLee

I think Soreness/stiffness is to be expected with the increased mileage. I've gone from running 2-3 times a week to 4-5 times.

I am nursing a tight hamstring and some kneepain. I can still run easily but somedays the pain in my knees and/or hamstring can be slow me down a lot, particularly on longer runs. I've stopped running down steep hills, apparently this helps the knees. I am stretching a lot more than before and after all runs, this helps a lot.

I'd like to get a massage every 2-3 weeks, just to lossen things up, bit of a treat too .

Quick question to everyone, would signing up for Yoga once a week be a good idea while training for a marathon, or would that mean too much stretching. I've done some Yoga in the past and find extremley difficult, dont want to tweak something..

hunnymonster

I used to get a lot of silly niggly injuries but then I added yoga (astanga) into the mix and I've not had a single injury since. I don't think it's entirely down to the yoga because in the same time I've also gotten a lot stronger but the increased flexibility certainly helps my running because my body is now adapted to stretching into a bad foot strike (eg if running on uneven ground) without causing damage. A number of very serious athletes I know have switched from yoga to pilates for increased core stability. They swear by it but I've just not had the time to devote to it YET!

Transform

Yes would recommend a regular yoga class or just spend at least 15mins stretching at end of session.

Pilates in my opinion (teachers hat on now) is not all its cracked up to be for the non-beginner/non-injured. a good weights program with core work will work better

Inrelation to the pasta question - most people who are going to run a marathon are drilled into thinking they have to eat tons of carbs and pasta is the easy choice. Yes you will need slightly more calories from carbs however you do not have to go crazy as most do. Also if you have some weight to drop an overemphasis on pasta as your primary carb source is a big mistake. Choose fruit, oats, etc instead.

hunnymonster

Transform, oats and fruit are not a good carb loading choice for approximately 50% of the population due to the higer fiber content. The fibre combined with the mechanical jigging of race day can lead to toilet problems. you might do a 2:58 marathon but it won't cut it if you've to add 5 minutes on the toilet.

daveirl

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hunnymonster

oops sorry, my mistake, a case of reading what you expect to see rather than what he actually said. I took "marathon running food" to mean marathon day rather than marathon training. I've only heard of pasta advertised as a carbo loading food not for general training.

dermCu

I've ran 3 so far > 3:15, 3:10, 2:55
Goal is to break 2:50. Will have a crack at that in London next year.

Advice:
For the vast majority of us its all about miles. I know that people will disagree with this but unless you are hitting close to your upper limit in miles per week forget about intervals and long tempo runs. If you are new to marathons concentrate on building up miles per week without getting injured. You will get far better gains this way. Its like most sports: a lot of people look at what the best guys are doing and try to copy them. Running marathons is different. IMO If you are doing faster stuff and you dont have the aerobic base you are just increasing your chances of injury. You will gain far more by just running more miles.


IF you think for a second that you have an injury on the way take a day or two off. Its easy to say but very hard to do when you are in full on training.

Spend the time/effort/money to find the runners that are best for you.

Transform

Dremcu - great advice and totally agree.

Its about putting in the time rather than shying away from doing the long runs every week and building it up

copacetic

dermCu wrote:

I've ran 3 so far > 3:15, 3:10, 2:55
Goal is to break 2:50. Will have a crack at that in London next year.

Advice:
For the vast majority of us its all about miles. I know that people will disagree with this but unless you are hitting close to your upper limit in miles per week forget about intervals and long tempo runs. If you are new to marathons concentrate on building up miles per week without getting injured. You will get far better gains this way. Its like most sports: a lot of people look at what the best guys are doing and try to copy them. Running marathons is different. IMO If you are doing faster stuff and you dont have the aerobic base you are just increasing your chances of injury. You will gain far more by just running more miles.


IF you think for a second that you have an injury on the way take a day or two off. Its easy to say but very hard to do when you are in full on training.

Spend the time/effort/money to find the runners that are best for you.

agree totally with the above, you just have to put in the miles and as many long runs as possible. I was going really well last year until after the half marathon, carried a niggle from then and missed a lot of mileage trying to nurse it so I could still run. Combined with stomach issues on the day made the marathon a misery...

Anyway my advice is get a plan from runnersworld.co.uk, mcmillan, competitive runners handbook etc etc, any will do, but pick one then stick to it. if you have to miss anything, miss the easy runs. never miss the long runs out.
The training is the hardest thing, being consistent and missing out on a social life at the weekend. Would also recommend giving up the beer for the duration of the training, or cutting back to a couple of pints a week..

If you haven't the mileage or long runs in the tank those last 6.2 miles feel worse than the first 20 and you will likely have to walk/limp them..

HardyEustace

just in training for the marathon for the first time. Did my first ten miles tonight so thrilled to bits....

Anyway am following a program in a great book called "The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer". It not only helps with the physical training but also the mental preperation needed. I have to admit I absolutely adore the book and would highly recommend it.

Know that its not quite to do with marathon experiences but its a good start towards getting a good marathon experience!

Odysseus

HardyEustace wrote:

just in training for the marathon for the first time. Did my first ten miles tonight so thrilled to bits....

Anyway am following a program in a great book called "The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer". It not only helps with the physical training but also the mental preperation needed. I have to admit I absolutely adore the book and would highly recommend it.

Know that its not quite to do with marathon experiences but its a good start towards getting a good marathon experience!

Don't underestimate the experience of your training, the event will last a couple of hours, think of how long have you been training. Its all part of the experience. Best of luck with it and enjoy it, you only have one first marathon.

copacetic

Odysseus wrote:

Don't underestimate the experience of your training, the event will last a couple of hours, think of how long have you been training. Its all part of the experience. Best of luck with it and enjoy it, you only have one first marathon.

and well done on breaking the world record if the marathon only takes you 2 hours!

Running Bing

HardyEustace wrote:

Anyway am following a program in a great book called "The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer". QUOTE]

Snap! Im doing my ten miler tomorrow:D seriously that is a class book. Not only does it motivate you and give you a solid training program its full of useful info and very easy to read Id advise it for anyone.

Running Bing

HardyEustace wrote:

Anyway am following a program in a great book called "The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer".

Snap! Im doing my ten miler tomorrow:D seriously that is a class book. Not only does it motivate you and give you a solid training program its full of useful info and very easy to read(im not selling it seriously) Id advise it for any beginner.

p.pete

Excellent thread with lots of good advice - If only I'd follow more of it! I've done two previous marathons and both were great experiences. The first one was in Paris, nice mostly flat course (some dips along the river as you run along the car-tunnels) and very scenic. I was carrying an ITB injury and when I stopped around 23 mile mark I wasn't able to get started again, limped to the end aided by my cousin (his first marathon too). Lots of pain afterwards but I was delighted to have finished.

Second marathon was in Madrid and I heard beforehand that it was a tough marathon - I brushed that aside and it turned out a lot tougher than I thought it could have been! Really nice city but the mix of altitude, hills and heat was too much for my sub-standard preparation. No injuries this time but I did do a lot of walking, I felt like I'd achieved something really difficult at the end of it though, which was nice.

Of the two marathons I'd say the crowd support in Paris was better, also towards the end there was people trying to promote their wares (bois de boulogne area!) from the wine regions and handing out thimbles of wine. Not enough to get merry with but a nice touch.

oldman29

I am also using the book 'non runners marathon training guide' and its a brilliant book, ran 11 miles at the weekend. yahoo:D

Odysseus

daveym wrote:

and well done on breaking the world record if the marathon only takes you 2 hours!

My, my we are being pedantic;) The point I was trying to make is that the amount of training required for a marathon far exceeds the actual work on the day. For someone who is doing this for the first time they will constantly be exceeding their previous experiences, such as the first time you do a ten miler etc, and therefore this is an essential part of the experience. For me inanyway, its about incorporating you training as part of the journey to your destination which is of course the marathon. Cheers

Running Bing

Odysseus wrote:

For someone who is doing this for the first time they will constantly be exceeding their previous experiences, such as the first time you do a ten miler etc, and therefore this is an essential part of the experience. For me inanyway, its about incorporating you training as part of the journey to your destination which is of course the marathon. Cheers

Couldnt agree more. The most I had run before I started was 3 miles which I thought at the time was a mammoth distance. I get a huge sense of achievement each week when I run farther than I ever have before. Im actually really enjoying the training. Much more than I anticipated I would.