worst bit of a marathon

ultraman1

Heresone for a rainy monday morning.......what your worst part of a marathon?....i find the miles between 14 and 18 the toughest as as your kinda in no mans land,the finish is less than halfway but it doesnt feel like it ...

kennyb3

i havent done one as yet, but i know what you ve said will be it for me ultraman. i find it the same with even shorter races eg sat - miles up to 7/8 grand, between 8 and 10 your in no mans land. i didnt know whether to push or hold.

misty floyd

I've only done 1 marathon but I'll never forget miles 23 - 26.2. I enjoyed everything up to that point and bang, something took over and said "where do you think your going?". I hope it doesn't happen in DCM but I'll be mentally prepared a lot better to just keep the head down and ride it out. It really was the toughest thing I've ever done.

Sorry to scare those that haven't run one before but just watch going out too fast.

Peckham

ultraman1 wrote: »

Heresone for a rainy monday morning.......what your worst part of a marathon?....i find the miles between 14 and 18 the toughest as as your kinda in no mans land,the finish is less than halfway but it doesnt feel like it ...

+1 to this, and for the same reasons. Very easy to hit a bit of a lull at that point and lose focus. It doesn't help that it's one of the least enjoyable stretches in DCM. Feels like lots of long, boring suburban streets! Picks up a bit in Milltown area, and then when you get to Fosters Avenue you know you're on the way home.

Izoard

If we are talking specifically about DCM, there are 2 spots where I have problems:

1) Mile 12 Crumlin Road.
Once out of the park and you start that long run up past the Children's hospital. Gentle uphill all the way and usually a wind coming straight at you. Not even 1/2 way and it seems to go on for ever.

2) Mile 20-21 Roebuck Road
That small hill just before Foster's Avenue always results in the first cramp hitting me...Usually end up hopping down Foster's Avenue, until the cramp eases off on the dual carriage-way...

eliwallach

From experience:

Mile 20 - 21.

Glycogen stores have taken you to 18 miles.
Training has taken you to 20 miles.
But this is where serious questions are being asked and you had better come with some answers, and fast!

misty floyd

misty floyd wrote: »

I've only done 1 marathon but I'll never forget miles 23 - 26.2.

I should have said miles 23-25 as the last mile is full of crowds that really help.

walshb

ultraman1 wrote: »

...what your worst part of a marathon?...

The first 26 miles.

uglyjohn

ultraman1 wrote: »

Heresone for a rainy monday morning.......what your worst part of a marathon?....i find the miles between 14 and 18 the toughest as as your kinda in no mans land,the finish is less than halfway but it doesnt feel like it ...

+1 spot on.

once you get to about 18 you can really start counting down the miles of the home stretch and the crowd thickens.

i still think training can be worse though....you havent tapered, you're completely alone, just back from work,cold+dark...no crowd, no drinks stands or gels and all the excitement of the big day is missing.

and you forgot to put plasters on your nipps and vasline on the fun zone :eek:

Izoard

[quote=uglyjohn;62292066
i still think training can be worse though....you havent tapered, you're completely alone, just back from work,cold+dark...no crowd, no drinks stands or gels and all the excitement of the big day is missing.

and you forgot to put plasters on your nipps and vasline on the fun zone :eek:[/quote]

How true is that!

I was out at 5am this morning for a 17miler and was thinking of all the people in a similar boat, who have to scramble to fit in the long runs and that the marathon day itself has so much going on, that your mind is distracted from negative thoughts...until the physical pain finally breaks through:-)

osnola ibax

Could the timing of this thread by ANY worse, just as I was starting to feel good about the whole thing.

misty floyd

osnola ivax wrote: »

Could the timing of this thread by ANY worse, just as I was starting to feel good about the whole thing.

ha ha very good. Maybe it helps to keep our feet on the ground and not get carried away after a sucessful half.

VanBosch

osnola ivax wrote: »

Could the timing of this thread by ANY worse, just as I was starting to feel good about the whole thing.

true - I was just feeling the same after my first 18 miler last week, now this!

rainbow kirby

Possibly, but Monday mornings are depressing enough anyway!

RJC

eliwallach wrote: »

From experience:

Mile 20 - 21.

Glycogen stores have taken you to 18 miles.
Training has taken you to 20 miles.
But this is where serious questions are being asked and you had better come with some answers, and fast!

Exactly. This is where all the sticky gels and plates of pasta come into their own.

Now the race is in your head as the body is about to clock off.

scottreynolds

Preparing for my first marathon I'm reading here any miles from 12 - 26 can be hard...... thanks guys I needed that ........

Can someone just say that the marathon day is easier than doing 500 miles training day in day out.......:D

osnola ibax

misty floyd wrote: »

ha ha very good. Maybe it helps to keep our feet on the ground and not get carried away after a sucessful half.

Too true MF, too true

RJC

scottreynolds wrote: »

Preparing for my first marathon I'm reading here any miles from 12 - 26 can be hard...... thanks guys I needed that ........

Can someone just say that the marathon day is easier than doing 500 miles training day in day out.......:D

Not easier but the 500 miles should help you to tough out the last 6 miles. If you think about the last 6 you'll start walking whereas if you think about the early mornings, long runs, sore legs and the 500 miles of commitment you'll keep shuffling along.

uglyjohn

scottreynolds wrote: »

Preparing for my first marathon I'm reading here any miles from 12 - 26 can be hard...... thanks guys I needed that ........

Can someone just say that the marathon day is easier than doing 500 miles training day in day out.......:D

marathon day you are better fed and rested than any day of your training. the buzz of running with so many people with the crowd chearing you on as well as all the adrenaline should count for a lot.

Stupid_Private

It's got to be the 3 days that follow it. Slow moving Private would be an understatement. Everything else is fine!!

nutzzz123

Stupid_Private wrote: »

It's got to be the 3 days that follow it. Slow moving Private would be an understatement. Everything else is fine!!

+1, walking down the stairs backwards just to ease the pain....... but well worth the pain:D

Wilbury

The worst bit of the marathon are the bloody queues for the loos at the start (about 8000 people bursting to go!). It is only when you see the loos you get the urge to go. You will be fine up to that point.