You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!
I didn't see any threads that specifically talk about running a marathon. I'm training for my first one ever, the Chicago Marathon in October. I never ran before in my life, started getting in shape mid-april. Right now I'm up to running 7 miles without stopping. I keep getting small injuries all the time though, shin splints, runner's knee, and now a weird pain at the top of my left foot, right before the ankle.
Anyone else a marathoner here? Any advice would be appreciated. I've been reading a bunch of websites on marathon training, but real life advice would be nice too.
I didn't see any threads that specifically talk about running a marathon. I'm training for my first one ever, the Chicago Marathon in October. I never ran before in my life, started getting in shape mid-april. Right now I'm up to running 7 miles without stopping. I keep getting small injuries all the time though, shin splints, runner's knee, and now a weird pain at the top of my left foot, right before the ankle.
Anyone else a marathoner here? Any advice would be appreciated. I've been reading a bunch of websites on marathon training, but real life advice would be nice too.
Luke
i have never done a marathon but i have completed 2 15k races and entered another but got injured about 3 miles in to it, also did 14 miles twice and cycled 25 miles a couple of times-those are my furthest distances traveled. my only advice is to gradually increase your distance week to week, mix in some shorter runs between so you do not overtrain and hurt yourself, get enough carbs and fluids before and after to help
preserve and restore energy. good luck-that is quite a feat to accomplish
but if you keep at it i am sure you can finish it-once you get running and
find your "zone" try to not think about the pain or tiredness and keep
putting one foot after another and the miles will fly by.
__________________
Z is gone, all 3 motorcycles are gone, scooter is gone, and Caliber SRT-4 and Forte Koup SX are here, yamaha fz8 coming soon!
I used Hal Higdon's Novice I marathon training schedule for my 1st marathon. I went from barely being able to run 1-mile to completing a marathon (finish time 4:16) in 5 months. My advice is to follow a training schedule and make sure you do at least one 20-mile training run. Not only will it help you physically, but most importantly mentally. Your training will get you through the first 21 miles, your heart will get you through the last 5.2 miles. I am talking about running the entire thing. Another method a lot of beginners use is the Galloway run/walk strategy (i.e. run 4-min / walk 1-min).
I'm still a beginner when it comes to marathon running, but I have learned some things.
(1) Do not do anything on race day that you have not done in training. For example, eat something new for breakfast, new shoes, new shirt, etc.
(2) Do not have a goal time for your first marathon. Go by what your training (i.e. your 20-mile run) tells you are capable of. One of the biggest mistakes a beginner can make is to go out too fast. At the beginning of the race every one is so amped up. People will start out too fast and start to weave through the crowd. Do not waste your energy doing that. Look for a person weaving through the crowd wearing the gaudiest outfit out there. You'll pass him/her at around mile 10-12. Put your blinders on and run your race. Each minute too fast in the first half will cost you four minutes in the second half.
(3) Protect your nipples with band aids, sport tape, etc.
(4) Load up on potassium a few days before the race.
(5) Run slow during your training. This helps keep you injury free and helps you to build your base. Do your speed work on separate days.
(6) Go to a specialty running store and have your gait analyzed on their treadmill. Then they can recommend a shoe type (i.e. neutral, stability, motion control, etc). This will improve your form, efficiency, and help to keep you injury free.
Those are some of things I can think of. Another good resource is is the Runner'sWorld forums.
Sorry to bump an old thread but I was doing a search to see if there are any other marathon runners on here and your thread came up. In any event, I was kind of curious if you ended up doing the Chicago Marathon last year and how you did.
I am trying to do the 5 marathon majors (Boston,Chicago, NY, London and Berlin) and will be running Chicago this year on 10.10.10. Already did Boston twice and hopefully London next April (tough to get in). Also did an Ultra in January in Phoenix which was pretty cool.
Anyway, if you didn't accomplish your goal of running Chicago, I would encourage you to do it and you should have enough time to train for it even this year. Registration is closed but you can register through a charity and it will only set you back ~$500 which is pretty reasonable considering that it is a major marathon.
Also if there is a thread on marathons on here that I missed I would appreciate a link. It would be cool to meet up with some other Z guys around the country in other races.
Marathon
