Marathon Training Thread

[Sea Chicken]

I'm working in Canada this week and planned on doing my last 20-miler on Friday after work. Now they tell me that is when the hurricane is supposed to hit. Should I change my plans and run long on Thursday night or do I say Yee Haw, bring it on?

[cowboy]

I'm working in Canada this week and planned on doing my last 20-miler on Friday after work. Now they tell me that is when the hurricane is supposed to hit. Should I change my plans and run long on Thursday night or do I say Yee Haw, bring it on?

I'd run Thursday, but I'm not a fan of running in wind and rain. I tried a 20 yesterday and crashed and burned. I'll try again in an hour or so. Whatever you decide, good luck.

[Pheidippides]

I'd run Thursday, but I'm not a fan of running in wind and rain. I tried a 20 yesterday and crashed and burned. I'll try again in an hour or so. Whatever you decide, good luck.

No way I run in a hurricane.

[Eddie]

The problem with Ogden is the timing for me. I can't ever seem to get myself out running until around March because of the cold, and by then, it's really too late to train. Do you train on the treadmill?

On a sidenote, it's pretty cool that Utah hosts two of the top 10 marathons in the world as voted on by RW readers (St G and Ogden).
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/...X4X5-5,00.html

I started training indoors. I was using the novice running program that only has you running 3-4 miles at the beginning. As time went by, any run that was going to be over about 30 minutes I would do outside.

I was new enough to running that even as the distances grew, I kept a couple of the short runs each week on a treadmill. I figured that more cushion and less pounding would help my joints over time.

I ran outside when it was pretty cold now and then - it was all about layers and wearing enough but not too much. I've got a pretty good fleece beanie and some gloves that are thin enough to not sweat in but keep my fingers from freezing. I also learned that my "boys" need more insulation than just sweats or shorts.

And there were some long runs I did indoors - not necessarily from the cold but due to really bad snow. I'd start on the treadmill and then do 30-50 laps around a short indoor lap at times.

There were probably only a handful of days that I really didn't want to run outside due to weather. To be honest - I think having that race on the calendar is what kept me getting up each morning. Without it, I would've just skipped workouts many days. I'm glad I went into the summer having had a goal to keep me going.

[Sea Chicken]

I did my fourth and final long run for Top of Utah tonight. I don't know my way around this town very well, so I ended up running a course that was very hilly, including some trail running and couldn't find a water stop until mile 17. That slowed me way down towards the end. I feel kind of crappy now.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/47317493

[Pheidippides]

Usually I hate running with dogs around, but lately a couple of smaller ones have joined me on my taper runs. It's been kind of nice to have company.

[Sea Chicken]

Usually I hate running with dogs around, but lately a couple of smaller ones have joined me on my taper runs. It's been kind of nice to have company.

Ever since that dog bit me on the ass, all dogs freak me out when I'm running. Sometimes I carry pepper spray.

[Pheidippides]

Ever since that dog bit me on the ass, all dogs freak me out when I'm running. Sometimes I carry pepper spray.

I booted a small one 15 feet once. I don't mess around with them anymore.

Saturday is D-day for at least three of us.

[bluegoose]

Good luck to the 3 of you. That was pretty crazy how close seachicken and cowboy finished to each other last year. I would imagine that all of you guys are projecting a finish time very close to each other. Any plans to meet up?

I saw on their website that they do text message updates at 13, 20 and 26 miles. If anyone is interested in sharing their bib #, send me a PM. I only hope that I can read the messages through all of the tears streaming down my face as I watch the game that day.

[Coach McGuirk]

Logan in September
Disney World in January
Utah County in June (anybody doing this one needs to PM me)
Disneyland half in September
Either Houston the next January or Texas (Kingwood) if I don't get in Texas

Maybe I'll try for st George the year after that, and assuming my body is in one piece.

Just signed up for the Disney World Half.

Certainly see you in september for the Coast to Coast.

[ERCougar]

I saw on their website that they do text message updates at 13, 20 and 26 miles. If anyone is interested in sharing their bib #, send me a PM. I only hope that I can read the messages through all of the tears streaming down my face as I watch the game that day.

BM me too. Id be interested in following along.

[cowboy]

Good luck to the 3 of you. That was pretty crazy how close seachicken and cowboy finished to each other last year. I would imagine that all of you guys are projecting a finish time very close to each other. Any plans to meet up?

I saw on their website that they do text message updates at 13, 20 and 26 miles. If anyone is interested in sharing their bib #, send me a PM. I only hope that I can read the messages through all of the tears streaming down my face as I watch the game that day.

Thanks, I'll send you my bib. I haven't run for a week, so my taper will once again be more like a screeching halt. I get to Boston at midnight, and then I have the day free tomorrow, so I'll get a good run in tomorrow. What's y'all's opinion on my run tomorrow, should I run the eight I was supposed to run Saturday, or should I just do three or four tomorrow and Wednesday like the schedule calls for? Probably doesn't matter either way, but I'm interested in your opinions.

My bigger concern is nutrition and hydration. I was sick yesterday, and I was five pounds light this morning. I worked my butt off last week gathering cattle, and didn't eat or drink nearly enough. Hopefully I still have time to build up my glycogen stores by Saturday. <crossing fingers>

[bluegoose]

I think I would rather go into the marathon over-rested than otherwise. I'm not a super high mileage guy like seachicken, so anything more than 4 or 5 miles would leave me feeling a bit tired, especially since you're not feeling great anyway. Plus, you are not going to lose your cardiovascular fitness in that short of a time. Work on getting rested and getting lots of good food in you and the miles on saturday will take care of themselves.

[cowboy]

Thanks, bluegoose. I'll PM you and ER my bib #. If anyone else is interested, shoot me a PM.

[Pheidippides]

I think I would rather go into the marathon over-rested than otherwise. I'm not a super high mileage guy like seachicken, so anything more than 4 or 5 miles would leave me feeling a bit tired, especially since you're not feeling great anyway. Plus, you are not going to lose your cardiovascular fitness in that short of a time. Work on getting rested and getting lots of good food in you and the miles on saturday will take care of themselves.

I have very little experience here, so take this for what it's worth, but I concur. Mostly because my own taper hasn't been stellar - I took most of the week off a couple of weeks ago because of things at work. I am putting in 3 today, 2 on wednesday and one thursday.