Marathon Training Thread

[Eddie]

Longest training run before the race - ended up going 21 miles. Taper starts next week.

I took a couple of GU packs - took half of one at mile 3, the other half at 6. Ate a small cliff bar around mile 9. Then took half of the other GU at mile 13 and finished it at 16.

I like running first think in the morning and usually don't eat first. Decided with a long run, that's a bad idea - so I ate half a banana and a piece of toast with some thick spread peanut butter and honey on it.

Best I've ever felt after a run that long. I was probably a little dehydrated at the end, but I felt really good and attribute that in part to the fact that I'll need to do some rehydrating post race. That said, I'll drink a little more on race day when there are aid stations.

Last year in Ogden I bonked HARD at mile 17. I was feeling it at the top of the hill about 15, but at 17 I was pretty done in. I think by 20 I was walking as much as I was running.

Today I ran the first 18 miles between 9:15 and 9:30. Mile 19 I decided to pick it up and ran it in 8 even. Then I wanted to see what was left in the tank, so I ran miles 20 and 21 at 7:30. I couldn't have maintained that, but I feel like I could've dropped back down to 8:30 or 9 and kept going.

I'm starting to feel a little cocky about how good I'm feeling and how I'm going to destroy my previous time - not that it is an amazing time compared to what many of you are running. I just can't say enough about how good I feel right now.

[Sea Chicken]

I just finished my last long run before Ogden. 20 miles at marathon goal pace. Ready or not, here I come.

[bluegoose]

I just finished my last long run before Ogden. 20 miles at marathon goal pace. Ready or not, here I come.

Nice. Are you going to share with us what your projected pace is?

[Sea Chicken]

Nice. Are you going to share with us what your projected pace is?

7:13 (That's my goal pace. Not sure if I'm ready to say it's my 'projected' pace yet)

[BigPiney]

7:13 (That's my goal pace. Not sure if I'm ready to say it's my 'projected' pace yet)

wow, you are getting faster. Good luck to you.

[Pheidippides]

7:13 (That's my goal pace. Not sure if I'm ready to say it's my 'projected' pace yet)

I don't care if it's your projected, hope, goal or pipe dream pace - that's speedy! It gives me hope, though - I think I can run my next one in what you ran TOU in last year, and if I can do that then maybe I can run one down the road as fast as you want to run this one and qualify for Boston.

[Eddie]

7:13 (That's my goal pace. Not sure if I'm ready to say it's my 'projected' pace yet)

That is SERIOUSLY fast.

I keep following the Hal Higdon recommendation of running my long runs at a minute per mile pace slower than race pace. I've decided that I'm new enough at this, I ought to do what folks who have done it a bunch before say.

But it leaves me wondering about where I am really in my training. So I pick a pace that I think is my race pace (or that I want to be my race pace) but I don't ever run my longest distances at that pace - so how will I ever have any idea if that really is my pace or not?

I asked about this before and the response from some was that you can't do the long runs at race pace or you'll wear your body out - but then I just think, if the race is 26 miles, and I'm only running 14 this time out, then this training run really doesn't compare to the race and I ought to be able to go faster, right?

In Higdon's book he says several times "just trust me on this". So for now I am. But it leaves me wondering.

Anyway - I keep telling myself that once I've run enough I can start to follow my own advice (based on knowing how my body will respond). But I'm not there yet.

[Coach McGuirk]

In a crappy turn of events, this years Diz Half does not go through Angels Stadium,

[Pheidippides]

In a crappy turn of events, this years Diz Half does not go through Angels Stadium,

Man. I'm bummed now. That is crappy.

[PaloAltoCougar]

In a crappy turn of events, this years Diz Half does not go through Angels Stadium.

It looks like it doesn't include a return trip through California Adventure, either. It did last year, didn't it? Oh well, I'll be on a gurney by then anyway.

[Pheidippides]

It looks like it doesn't include a return trip through California Adventure, either. It did last year, didn't it? Oh well, I'll be on a gurney by then anyway.

I think that has to do with the construction of Carsland. The parking lot and previous entry is now a sea of dirt and iron.

[Coach McGuirk]

I think that has to do with the construction of Carsland. The parking lot and previous entry is now a sea of dirt and iron.

Yes.

After studying the map, I really like the new route mile 1-4 through Diz. A lot less "Behind the scenes" running and lots more in the park. I am bummed on the stadium, but Angels have a game there that afternoon, which is why I am guessing we are not running through. once Carsland (Which should be called Radiator Springs, btw) is finished, I think the course will have up to 5,6 maybe even 7 miles of the race inside the two parks. It will be awesome.

[Pheidippides]

Yes.

After studying the map, I really like the new route mile 1-4 through Diz. A lot less "Behind the scenes" running and lots more in the park. I am bummed on the stadium, but Angels have a game there that afternoon, which is why I am guessing we are not running through. once Carsland (Which should be called Radiator Springs, btw) is finished, I think the course will have up to 5,6 maybe even 7 miles of the race inside the two parks. It will be awesome.

Heh, nevermind. We are running through Angel Stadium after all:

http://as1.wdpromedia.com/media/ewwos/pdf/rundisney/marathons/11/2011DLHMCOACourseMap-v3.pdf

[Coach McGuirk]

Great news!

[Joe Public]

Best of luck to those who are running in the Ogden Marathon this year. That's the one I ran a few years ago (and my only one so far), and it's a really good race. Wonderful scenery, well organized, good volunteers and community support, etc.