Marathon Training Thread

[Eddie]

This morning I didn't run, so I slept in a bit. Just before I got up, I had my first "standing in line for the port-a-potty when the gun goes off" nightmare. At least it happened in the morning so it didn't cause me to lose sleep.

There were definately people still in line when the gun went off last year. My friend ran a half in St. George last year and says that they postponed the start of the race 10 minutes to get everyone out of the porta's. Ogden doesn't wait around...

Just something I learned last year - they line up the porta johns back to back on the East end of the field. The johns facing the field where everyone is waiting had lines nearly twice as long as the johns on the other side if you walk around to the back. Also - it seemed like the johns further from the road had shorter lines.

Of course - about 10-15 minutes before start time there was a line of guys along the fence just doing their thing. But that only works if you don't need to sit...

FYI Sea Chicken - I sent you a PM.

[BigPiney]

There were definately people still in line when the gun went off last year. My friend ran a half in St. George last year and says that they postponed the start of the race 10 minutes to get everyone out of the porta's. Ogden doesn't wait around...

Just something I learned last year - they line up the porta johns back to back on the East end of the field. The johns facing the field where everyone is waiting had lines nearly twice as long as the johns on the other side if you walk around to the back. Also - it seemed like the johns further from the road had shorter lines.

Of course - about 10-15 minutes before start time there was a line of guys along the fence just doing their thing. But that only works if you don't need to sit...

FYI Sea Chicken - I sent you a PM.

Also, bring your own TP. They have a tendency to run out. Not good.

[Pheidippides]

Cowboy turned me on to taking Imodium AD the night before and morning of the race. It has changed my life.

If there's a long line for the porta-johns, I let her fly wherever is convenient. There's a different set of rules at races.

[Eddie]

Cowboy turned me on to taking Imodium AD the night before and morning of the race. It has changed my life.

If there's a long line for the porta-johns, I let her fly wherever is convenient. There's a different set of rules at races.

I've got a neighbor who was about to follow the different set of rules you refer to - when a cop that was there at the start of the race gave him the Mutumbo "not in my house" finger and told him he would ticket him.

He has run a lot of races and says that is the first/last/only time anyone has ever stopped him from watering a bush.

I've never tried the Imodium - but then I rarely have those kinds of issues while running - just twice in the last couple of years during regular training runs.

[Sea Chicken]

Cowboy turned me on to taking Imodium AD the night before and morning of the race. It has changed my life.

Any side effects?

[bluegoose]

Also, bring your own TP. They have a tendency to run out. Not good.

Good suggestion. I took some with me to SLC last month, just in case. StGeorge ran out in a lot of the portapottys. I figured that even i didn't need it at SLC, then I would at least be able to sell it for a pretty penny to some desperate runner with deep pockets. As it turns out, the Trax got us there so close to the starting time that I wouldn't have had time to go even if i had to.

[Pheidippides]

Any side effects?

Yeah. I didn't have to poo like crazy like I usually do, and my stomach behaves itself all race long. Other than that, nothing. I have done it for the last five races of various lengths (two marathons) and it has done good stuff each time.

[Sea Chicken]

Yeah. I didn't have to poo like crazy like I usually do, and my stomach behaves itself all race long. Other than that, nothing. I have done it for the last five races of various lengths (two marathons) and it has done good stuff each time.

How much do you take and how soon before the race?

[Pheidippides]

How much do you take and how soon before the race?

I take the normal dosages at the recommended intervals. I typically take one dose the afternoon before, one dose just before I go to bed, and one dose with breakfast in the morning.

FWIW the first time I had ever taken it for any reason was the day before Top of Utah last year. And that was a great race for me at that time.

[Eddie]

Here's my report for Yesterday's Ogden Marathon.

After a less than promising start, I’m very happy about how the race ended. I ended up running what I consider to be the perfect race – for me - and totally kicked this thing’s a….er….butt. (my wife requested I cut down on the cussing...)

I carried my phone with me this year. I pre-load three texts for my wife into drafts – one to tell her I’m headed up the hill at the end of mile 14, one to tell her when I hit mile 20 and just have a 10K to go, and another for when I’m at mile 2 – so she knows to start looking for me.

I tried to find Sea Chicken before the start, but no luck. They split the field where we wait in half with the porta johns this year, which didn’t help. I nearly resorted to simply screaming “SEA CHICKEN” in my best Marlon Brando, but was concerned they might haul me away in a straight jacket and refrained.

So, I’ve been bragging on how well organized and supported this race is – and they did their best to prove me wrong. After dropping us off, the buses are slow to get up the road and turn around and leave, and the truck that picks up the runner drop bags is stuck behind the buses. The race can’t start until the buses are gone. And they end up telling us to simply drop our bags on the side of the road and they’ll get the volunteers to collect them. Once they get this all sorted out, buses down the road, starting structure over the road, etc., the race finally starts. There is a helicopter flying over taking pictures, so we can’t hear anything being said at the start – we just notice people are moving. I finally cross the starting line at 7:15.

Mile 1: 8:40. The friend I’m with tells me he has been doing his long runs at about a 12 minute pace, and anticipates this being his race pace. So I start the race with him back around the 10 minute flag and we do the first 300-400 yards together. Then after a fist bump and a “good luck”, I tell him I’ll see him at the end, and pick it up enough to finish the mile close to my target pace.

Mile 2: 8:29. The ponytails are back. One of them runs to the side of the road, and using a finger to close one nostril - she launches a snot rocket into the woods. The ponytails have lost their mystique. I really don’t notice any of them through the rest of the race.

Mile 3: 8:27. Aid station #1 – what a MESS. Last year they had enough volunteers in the road with cups of either water or power aid in their hands that you can get what you need running by. This year they can’t fill the cups fast enough, there aren’t any volunteers out passing them out, and there is a line of runners standing/waiting for power aid in front of the table. I’m frustrated, push past the power aid station and grab a cup of water off the next table. I’m concerned that this might be what to expect through the rest of the race.

Mile 4: 8:19.

Mile 5: 8:20. Aid station #2. There is a big group of volunteers wearing tie-dye shirts and 70’s clothes, some wearing large afro wigs, and dancing as they passing out drinks and power gels with 70’s music blaring in the background. Aid station #1 proves to be the only one in disarray throughout the race.

Mile 6: 8:16. I catch and pass the 4 hour pacer. Which is no small feat as the road is congested with folks along for the run with him. As we go along, I’m passing more people than are passing me – but when someone does pass me I have a hard time not latching onto them and trying to keep up. I have to keep telling myself to stick with the plan. Stick to the 8:30 pace (or as close as I can).

Mile 7: 8:23.

Mile 8: 8:24. There’s the same grandpa and grandson from last year - with the big speakers in the driveway rocking the “Here Comes the Sun” tunes.

Mile 9: 8:23.

Mile 10: 8:24. Elvis’ “A Little Less Conversation” is an awesome running song.

Mile 11: 8:29. Speaking of running songs - as crazy as this might sound, Amy Adam’s “That’s How You Know” from the Enchanted soundtrack and Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” have something in common. They both have a beat that matches my cadence and makes them the perfect running song – for me anyway. I realize what awesome running songs they are when they go back to back on my playlist. Maybe a bad time for confessions, but I’ve got a couple of other Disney songs on my playlist – including one from my daughter’s High School Musical soundtrack. What can I say – if the beat works, use it.

Mile 12: 8:25.

Mile 13: 8:19. (cumulative time of 1:49 for the first 13 miles) Last year I thought I was feeling good at this point. This year I know I am. I can’t even begin to describe how much better I feel this year. For some reason I had it in my head last year that I got here in about 1:45 or 1:50. This was before I’d played around with my 305 enough to know I had to program it to get splits, but according to the official results I ran this in 1:58 last year. This year I've got some time banked against my 4 hr goal.

Mile 14: 7:57. I know that the hill is coming at the end of this mile. Last year the hill was the beginning of the end for me. I powered up it, but used all the energy I had left to do so. This year’s plan is to walk the hill. I let myself speed up a little now – knowing I’ll get a rest as I walk up the hill and thinking that a little more speed now will result in less lost time overall from walking the hill.

Mile 15: 10:01. As I approach the hill, I’m feeling great. I know I could run it, and I’m tempted to. About 20 yards in front of me is the 3:45 pacer, and I’m feeling great to be this close to her – knowing if I can only stick with her I’m sure to hit my sub 4 hr goal. Ultimately I decide to not mess with the plan. I’m going to give in to this battle in order to win the war. I watch the pacer balloons go up over the top as I walk the hill. I’m one of the few walking. While walking I eat a small Cliff bar and send the first text to my wife telling her where I am on the course. I walk through the aid station at the top of the hill to get a good drink. Then over the next half mile or so I run past all of the people who passed me while I walked the hill. As I do, I’m feeling better and better about the decision.

Mile 16: 8:12. I’m feeling good. Really good. I want to speed up, but I keep telling myself to follow Hal’s plan. After all, I thought I was doing well at this point last year. At mile 20, if I’m still feeling it, then I can go. I’m excited to be feeling so good with 10 miles to go. But holding back is tough. So I tell myself that as long as I keep it around an 8:15 pace – a little faster is OK.

Mile 17: 8:16.

Mile 18: 8:13. I’m starting to pass more and more people. It seems like the only ones who pass me or try to keep up are people carrying batons for the relay. Still feeling great, I can’t believe there are only 8 miles to go. Somewhere either here or in mile 19 I catch and pass the 3:45 pacer.

Mile 19: 8:11.

Mile 20: 7:57. I haven’t finished mile 20 yet – but I decide this is close enough and pick it up a little. From this point through the end of the race, only one person passes me. A relay runner with a baton who is making good time down the canyon – fast enough I don’t even have the urge to try to keep up with him. Truth be told, as the race progresses and I’m running down the last stretch on Grant street, I’m pretty proud of the fact that only one runner has passed me in the last 6-7 miles of the race. Then, with a little more than a half mile to go, I fly past the guy with the baton who passed me earlier. And just like that, no one beats me over the last 6-7 miles of the race.

Mile 21: 7:48. At the start of this mile I get out my phone to send off my 2nd text to my wife. Then it’s go time.

Mile 22: 7:37.

Mile 23: 7:13.

Mile 24: 7:21.

Mile 25: 7:54. At the start of mile 25, I slow for a bit to get out my phone and send the last text to my wife. I’m done with all of the downhill running now – there are a few ups here and there, though it is mostly flat – but my pace is slowing some. And about a mile ago my thighs started to burn. I know I don’t have a lot more in me – got to power through to the end.

Mile 26: 7:43.

Finish: 2:53. According to my 305, I run .41 miles after mile 26. Somewhere in here my 15 year-old son jumps in and finishes the race with me. He seems caught up in the emotion and is feeling it, running at a good clip. At first I think “holy crap, slow down!” Then I decide to go with it, and ultimately put in a good sprint through the final block – running this section at a 7:08 pace.

Final time: 3:36:22. I’m thrilled, knocking more than 50 minutes off of last year’s time. And I feel much better at the end – legs are sore, but I’m not a walking zombie. I feel awesome!

I wait around for my friend – hit the massage tables, eat some fruit, drink a bunch of water, etc. Time passes and no sign of him. I know he was really hoping to finish in 5 to 5.5 hrs. Still waiting – I pick up my drop bag and take it to the car. Finally his oldest son, my 15 year-old, and I walk about a mile up the course looking for him – we’re getting close to the cut off time and I’m concerned he might not have made it out of the canyon before they start picking up runners. I don’t want to go too far – legs are tired. We wait for him at mile 25, and he eventually shows up – finishing in a little over 6 hrs. Interestingly enough, his description of his race is a near identical match of mine last year (http://cougaruteforum.com/showthread.php?p=354950) – though at a slower pace and with the exception that he walked the hill (I’d warned him about it). All I can do is smile and nod my head as he describes it.

I'm looking forward to hearing how Sea Chicken did. The weather was great for running – just a few clouds and not too hot. Had a great time!

[OhioBlue]

Final time: 3:36:22. I’m thrilled, knocking more than 50 minutes off of last year’s time. And I feel much better at the end – legs are sore, but I’m not a walking zombie. I feel awesome!

Eddie that seriously rocks! Congratulations on a great race and fantastic time. Thanks for sharing your report, it was very motivating and inspiring.

[bluegoose]

Holy cow, Eddie. That is awesome. i can't believe how fast you ran that last 10K. Way to go.

[Pheidippides]

Eddie, that is an awesome time! And what a kick at the end! Congrats!

[ERCougar]

Wow eddie, nice race! Best part is how good you felt afterwards! (hope that's still true today). I'm gonna need some tips from you for SG 2012.

[Sea Chicken]

Hell of a race Eddie, Congrats! I looked around for you at the start, but most of my time was spent in the port-a-john line.
My race was good. I didn't have the strong finish you did, but at 3:18:02 I got a 19-minute PR and second-tier BQ.
Here's my blog with all the ugly details http://court.fastrunningblog.com/