Marathon Training Thread

[Eddie]

Are you doing Ogden again?

Yeah - I keep telling myself that I should try another one, but it's so well run and I enjoy it enough that I keep finding myself signing up.

This will be 3 in a row for me.

I've also entered the lottery for St. George. I'm being tempted to do TOU if I don't get drawn - just to have something in the fall that keeps me running motivated through the summer.

[Sea Chicken]

I'm thinking about doing the Layton Marathon this fall. Mainly because I'd like to see how I'd do on a flat course and I've never been to Antelope Island.

[Eddie]

I'm thinking about doing the Layton Marathon this fall. Mainly because I'd like to see how I'd do on a flat course and I've never been to Antelope Island.

I was out there a couple of years ago when they were running the marathon (I wasn't running - just watching).

I don't know how they advertise it - but the beginning, while you're on the island, there are a handful of pretty good rolling hills. The causeway is flat, but I think once you get off the causeway you are into a slight climb until you head south.

I know what you're saying - and most of my training runs have some up and down to them, just because that's what you get in Utah. But it would be interesting to run one that doesn't have a significant overall drop in elevation.

[ERCougar]

Taper time!

5 years ago, I had my first and only bad running injury in training for the St George Marathon. I ended up running the marathon, but it was ugly, and included me injecting my IT band with lidocaine at mile 18 and finishing at 5 hours even. It's been a hole in my PR resume ever since.

Today, I finished my final long training run for Ogden. In training for this, I had three goals: 1) No injuries, 2) Don't burn out, and 3) Get a time that I don't have to mumble. Now, I'm injury-free and I've actually really enjoyed my training. I'll run Ogden conservatively, so I can really go for it at St George, but even so, I should have a time I'm proud of. And in a cheesy symbolic victory, I did my last long run on the same route where I hurt myself 5 years ago--a route I've avoided because of its bad juju.

Side note: My wife also finished her last long run. She's someone who never thought she'd be a runner because of her "bad knees", but now has a 1/2M PR under 1:50 and should break 4 hours at Ogden. I'm convinced that people who can't run because of knees are the exception and not the rule.

Anyway...can't wait for Ogden!

[OhioBlue]

Taper time!

5 years ago, I had my first and only bad running injury in training for the St George Marathon. I ended up running the marathon, but it was ugly, and included me injecting my IT band with lidocaine at mile 18 and finishing at 5 hours even. It's been a hole in my PR resume ever since.

Today, I finished my final long training run for Ogden. In training for this, I had three goals: 1) No injuries, 2) Don't burn out, and 3) Get a time that I don't have to mumble. Now, I'm injury-free and I've actually really enjoyed my training. I'll run Ogden conservatively, so I can really go for it at St George, but even so, I should have a time I'm proud of. And in a cheesy symbolic victory, I did my last long run on the same route where I hurt myself 5 years ago--a route I've avoided because of its bad juju.

Side note: My wife also finished her last long run. She's someone who never thought she'd be a runner because of her "bad knees", but now has a 1/2M PR under 1:50 and should break 4 hours at Ogden. I'm convinced that people who can't run because of knees are the exception and not the rule.

Anyway...can't wait for Ogden!

That's awesome...good luck to both of you!

[Joe Public]

Anyway...can't wait for Ogden!

I love that feeling when the work is done and it's time to enjoy the culmination of the experience. Have a great time.

[Sea Chicken]

Taper time!

5 years ago, I had my first and only bad running injury in training for the St George Marathon. I ended up running the marathon, but it was ugly, and included me injecting my IT band with lidocaine at mile 18 and finishing at 5 hours even. It's been a hole in my PR resume ever since.

Today, I finished my final long training run for Ogden. In training for this, I had three goals: 1) No injuries, 2) Don't burn out, and 3) Get a time that I don't have to mumble. Now, I'm injury-free and I've actually really enjoyed my training. I'll run Ogden conservatively, so I can really go for it at St George, but even so, I should have a time I'm proud of. And in a cheesy symbolic victory, I did my last long run on the same route where I hurt myself 5 years ago--a route I've avoided because of its bad juju.

Side note: My wife also finished her last long run. She's someone who never thought she'd be a runner because of her "bad knees", but now has a 1/2M PR under 1:50 and should break 4 hours at Ogden. I'm convinced that people who can't run because of knees are the exception and not the rule.

Anyway...can't wait for Ogden!

Good luck and have fun! Personally, I hate the taper. My mind does bad things to me. It's like I can feel myself getting fatter and slower. Just one of the many neuroses I deal with.

[ERCougar]

Good luck and have fun! Personally, I hate the taper. My mind does bad things to me. It's like I can feel myself getting fatter and slower. Just one of the many neuroses I deal with.

I haven't done a 3-week taper for a long time (just do a week for 1/2s), so I'm guessing I'll feel some of the same. Mostly, I'm just glad I got through a marathon training without any big injuries--I thought I could, but you never know until you do.

[Eddie]

I haven't done a 3-week taper for a long time (just do a week for 1/2s), so I'm guessing I'll feel some of the same. Mostly, I'm just glad I got through a marathon training without any big injuries--I thought I could, but you never know until you do.

I haven't quite had that experience yet - but I'm still feeling pretty good. Everything was going well until 2 Saturdays ago. So I took most of last week off and just did the long run on Saturday. Legs are more sore than I was prepared for - and while I didn't re-pull my hamstring, it is sore and tight. It doesn't help that I probably overdid it a little.

But I still managed to get out today - and I'm looking forward to the taper. I'm feeling about as ready as I ever have been, and optimistic that any remaining soreness will be gone by raceday.

Good luck to you and the wife. I'll watch for the luxury liners to pull up after they kick me off the school bus!

[ERCougar]

Grrr. I spent the morning yesterday planting a bunch of trees and shrubs for my inlaws and this morning my back is spasming after my last run. I go through 4 months of training injury-free and then this. This better be done by Saturday.

[Dwight Schr-ute]

Good luck to anyone doing Ogden tomorrow! ER, I hope the back eases up on you in time!

[ERCougar]

Good luck to anyone doing Ogden tomorrow! ER, I hope the back eases up on you in time!

Thanks! Its actually feeling good. I think I'm just paranoid.
Good luck to Eddie!

[ERCougar]

3:37.
I'm a little frustrated. All my PRs and training paces pointed to around a 3:20. I knew that would be stupid to try for on my first real marathon (I don't count my disaster 5 years ago), so I decided to shoot for a 3:30 as a sort of trial run. Ran my first half right on schedule--1:45--and felt fantastic. In control, had held back, was feeling stronger than everyone around me looked. But I had to pee like no other. Took me a full two minutes to empty my bladder. I thought back to something I had read about marathoners over hydrating so I figured I'd cut way back so that wouldnt happen again. I think you can get away with that on a half, but not so much on a full. I didn't do any more gels and probably took 3 more 2 oz shots of powerade the rest of the time. It should have been a clue that I want fueling enough when I wanted to punch the relay guy who kept yelling, but alas, I didn't clue in on that. Wheels fell off around mile 23, and I finished the race in mixture of nausea and lightheadedness that still hasn't really worn off. It's too bad, because this was fantastic weather for a race.

I was undertrained a little, and I hope that fixing my hydration/fueling issues will help, but I've definitely downgraded my goals for St George. I may just suck at this distance.

For those interested, it's a fantastic race. Lots of goodies, well-organized, and a beautiful course (even if 0.2 miles too long...grrr). Highly recommended.

EDIT: salsa ran a much better race and finished at 4:00 flat.

[Moliere]

Nice job ER! I'd give me left leg to be able to run a marathon, let alone one in 3:37.

[ERCougar]

Nice job ER! I'd give me left leg to be able to run a marathon, let alone one in 3:37.

I missed this yesterday. Thanks.
In retrospect, I did what I wanted--had fun training, didn't get hurt, and got an ok time. It's just that I was running really well through training, so I guess I let my expectations get a little out of hand. I'm hoping there's a learning curve to racing marathons and that I can learn how to do it without feeling like complete crap afterwards.