Marathon Training Thread

[bluegoose]

My training has sucked this summer. It will be a long time before I run St George (or any fall marathon) again. I don't like running in the heat (shut up, Niku--I know you have it way worse, but you're a glutton for punishment) and I like mountain biking and other stuff way too much. I loved training in the winter because it kept me active, I had great paces due to the cold, and there's not a lot else to do. But summer--blah. Halfs for me from now on.

I don't have a time goal for St G. The weather is just too unpredictable. Last year, it was way too hot, the year before it was wet, rainy, and miserable, the year before that was great. Also, I have no idea what my body can do.

My long runs have also sucked. I abandoned the walk-run strategy early, but I'm seriously considering it on my next long run. I'm at a loss right now. I really think this just isn't my distance.

Another roll call for St G? Who's still running it?

I'm with you on StG. Its just the wrong time of year for me to be training for a marathon. I enjoying biking in the summer too much to suffer through miserably hot long runs on Saturday mornings.

Between mid March and early May is the perfect time of year for a marathon for me. Finding a good one on a Saturday is really tough though.

Roll call - I won't be there but my wife will be there for the 4th year in a row.

[SteelBlue]

The weather scares me at StG too. Last year was brutally hot, no? If it hangs about in the low 60s or lower I'll be fine, but above that....

Last year was very hot. They announced at the start that it was the hottest start temp in the history of the race. That was fairly demoralizing. I think the heat cost me a few minutes at least. I know those who finish closer to 5 hours really suffered. I ran it in '09 and the weather was absolutely perfect. So, who knows. I hope you guys have great weather. My wife is running it this year.

[BigPiney]

Last year was very hot. They announced at the start that it was the hottest start temp in the history of the race. That was fairly demoralizing. I think the heat cost me a few minutes at least. I know those who finish closer to 5 hours really suffered. I ran it in '09 and the weather was absolutely perfect. So, who knows. I hope you guys have great weather. My wife is running it this year.

I don't know if it was last year when I did mine, but it sucked. I did horrible and was really hot.

I had sworn off marathons as a result, but then I find myself reading this thread and thinking the the Redding marathon in January would probably work. What? No marathons, no marathons, no marathons.

[Joe Public]

I don't know if it was last year when I did mine, but it sucked. I did horrible and was really hot.

I had sworn off marathons as a result, but then I find myself reading this thread and thinking the the Redding marathon in January would probably work. What? No marathons, no marathons, no marathons.

I remember talking to an old-timer at the starting line when I ran my first. He said,"You won't run your second marathon until you forget your first." That held true for me. My long (twenty-plus-mile) training runs for this race are reminding me of the things I'd forgotten.

[SteelBlue]

I don't know if it was last year when I did mine, but it sucked. I did horrible and was really hot.

I had sworn off marathons as a result, but then I find myself reading this thread and thinking the the Redding marathon in January would probably work. What? No marathons, no marathons, no marathons.

Yes Piney, you ran yours last year.

[BigPiney]

Yes Piney, you ran yours last year.

Such a traumatic experience I have tried to block it from memory.

[Dwight Schr-ute]

I'm still planning on showing up in a few weeks. I'm using a Runner's World Smart Coach training program that has me running 3 days a week and is supposedly preparing me to finish in 3:51:30 on race day. I just don't see it happening. It mixes in speed work and tempo work during the week, but when I did my first 20 two weeks ago, it took me over 3:30 hours. The heat was a major factor in that run, but I know how unpredictable St. George can be. I did a 15 last Saturday and felt great (despite the two times I had to pull off and shat on a cactus (which confirmed that the bean and chicken burrito that I had for dinner the night before, wasn't such a smart idea.) Anyway, these 15 miles were the fastest (only an 8:23 but good compared to my other long runs) and most consistent long run miles I've had to date, so maybe there is some hope. I'm scheduled for my 2nd 20 miler the weekend after this one so hopefully it doesn't suck nearly as bad as the first. My scheduled 3rd and final 20 miler will likely be less than 48 hours after my wife gives birth to our third child, so that could be an interesting experience of endurance.

On a related note, my wife and I were talking the other evening and she asked about them coming up to watch me finish. This shocked me as I wouldn't think that she'd be willing to attempt such a feat with a 5, 3, and newborn. I told her that I didn't ever expect her to come, didn't think it was worth the effort, but was very appreciative that she would even consider it. She insisted that it was important to have someone cheering for you at the finish of your first marathon and that she would really like to be there. "But if you think that having all of us there would be too stressful on you, then I would understand."

How would this not be stressful? Call me cynical, but I think the idea of being alone with all of the kids for 24 hours might be freaking her out, so if she can convince me to let them tag along, then we're down to a handful of hours. If I go by myself, I can stay with her dad. If everyone comes then we'll need to stay with my aunt and uncle who have a giant house. Knowing my personality, I wouldn't be able to sleep without helping get the two older kids ready for bed and taken care of.

Ugh. Not sure there's a win/win with this one. Any suggestions?

[PaloAltoCougar]

Lately, I've been running only 1-2 days a week, one of which is a 7-miler. But after said run, I'm sore in one hip and foot for a couple of days, the result of what I think is arthritis. I was seriously thinking of hanging it up with the pavement pounding and sticking to the bike and the gym. But then I was visited three times in the night by John Belushi screaming, "OVER? OVER? IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL I SAY IT'S OVER!!!" Thus inspired, I have signed up for the Disney World Half Marathon (never a full, sorry), and the ParrotHead family and our Manhattanite daughter will join us in January.

I'm going to work on eliminating the arthritic after effects of my runs by running more frequent, but lesser distances and build up from there. Probably stupid, but it makes more sense than only one weekly seven-mile run. Plus, I love having a big event to work toward.

niku, Coach, others? CUF party in Orlando in January?

[Parrot Head]

Lately, I've been running only 1-2 days a week, one of which is a 7-miler. But after said run, I'm sore in one hip and foot for a couple of days, the result of what I think is arthritis. I was seriously thinking of hanging it up with the pavement pounding and sticking to the bike and the gym. But then I was visited three times in the night by John Belushi screaming, "OVER? OVER? IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL I SAY IT'S OVER!!!" Thus inspired, I have signed up for the Disney World Half Marathon (never a full, sorry), and the ParrotHead family and our Manhattanite daughter will join us in January.

I'm going to work on eliminating the arthritic after effects of my runs by running more frequent, but lesser distances and build up from there. Probably stupid, but it makes more sense than only one weekly seven-mile run. Plus, I love having a big event to work toward.

niku, Coach, others? CUF party in Orlando in January?

Don't forget HFN being there leading up to a big game in Miami on the 7th to cap off the season for the Ducks.

[Pheidippides]

Lately, I've been running only 1-2 days a week, one of which is a 7-miler. But after said run, I'm sore in one hip and foot for a couple of days, the result of what I think is arthritis. I was seriously thinking of hanging it up with the pavement pounding and sticking to the bike and the gym. But then I was visited three times in the night by John Belushi screaming, "OVER? OVER? IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL I SAY IT'S OVER!!!" Thus inspired, I have signed up for the Disney World Half Marathon (never a full, sorry), and the ParrotHead family and our Manhattanite daughter will join us in January.

I'm going to work on eliminating the arthritic after effects of my runs by running more frequent, but lesser distances and build up from there. Probably stupid, but it makes more sense than only one weekly seven-mile run. Plus, I love having a big event to work toward.

niku, Coach, others? CUF party in Orlando in January?

In and signed up for the Goofy. My dad is also running - maybe the half, maybe the full, maybe both. My daughter and mom and I are doing the 5k too.

I am also volunteering to do an informal 2 hour pace group for the half....

[Coach McGuirk]

Every year. I'm there for a week or so. I'll be doing the half.

I'll be doing the full. Game on.

[ERCougar]

Ugh.
I am a water hog. For a ten mile run, I drank 20 oz Starbucks out the door (cold), took 40 oz of powerade with me, and still ran out of water at 8 miles. Im running in Arizona so it's a little hotter than I'm used to but this is ridiculous. This is why marathons don't work for me. It might be my 200 lbs but I just can't keep up fluid wise.

[Surfah]

Ugh.
I am a water hog. For a ten mile run, I drank 20 oz Starbucks out the door (cold), took 40 oz of powerade with me, and still ran out of water at 8 miles. Im running in Arizona so it's a little hotter than I'm used to but this is ridiculous. This is why marathons don't work for me. It might be my 200 lbs but I just can't keep up fluid wise.

You drink coffee before a run? Do you ever have to take a dump during the run?

[ERCougar]

Well, it's one of those energy drinks in a can they make, so I don't call it 'coffee' or a 'hot drink'. But yeah, point taken. I drink it right when I get up and by the time I'm leaving out the door, I have a good emptying. Prevents it from happening during the run.

[Pheidippides]

Every year. I'm there for a week or so. I'll be doing the half.

I'll be doing the full. Game on.

That's what I'm talking about!