Marathon Training Thread

[Dwight Schr-ute]

Has anyone done the spaghetti dinner at the Expo? Not sure what I want to do for food the night before. I can't imagine this being anything more than a prego suffer fest, but it's not like St. George is flooded with options. Expo or wait at the Pasta Factory for 4 1/2 hours?

[Donuthole]

Has anyone done the spaghetti dinner at the Expo? Not sure what I want to do for food the night before. I can't imagine this being anything more than a prego suffer fest, but it's not like St. George is flooded with options. Expo or wait at the Pasta Factory for 4 1/2 hours?

Here you go

[Pheidippides]

Today I was scheduled for 12 miles - a rest week before my really hard one. However, forecast had the temps about 10 degrees cooler in the early AM than usual, and I have a general philosophy about doing 20 milers in marathon training: you do them when you feel good. So, on a hunch, I packed an extra gel and a credit card in case I felt like going further.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/220607741

Wow. What a difference 10 degrees make. I walked .5 mile to deal with some GI issues but otherwise felt magnificent. I was holding back the whole time, and was sorely tempted to do a full 26.2 (the idea of 30 crossed my mind, actually), but I kept repeating to myself that today is not race day, today is not race day.

But when race day gets here, I think I'm going to kill it. I'm going to shorten my planned workout this next weekend (I had planned on 24; I think I'll keep it to 18) and then really take my taper easy.

[Parrot Head]

Today I was scheduled for 12 miles - a rest week before my really hard one. However, forecast had the temps about 10 degrees cooler in the early AM than usual, and I have a general philosophy about doing 20 milers in marathon training: you do them when you feel good. So, on a hunch, I packed an extra gel and a credit card in case I felt like going further.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/220607741

Wow. What a difference 10 degrees make. I walked .5 mile to deal with some GI issues but otherwise felt magnificent. I was holding back the whole time, and was sorely tempted to do a full 26.2 (the idea of 30 crossed my mind, actually), but I kept repeating to myself that today is not race day, today is not race day.

But when race day gets here, I think I'm going to kill it. I'm going to shorten my planned workout this next weekend (I had planned on 24; I think I'll keep it to 18) and then really take my taper easy.

Nice splits, there! Also, I think I made that route design once on an Etch-a-Sketch.

[Coach McGuirk]

Well, I thought I would have more time off from running but I back dated my training program for the Disneyworld Marathon and the training started today. I am going with the Hal Higdon Novice 1 training. Hope I stay injury free this go round.

[Pheidippides]

Well, I thought I would have more time off from running but I back dated my training program for the Disneyworld Marathon and the training started today. I am going with the Hal Higdon Novice 1 training. Hope I stay injury free this go round.

Excellent choice of plan - I used that for my first. Any time goals in mind yet, or are you keeping those private/just thinking of finishing?

[Coach McGuirk]

Excellent choice of plan - I used that for my first. Any time goals in mind yet, or are you keeping those private/just thinking of finishing?

I'll probably set one after the end of October half I am doing. Right now I figure 4:30 would be nice.

[Pheidippides]

I'll probably set one after the end of October half I am doing. Right now I figure 4:30 would be nice.

McMillan puts you at a 4:27 based on your half the other day, so that's quite reasonable.

[Parrot Head]

McMillan puts you at a 4:27 based on your half the other day, so that's quite reasonable.

What about Paul Ryan?

[Joe Public]

Excellent choice of plan - I used that for my first.

So did I, and I was happy with it.

Good luck, Coach. Based on your half marathon, I feel safe in assuming you have a good base already. That will be to your advantage.

[Pheidippides]

What about Paul Ryan?

Boston Qualifier, no contest. Probably within spitting distance of making the olympic team in 2016.

[Pheidippides]

So I'm getting really amped for St. George. The weather is a wildcard, and a factor I can't control, but I've never had a training cycle like this before. I did a lot of cycling/cross training during the first part of the cycle, both because of scheduled triathlons and because of my ankle rehab, and it's been a good thing.

I've devoted the last month or so to straight running. I've run a 20, a 22 and a 24, with one more 20 this Sunday (possibly - I may cut it down to 18 or even 15). I just finished running the best set of Yasso 800s I've ever run. I am running about 180 pounds, which, while still 15 pounds more than I'd like, is as light as I've ever been on race day (I ran my last race at 210). And I'm as healthy as I could ask for (knock on wood).

I'm really hoping for a PR this time. My last two marathons have not been great (granted, one was the Goofy). I'm crossing my fingers.

[Coach McGuirk]

So I'm getting really amped for St. George. The weather is a wildcard, and a factor I can't control, but I've never had a training cycle like this before. I did a lot of cycling/cross training during the first part of the cycle, both because of scheduled triathlons and because of my ankle rehab, and it's been a good thing.

I've devoted the last month or so to straight running. I've run a 20, a 22 and a 24, with one more 20 this Sunday (possibly - I may cut it down to 18 or even 15). I just finished running the best set of Yasso 800s I've ever run. I am running about 180 pounds, which, while still 15 pounds more than I'd like, is as light as I've ever been on race day (I ran my last race at 210). And I'm as healthy as I could ask for (knock on wood).

I'm really hoping for a PR this time. My last two marathons have not been great (granted, one was the Goofy). I'm crossing my fingers.

Fingers crossed for you. Hopefully you want up on race day and feel like you felt for the 24 miler you did and the weather is perfect.


PS which half iron did you sign up for and when is it?

[Pheidippides]

Fingers crossed for you. Hopefully you want up on race day and feel like you felt for the 24 miler you did and the weather is perfect.


PS which half iron did you sign up for and when is it?

I'm actually skipping the half iron altogether and going straight for the full (I know, I know). It's in May here in Texas. I almost signed up for the Oilman (half iron distance) here in the Houston area - it's in December, I want to say - but I didn't think my training schedule would allow for something that significant in that time frame.

I had signed up for the half in Austin last year but I had to drop out because of an injury. Still the only race I've never lined up for.

[lambdacoug]

What about Paul Ryan?

http://www.paulryantimecalculator.com/

A time of 4:27 is a Paul Ryan time of 3:13! Not bad!