Marathon Training Thread

[OhioBlue]

I haven't tried them yet, but Hokas seem to be around to stay. Lots and lots of ultra-runners using these. And I'm starting to see them pop up around the internets as a good shoe for recovery run days, now that evidence is building that rotating different types of shoes might be a good thing. From what I understand, they have a super soft ride--duh, that much is obvious looking at them--but also a surprisingly stable platform and a low heel-toe drop (4mm?) for those who are into that sort of thing. They may be responsible for ushering in the next fad/wave of 'maximalism' due among several manufacturers starting early 2014.

In short, I am very curious and am just about ready to try a pair. They are freakin' pricy. Dat cushioning tho...

[Moliere]

The Kinvara is my go-to shoe for all distances, and I've done my last three marathons (including my last two PRs) in them. They have the advantage of being cheaper than most shoes too.

I did 4 miles yesterday and 10 miles today in the Kinvaras. They are a good shoe but it'll take some getting used to. I really miss my Frees and will definitely go back to them when the marathon is over (if I make it there). The Kinvaras will do on the longer runs though as they are better than any other shoe I've' owned other than the Frees.

I stopped three times during the 10 miler to stretch out my calf. It wasn't giving me too many problems other than being tired and sore, but most of my body is that way, which is likely due to taking 10 days off and then running 14 miles in two days. While my calf is just a bit sore (but no real pain) I've noticed that now an area right behind and below my knee is sore. It's kind of an odd spot to be sore but it is right where I had a cramp during my half marathon last fall. I'll rest my legs for my long run (14 miles) on Saturday and hopefully it's just some typical soreness from running after taking a break. I am a bit optimistic that I can still run the marathon. I doubt I'll break 4 hours but it seems the calf strain is manageable.

[Pheidippides]

I did 4 miles yesterday and 10 miles today in the Kinvaras. They are a good shoe but it'll take some getting used to. I really miss my Frees and will definitely go back to them when the marathon is over (if I make it there). The Kinvaras will do on the longer runs though as they are better than any other shoe I've' owned other than the Frees.

I stopped three times during the 10 miler to stretch out my calf. It wasn't giving me too many problems other than being tired and sore, but most of my body is that way, which is likely due to taking 10 days off and then running 14 miles in two days. While my calf is just a bit sore (but no real pain) I've noticed that now an area right behind and below my knee is sore. It's kind of an odd spot to be sore but it is right where I had a cramp during my half marathon last fall. I'll rest my legs for my long run (14 miles) on Saturday and hopefully it's just some typical soreness from running after taking a break. I am a bit optimistic that I can still run the marathon. I doubt I'll break 4 hours but it seems the calf strain is manageable.

I happen to know an experienced pacer running a 4 hour pace group for that marathon....

[Moliere]

I happen to know an experienced pacer running a 4 hour pace group for that marathon....

I know and I'm planning on running with you.....for the first 13.1 miles or until my calf snaps in half.

[The_Tick]

I ran a 5k yesterday. Not a marathon...but when you weigh 360 it might as well be. My daughter is trying to get healthier, and she challenged all of us.

49:55

My goal was sub 50. We are doing another one in two months.

I didn't finish last, and I didn't die.

[FN Phat]

Awesome.

Kids can be great motivators

[lambdacoug]

Awesome! Keep at it!

[Moliere]

I ran a 5k yesterday. Not a marathon...but when you weigh 360 it might as well be. My daughter is trying to get healthier, and she challenged all of us.

49:55

My goal was sub 50. We are doing another one in two months.

I didn't finish last, and I didn't die.

[lambdacoug]

I just signed up for the Garmin Marathon half on April 26th and the Hospital Hill half on June 7th. They are only 6 weeks apart, which has me a bit nervous, especially since I've been off my feet for the last week with an illness. I'm back at it again today with 67 days to train for the first. I passed on the $30 pasta dinner with Meb as speaker before the Garmin marathon, maybe I shouldn't have. Oh well...

[MarkGrace]

You can nail them both. Good luck, dude!

[Moliere]

I ran 20 miles on Saturday. The first 14 or so were fine with no problems other than some stiffness in my hips. Miles 14-16 weren't too bad although I had run out of water on mile 17. Mile 18 was tough as my calves started to tighten up. Mile 19 was a blur except for when I stopped to stretch out my calves. Mile 20 sucked. In fact, I tried to push it a bit for the last 1/4 mile. I was huffing and puffing and giving it everything I had and I looked at my pace and it was around 9:15, to which I just laughed.

I think I'll be good for the marathon, even with the strained calf. It's not bugging too much and I should be able to give it some rest now that I'm tapering.

I ran 40 miles last week and now that I'm 48 hours removed from the long run and I actually feel pretty good. I didn't want to push it too much so I kept my splits around 9:30ish and for the most part was pretty consistent. I do worry about trying to keep a 4/hour marathon pace but hopefully with the rest and tapering I'll be stronger at the start of the race than I was at the start of my 20 miler.

[Moliere]

I think I'll be good for the marathon, even with the strained calf. It's not bugging too much and I should be able to give it some rest now that I'm tapering.

:swear:

So later on Monday my left knee started to give me some intense pain to the point that I didn't run until Thursday. I tried to do 8 miles but stopped at 6 since it was starting to hurt again. After some research it appears it's more "runner's knee" than anything else as the pain is right under the patella but I do have some pain on the side which might be the IT band. Anyway, not good but not really bad as of now since I can walk fine on it.

I did a swim on Saturday so as to not cause any more pain. I swam a mile and figure I'll do more swimming to keep the cardio up.

I did run 4 miles this morning and while I felt a small bit of pain, the run went well. I'm using a lot of ice and ibuprofen to try and keep any inflamation down. I'm going to try some kenisio tape on my 6 mile run tomorrow morning and if that works I'll just use it up to and during the marathon. Then I'll give my legs a good couple weeks off....at least from running and I'll hit the cycling/swimming harder to get ready for the tri coming up in May.

[lambdacoug]

My first half-marathon (this year) is 8.5 weeks away and my second is 5 weeks after that. I'm at 11 miles/week right now and haven't really been very consistent. I sat down last night and mapped out my training from now until the second half. I did two plans, one increasing mileage 10% a week and the other only 1 mile per week. I think I'll go with the 1 mile/week plan since it seems safer and I still have a full marathon in October. I should top out at an 11.5 mile long run two weeks before each half. I'm nervous about doing two halfs so close together. It took a few weeks to recover from my first half-marathon. I started training for that one at only 5 miles a week, though.

[Blueintheface]

My first half-marathon is 8.5 weeks away and my second is 5 weeks after that. I'm at 11 miles/week right now and haven't really been very consistent. I sat down last night and mapped out my training from now until the second half. I did two plans, one increasing mileage 10% a week and the other only 1 mile per week. I think I'll go with the 1 mile/week plan since it seems safer and I still have a full marathon in October. I should top out at an 11.5 mile long run two weeks before each half. I'm nervous about doing two halfs so close together. It took a few weeks to recover from my first half-marathon. I started training for that one at only 5 miles a week, though.

To go from lap band surgery (IIRC) to running 2 half-marathons. Pretty awesome. Kudos and good luck with your training.

[Moliere]

Well, the marathon isn't gonna happen this time. I've been battling knee problems both on the side of the knee and under the patella. These all came on after the 20 miler. I've seen an IT Band specialist and am still working with him. Things are improving but there's no way I can make it 26.2 miles on my knee on Saturday. I did 2 miles this morning and it started to hurt around 1.5 miles. By the end of the 2 miles the pain wasn't sharp but I can't imagine doing another 24 miles on it. Needless to say, I'm going to shut it down for a bit (except for when my doc tells me to run) and try again another time.

It's incredibly frustrating to do all the training and to miss out on the race. I could probably tough out a half marathon but honestly staying healthy and being able to continue to run in the near future is more important than finishing a marathon this year. I don't know if I'll train for another marathon as this one took a lot out of me both physically (with the injuries) and mentally (with the disappointment) but I can only imagine that come fall my outlook will probably change and you'll see me out running 12-16 milers.