Marathon Runners Thread

[Deleted member 8507]

I haven’t ran a 5K race in that time but probably 19:30ish and 35-40 miles a week.

Finally got to my spreadsheet. 19:30 5k, with 350 base over 10 weeks and longest training run of 21 miles will be around 3:26 at normal conditions. If things go well, you could be under 3:20, bad weather, cramps, etc and it drops you to 3:38. I have ran six marathons in my younger days and this calculation was within 7 minutes on all of mine. Might be that it is valid only for me and how I trained.

 

[stateofmind]

I ran my 20 mile training run at sub-9 minute miles. I was gunning for 4:30. The race used a sugar-free drink called Ultima or something. I about threw that stuff up after 3 miles. I trained with Gatorade and gels, so I was screwed. I didn't have a support staff for the race as my wife was pregnant and stayed home, so I was stuck with gels and water. The last six miles were cramp on top of cramp and I finished with a 5:07 time. I think I walked more than jogged the last 6 miles.

Nothing sounded good to me afterwards. I couldn't think of eating anything for a couple hours, but finally while driving across MN I stopped at Casey's and cottage cheese was the magic elixir.

As others have said, have more than you think you'll need and eat before your body tells you that you NEED it. I would suggest stuff that you've tried before. My new favorite things for biking are salt sticks. They sound gross but they are delicious.

Good luck!

 

[Messi]

Ran a 1:22 half last week and have done two 37 minute 10ks in training.

Running my first full next month in Rochester, MN and am hoping for sub 3 and earn my BQ.

 

[ClonesFTW]

Anyone running Dam to DSM in June? Said I wouldnt run another 20k because of feet and back issues but did terrible last year (2:10) so need redemption. Anything under 2 hours I will be happy with.

I've done Dam to Dam for the last few years and besides being pelted with sleet at the starting line last year it's always a good event. Only other running event I look forward to is the Beer Mile at El Bait Shop!

 

[Deleted member 8507]

I ran my 20 mile training run at sub-9 minute miles. I was gunning for 4:30. The race used a sugar-free drink called Ultima or something. I about threw that stuff up after 3 miles. I trained with Gatorade and gels, so I was screwed. I didn't have a support staff for the race as my wife was pregnant and stayed home, so I was stuck with gels and water. The last six miles were cramp on top of cramp and I finished with a 5:07 time. I think I walked more than jogged the last 6 miles.

Nothing sounded good to me afterwards. I couldn't think of eating anything for a couple hours, but finally while driving across MN I stopped at Casey's and cottage cheese was the magic elixir.

As others have said, have more than you think you'll need and eat before your body tells you that you NEED it. I would suggest stuff that you've tried before. My new favorite things for biking are salt sticks. They sound gross but they are delicious.

Good luck!

Yeah, I did Twin Cities in 89 while living in KC. I stopped and ate greasy pizza at MN/IA border on drive home later that afternoon. Made it to Boondocks before I was curled up and throwing up in their bathroom for an hour. Barely made it down to Ames before collapsing at a friends for the rest of the day.
During the race, I drank every opportunity but don't eat anything (truthfully, there wasn't much available in 80's). Maybe that was why I cramped everytime after 22 miles.

 

[CycloneDaddy]

I done Dam to Dam for the last few years and besides being pelted with sleet at the starting line last year it's always a good event. Only other running event I look forward to is the Beer Mile at El Bait Shop!

So you are saying you didnt like starting in hurricane conditions last year? Best part of the run was trying to dodge rain gear people just threw on the road that blew everywhere.

 

[stateofmind]

Yeah, I did Twin Cities in 89 while living in KC. I stopped and ate greasy pizza at MN/IA border on drive home later that afternoon. Made it to Boondocks before I was curled up and throwing up in their bathroom for an hour. Barely made it down to Ames before collapsing at a friends for the rest of the day.
During the race, I drank every opportunity but don't eat anything (truthfully, there wasn't much available in 80's). Maybe that was why I cramped everytime after 22 miles.

Funny, I lived in KC when I ran the Grandma's in Duluth. And I wanted Casey's pizza, but they were out, so I guess I'm glad they were and cottage cheese was what sounded good.

 

[1100011CS]

Ran a 1:22 half last week and have done two 37 minute 10ks in training.

Running my first full next month in Rochester, MN and am hoping for sub 3 and earn my BQ.

I've ran the Rochester (Med City) Marathon. Assuming they haven't changed the route be prepared for a long downhill stretch at the beginning. It really tore up my quads.

 

[1100011CS]

I forgot to add: use liberal amounts of Body Glide or something similar on your nipples and around the family jewels so you don't end up like this guy

.

 

[Messi]

I've ran the Rochester (Med City) Marathon. Assuming they haven't changed the route be prepared for a long downhill stretch at the beginning. It really tore up my quads.

Thanks for the info. How’s the course coverall?

 

[CtownCyclone]

I've ran the Rochester (Med City) Marathon. Assuming they haven't changed the route be prepared for a long downhill stretch at the beginning. It really tore up my quads.

Long downhills will do a number on you. I did a 15K a few weeks ago that was pretty rough - first 6 miles were somewhat flat (few rolling hills), next quarter to half mile was about 200 feet of elevation gain (yuck), one more big hill, then downhill for the last mile and a half to the finish. And by downhill, I mean you lost 600 feet in elevation in that mile and a half. Yee haw!

 

[1100011CS]

Thanks for the info. How’s the course coverall?

It was several years ago and the only thing I remember is the downhill at the beginning and my quads cramping really bad at the end. For some reason I'm thinking they changed the course though. Is it still a point-to-point that you bus out to the start?

 

[Messi]

It was several years ago and the only thing I remember is the downhill at the beginning and my quads cramping really bad at the end. For some reason I'm thinking they changed the course though. Is it still a point-to-point that you bus out to the start?

 

[1100011CS]

View attachment 63921

That's a lot different. Pretty sure we started out north of town.

 

[Deleted member 8507]

Funny, I lived in KC when I ran the Grandma's in Duluth. And I wanted Casey's pizza, but they were out, so I guess I'm glad they were and cottage cheese was what sounded good.

I did Grandma's (kind of). My first five marathons I ran as hard as I could (all between 3:02 and 3:17). My last one I ran with my sister-in-law who was celebrating cancer survivor. It was more relaxed for me as we did it in 4:40. I really enjoyed it, not pushing myself to exhaustion and collapse. Never did get the sub 3:00 but I did do sub 7:00 pace.

 

[Deleted member 8507]

I forgot to add: use liberal amounts of Body Glide or something similar on your nipples and around the family jewels so you don't end up like this guy .

For any run over ten miles I used generous amounts of Vaseline on my feet and toes. Reduce friction and no blisters the entire time i did that. Takes a little getting used to the squishy feeling but sure worked well. I never had any problems with other areas of my body but that advice makes sense.

 

[Deleted member 8507]

View attachment 63921

Hopefully they don't make you run an extra 1/2 mile. A marathon is 26 miles, 385 yards which is 26.219 miles.

 

[Sousaclone]

Any recovery tips for after I cross the finish line?

I tried to keep moving as much as possible. Change of clothes (socks, shirt, etc) to have something dry to wear. Depending on finishing weather, long sleeves or a coat/jacket to put on as well (I was freezing at the end of Philly. Stupid 35mph wind).

I walked the mile back to my hotel, stretched / foam rolled, tried to eat something (leftover bagel), took a shower, and then proceeded to drive 3 hours back to my house. Getting out of the car at a rest stop about 2 hours in was a slow, painful process. I could best be described as hobbling. Got to the house and ate what seemed like half the menu of the local pizza place.

I did do some short, slow runs later in the week and went to the gym to do some light mobility and stretching stuff.

For comparison sake I ran a 4:14. Held a ~9 min pace through mile 19 and hit the wall badly. I probably only ran around a third of the miles I needed to in the last 6-8 weeks of my training program due to injury. I had been running a 1:45 half at the time.

Enjoy the run. I swore I'd never do a second one but about 6 months later I was looking for a second one.

 

[Bigman38]

Not a marathon runner....but any tips on how to keep from getting headaches after a run? I consistently get headaches about 4 hours after a run. I’ve tried drinking tons of water, different times of day, eating/not eating before, and nothing works so for.

 

[1100011CS]

Hopefully they don't make you run an extra 1/2 mile. A marathon is 26 miles, 385 yards which is 26.219 miles.

That extra from the map is probably just because of the turns. USATF measures it on the shortest possible distance so using tangents which mapping probably doesn't.