I've decided to run a marathon! I chose one that is nine months away and will be relatively near where we'll be living at the time (about a half hour drive). I'm really quite excited, but I would love to hear any advice that marathon pros have to offer - training tips, clothing/shoe tips, nutrition tips, injury prevention tips, mental preparation tips...anything!
I've been running about fifteen miles a week for the past couple months. I've done a couple twelve and thirteen mile runs in a little less than two hours. I'm not a Speedy Gonzales for sure, and my goal here is to actually *finish* the marathon, not worrying about speed! I've found a marathon training schedule that looks like it will work for me - spend the first couple months building up to the longer runs and then jump into the actual marathon training schedule. I started today and the schedule should take me right up to the marathon. http://www.marathontraining.com/marathon/m_mile.html http://www.marathontraining.com/marathon/m_sch_2.html
I was reading other runners' reviews on the marathon's website and they were talking about water and food stations and portapotties along the way. How does that work? Do you eat and drink while you're running? Do you find you have to use the bathroom along the way?
So pass along anything you've found has (or hasn't!) worked for you!!! Thanks in advance.
Kara
Edited to add a little more exercise background:
I'm a pretty active person. I walk a lot as we don't have a car here (three to four miles a day at least) and get in workouts on the elliptical as well as running. I take a yoga class once a week and do a bit of toning strength training also (30 minutes three times a week and a 60 minute class once a week). I'm also a vegetarian (ovo-lacto for the past eighteen years) and eat a pretty good balance of whole grains, protein, and fruits and veggies. Oh, and I drink about 80 ounces of water a day - sometimes closer to 64 and sometimes closer to 100 but usually about 80.
Last edited by tomandkara; 12-30-2007 at 04:31 AM.
Hey KARA Angie and I walked a marathon back in 2001. We trained with a group for 6 months prior, we ended up doing it in about 5 hrs. 45 minutes...somewhere around there...I remember we averaged 13 minute 1 second miles for the 26.2 miles...we were really happy with our time.
They have water stations along the way ~ you just grab a cup as you run by, if you wish, take a drink, throw it down and keep on going. The "food" we always get along the way of our 5 and 10K's and the marathon is "goo".
About mile 18 I "wished" I could have sat down and ate!!
Since we walked it I can't really help you with the running part...my advice though would be sure to get your training miles in!! That really helped us.
Hi Kara, congrats on deciding to do a marathon! I ran my first marathon last October in Portland, and it was a truly amazing experience. Believe I have the bug now, because I just signed up for a second in Napa at the beginning of March, and am planning to run in my home town, Chicago, next October.
There are a lot of online resources for training plans, you might want to take a look at Hal Higdon's novice program http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/Mar00index.htm as one possibility. Whatever you do, I'd recommend working up to a 20 mile long run, and if you can do that, the marathon should be absolutely do-able.
Thanks for the link, Rachel, and congrats on your marathon success! Napa should be gorgeous (we lived in northern California for two and a half years) and motivating enough with the scenery to take your mind off the actual running of the race!
I'm currently training for my 5th marathon. The miles in training really do make a difference, particularly getting the long runs under your belt. Don't worry about speed when you're training, just try to cover the distance whether that's by running it all or run/walking it. You need time on your feet more than you need speed.
Food wise, I usually just stick with energy tablets/drinks rather than solid food, although in my last marathon we pretty much walked it (pushing a wheelchair), and had a bit of a break at 11 miles when I had a sort of dried fruit energy bar thing, being out for that length of time (nearly 7 hours) I don't think I'd have got on too well without any food. But for a running marathon I can usually wait for something more solid at the end - make sure you put a selection of stuff in your bag, as I find I can never predict what I'll be able to stomach after it. Sometimes I feel like I could eat anything and everything, and other times I feel like there's only one specific thing I could manage to eat - and it's not necessarily always the same thing!
I've been veggie since before I ran my first marathon, and haven't found it to be a problem. Mind you, I've never trained for a marathon while eating meat so I don't have anything to compare it to.
Thanks for your advice, Helen! Do you eat before you race? I generally run in the morning on an empty stomach and I'm thinking I'll have to change that habit as I probably wouldn't be able to make the long runs without some good fuel. Maybe some oatmeal or peanut butter toast?
I usually eat a couple of hours before I run. How long I need to leave depends on what I eat - some foods need a good 3 hours, other food I can run within an hour - I tend to find that oats work best.
I do short runs in the morning without eating, but I wouldn't go above about 13 miles without having had breakfast first.
Hey KARA Angie and I were going through some pictures last night, she is making some new albums. Anyway, we have a picture of us right after the marathon we did. We trained as a group of about 30 walkers, all different abilities. We took a group picture with all of us holding up our times...Angie and I had 5hr 43min. We crossed hand in hand ...which honestly was a miracle! it was one of the few times in our marraige we weren't speaking to each other
We trained a little with a race walker...we had that hip action going which helped us with our speed. But looking at the pictures and thinking of what advice I could give and I thought of this ~ If any way possible...train with a partner! By training as a group on Saturdays, for those long 19-20 milers, and just Angie and I for the week-day walks of 5 miles or so really helped. Having each other's support was a big asset...speaking to each other or not!
Training for first marathon - tips???
...which honestly was a miracle! 
it was one of the few times in our marraige we weren't speaking to each other 
