[lm3898]

Welcome to the MAY running blog!! The weather is gorgeous [for most of you I hope] and the days are brighter longer! Please share your running wisdom & activities here!

Ran 5.5 miles last night - I was trying out new shoes & they bothered my foot a bit so I stopped at miles 2.5 and 4.5 to do some sit ups/push ups while I regained feeling in my toes!! Avg pace was about 9 min/mile.

[devadiva]

Today just a 5K and weights today.Super WINDY!! as of today 30 lbs lost!

IM 3898 Great job even with new shoes!

[lm3898]

Five miles in Central Park last night! Despite working in NYC, I rarely run here except for the 59th St. bridge near my office so it was so cool to get to the park! Didn't quite know where I was going but it all worked out lol.

[CherryPie99]

Sounds like a wonderful run lm.

I got in 35 miles this week. My plan is to run 8 miles Sunday, 5 miles Tuesday, 4 on Thursday and then the half is next Saturday (YIKES!) Thoughts?

Jen

[Nikel1979]

I prefer to taper before a big race, so I wouldn't run that many miles the week of a half. I'd either drop the Thurs run or cut back on mileage a bit. There are plenty of people that don't taper though.

[Nikel1979]

Who's done a full marathon? It seems most plans only have training up to 20 miles. Is that really enough? I'm skeptical.

[devadiva]

It was a beautiful morning got an early start DH was home with new pup so I told him at leaast an hour I got out 6 mile saw only one jeep,{gave DH a call on cell } said I was turning arounD. Ran 12 miles. Longest run since 1/2 on Halloween. was going to sneak in the last 1.1 in but DH was worried!!!!

[CherryPie99]

Awesome long run, Gayle.

Supposed to be starting my taper in prep for my 1/2. So I only ran 8. BUT because I have no ability to pace myself, I came in on my fastest ever per minute mile average - 7:39.

[Kitcherella]

Hello
I am a proud owner of a garmin now and it's so much fun. A whole new world! I now know the distance and pace but also elevation gain? Who knew such things! (I guess you all did )
Good luck with whatever you are doing.

[CherryPie99]

Originally Posted by Nikel1979

Who's done a full marathon? It seems most plans only have training up to 20 miles. Is that really enough? I'm skeptical.

Nikel, since no one else has replied, I thought I'd jump in. Obviously, I haven't done a full marathon. BUT I have a good friend who has run several.

He has never run more then 18 during training for his marathons, including his first one. It seems to work for him for what it's worth. He tells me that if you can run that steady state for 18 miles, the other 8 are no more challenging...

I would be skeptical, too, but...

Jen

[TripSwitch]

Originally Posted by Nikel1979

Who's done a full marathon? It seems most plans only have training up to 20 miles. Is that really enough? I'm skeptical.

Hi... I hope you don't mind me jumping in here... I've run several marathons and done the Ironman twice among lots of other races at various distances... and I've also done a 50K race which is a little bit over 31 miles, which was my first "baby" ultra... and I would like to do a 50 miler someday...

My first marathon was the New York City Marathon and I followed a pretty standard training program with my running club that was basically 16 weeks long and worked up to 3 long runs at the end with a 3 week taper... the longest run was a 20 miler... actually, what my club calls the "blue line run" because we would actually start in Brooklyn and run the 20 miles of the marathon course after they painted the blue line on the streets that the course follows... We would do it really early on a Sunday morning... about 20 of us or so from the club... It's always a lot of fun... And there was also a race called the New York City Marathon Tune-Up which was 18.6 miles all in central park which I also did in my prep... I also did one other 18 miler... and that was that... and I finished my first marathon no problem... Well, there were some problems, but that's because I went out too fast and was trying too hard to run to break a specific time...

So if you have a decent base and can do a half marathon... than I think a basic 16 week first time marathon training program that builds to 3 long runs of 18 to 20 miles each and a 3 week taper is the way to go for your first marathon...

[Nikel1979]

Ok, how does this look starting? I know it's longer than 16 weeks, but I feel like officially starting during my break between summer and fall classes is smarter than starting when classes start.

3-5-3-9
3-5-3-6
3-6-3-11
3-6-3-12
3-6-3-9
4-7-4-14
4-7-4-15
4-7-4-13
4-8-4-17
5-8-5-18
5-8-5-13
5-5-5-19
5-8-5-half
5-8-5-10k
5-5-5-20
5-8-5-12
5-5-5-22
5-4-10k-12
4-3-4-8
3-2-2-26.2

[devadiva]

Ran 3.5 mon and again today Wed.

[lm3898]

I'm IN!!! Officially running my first marathon [and likely my only one - bucket list time] in NYC NOVEMBER 2013!! I'm running for charity - an animal shelter I hold very close to my heart!! Woohoo!!

Nikel - I plan to use the Allison Sweeney Shape magazine plan:

http://www.shape.com/sites/shape.com..._chartonly.jpg

Because my distance is already higher, the first 6 weeks I increased all the 3 mile runs to four or five mile runs and I'll be doing weight training on Tuesday's and Friday's with rest on Sunday. Once the mileage kicks up I'll likely do 30 min lift sessions after my runs on Thursday's with rest on Friday's and Sunday's...

My husband did his first marathon in March in Phoenix and greatly regrets that most of his runs for training were at least 10 miles or longer 3x/wk - he didn't do the shorter runs on more days per week like they say to - that really hurt him...he also had IT band injuries that he didn't listen to so...you have to be careful!

Trip: Thanks for your post - that is SUPER helpful! Was NYC one of your favorites?

I also want to share with everyone my new hydration pack - I'm OBSESSED!!! It's the Nathan Hydration Vest 008:

http://www.amazon.com/Nathan-Lightwe...rds=nathan+008

I used to run with a fanny style water waist band but I hated the way it cut into my stomach and I can't carry water in my hands as it really bothers me. So I was wearing the hydration fanny pack & the arm band for my iPhone etc...well NO MORE!

I don't even feel like I'm wearing this vest - it's that awesome. The spout is super easy and you don't have to stop or anything to drink from it. If you're looking for something to wear during your longer runs - look into a hydration vest!

[TripSwitch]

lm... New York is one of my favorites... It's basically like one really big 26.2 mile long party!!! That's awesome that you're in for 2013... This year is going to be pretty crazy after last year's cancellation because of Sandy and especially after what happened in Boston... I haven't decided yet if I'm gonna run it or not (I have guaranteed entry) I'm waiting to see how my training is going before I have to start my prep in July before I make a decision... But either way I'll be there... It's practically like a High Holy Day for me and my friends that I run with... lol... Actually one year I was asked to be in charge of the last water station at mile 24 in the park... I had to go to all these organizational meetings for months beforehand and than I was in charge of hundreds of volunteers the day of race... I was never so nervous in my whole life... It turned out to be controlled CHAOS... But it was awesome... Although actually, a lot harder than just running the marathon itself if you ask me... lol...

And I think the New York City Marathon should be on everyone's "bucket list"... But than again I'm a little bit biased I guess...