Advice for a first time marathon runner?

[hoyahoyasaxa]

I'm planning on running my first marathon this fall. Hopefully it will be the NYC marathon (if I am selected via the lottery). Right now, I am a casual jogger (I run about 3-4 miles 3x a week), and am in decent shape. I'm a tall guy, so running is probably not the best thing for me. This will likely be my only marathon (I don't want to destroy my knees forever), so I want to do it well, but am not trying to set any world records. I'm basically doing it for the challenge and the experience.

I'm going to follow one of the training programs that are on the marathon website, but I was wondering if any posters had any tips for me for training, preparation, and running the marathon. Basically any advice you have would be useful.

Thanks in advance.

[showcase]

Make sure the race is only 26.2 miles long, for starters. One can never be too sure, as it turns out...

[Nevada Hoya]

I ran six marathons from 1972 to 1978, going from 3:52 to 2:59. Here are a couple of pointers. The rule of thumb, when I was running marathons, was to average one third of the marathon distance per day, which turns out to be 60 miles a week. When I did that, I was able to break three hours. But if you are just hoping to finish, you probably don't need that much, but you should work on increasing your long runs. A fall marathon is a bit tough, because it requires doing long runs during the summer months. So increase your long runs by about a mile a week until you can run at least 16 miles, but better 20 miles. You should repeat the long run about three or four times in the two months before the race. Don't worry about time, worry about getting the distance. Always use the hard easy approach - go hard or long one day, take the next day off or go short or slow.

I carbo-loaded in my second marathon and I improved my time from 3:52 to 3:11 (also running negative splits - the second 13.1 miles was faster than the first 13.1). The carbohydrate loading routine is supposed to help you run through the wall that "appears" at 20 miles, when you run out of your glycogen reserves.

Make sure your running shoes are suited for your running style and build. If you are tall and skinny, you shouldn't have problems; tall and heavier, make sure your shoes accommodate your build.

Be careful: once you run one, two weeks after the race, when you stop hurting, you say to yourself, I could run faster if I just did ... And then you are hooked.

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

Try to find other people who are running the marathon and run with them - running long distances alone can be fun but can get rather old rather quickly and you obviously won't be running alone during this marathon so it helps you get used to some little things that can get you through the miles quicker like drafting on a windy day and focusing on matching another runner stride for stride in order to keep your desired pace. Also be sure to vary the courses that you use - think about the sorts of terrain that you will be covering in terms of hills, road, etc. If you need help training for the marathon or a running partner you might try looking at the race web-site or at a specialty running store as these places usually have group runs organized before the marathon. Also carbo-loading is a great idea and I can't recommend it enough.

[TigerHoya]

A guy I knew hooked up with one of the groups that fundraises via marathons. They had a good training program set up and they ran on their own most of the time following that plan and then ran together once a week. They even had a special deal on shoes at a local running store.

They were training for the Marine Corps one and they were in Columbia SC (26th sweatiest city in America in the new study) and had to deal with similar heat issues.

[CAHoya07]

Advice: Don't get a stress fracture just as you're just starting your training. Like someone I know.

Me.

Oh, I'll still be able to run once I get over this, hopefully in a couple weeks. I already paid $90 to run the DC Marine Corps Marathon this upcoming October 30, and I still plan on running it. When you're first starting out, don't get carried away like me and increase the mileage too fast. Also, be careful how you incorporate hills into your training, I think that's how I started to have problems.

Not to hijack this thread, but any advice how to get into marathon shape while not being able to run for at least two weeks?

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

First off if you can't run do work in the pool and with upper body weights - the only things that you have going for you in any race are your stride distance and stride turn-over - so you need to be doing work on your stride in the pool if you aren't able to do it on a track or road. When your stride goes you are going to rely on your arms to jump start your legs and keep you on pace - so be sure to keep it wholistic like that through out. And try to do interval work outs as well to avoid the stress fracture - it is a serious problem - a friend of mine who ran faster in cross-country much faster than i did in HS was side lined from 3 NCAA seasons in some part due to stress fractures - he uses masuses, pool work, and some sort of sonic stimulation - which is a bit much for you so stick to the pool and do work there to stay in shape.

[tgo]

If possible run as many parts of the actual race route, as you can, it will make it seem to go quicker during the race.
I cant stress enough how much it helps to have someone run a few miles with you as long as they can run the pace you want. In my best marathon, a friend ran miles 14-20 with me, so i was looking forward to it which keept me going and then he had fresh legs to keep me going, he also brought power bars & bannanas for me so i didnt have to carry them the whole time.

Race Day: Wear a t-shirt that has a message that people will read to cheer you on. A simple Georgetown shirt should do the trick. People want to cheer for you so give them something to identify you by, and when they yell out "go georgetown" and you know they are talking to you, it will REALLY help you keep going strong. NYC marathon is great since there are people out almost the entire way, running through williamsburg and the silence is a trip too.

good luck and just hope it doesnt rain like the year i did nyc.

[Nevada Hoya]

Ah, CAHoya, my surrogate, since I can't run Marathons anymore (can racewalk them almost), you will have to get better and run one for me. The advice on the water training was good. Do you have one of those flotation belts that allows you to run in the deep end? That is probably the best way to train, when you have a stress fracture. Sometimes the elliptical trainer is good, when other parts of your body won't put up with the pounding. I was able to train through a hamstring injury that way. It might be a little hard on your stress fracture, however.

And to all the Hoyas running Marathons, remember that one of our own had the American record in 1970 (Eamon O'Reilly in 2:11:12).

[hoyahoyasaxa]

Didn't get into the NYC, so I decided to do the Chicago. That one's supposed to be good. Plus I haven't been to Chicago before, so I figure that's a good way to see the city. Training has been going well. Luckily haven't had to deal with the weather being too terrible in DC yet. I did buy a pedometer so I could vary my routes easier, but I swear it's out of whack. Anyone else had trouble with these (i.e. the distances being off)? I bought a fairly cheapo one.

[Nevada Hoya]

Good luck in Chicago, HHS. A faster course than NY. I hear the cheap pedometer are notorious for being off. You might want to blow the whole wad and buy one of these forerunners which have a GPS included, so it gives you the time, pace, and distance. Also, it is a heart monitor. Down side is that it is bulky (fits on your wrist) and costs $200-300. buyeretail.com/product.asp?file=NexTag&i=GARFORE301&sku=01000375001

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

nevadahoya3 said:

Good luck in Chicago, HHS. A faster course than NY. I hear the cheap pedometer are notorious for being off. You might want to blow the whole wad and buy one of these forerunners which have a GPS included, so it gives you the time, pace, and distance. Also, it is a heart monitor. Down side is that it is bulky (fits on your wrist) and costs $200-300. buyeretail.com/product.asp?file=NexTag&i=GARFORE301&sku=01000375001

Those pedometers are awesome. If you've got the money and you're really into equipping yourself for the race I highly recommend the GPS enabled ones.