Marathon training

[The Moose]

I was looking for new stuff, and came across an old thread from someone looking for a route to train for the half....Since PEC is in less than 6 weeks, this is probably a good time to check in to see how everyone is doing.

I for one have just finished 18 miles (the longest training run I have ever completed.)  I'll step that up to 20 a few times before my taper, but I'm wondering how close everyone else plans on getting to race distance, and if everything is going according to plan.  I suspect Damon (Ironman) will top out at the 22 miles that our program calls for, but my old, tired, and heavily abused body won't let me do that more than about once every 3 months.

I'd also like to remind everyone to have someone double check their form.  Now that you're into the higher mileages that marathon/half marathon season requires, their is no easier way to increase your speed and distance than to make an improvement in your form.  I was telling Sandy the other week that I found a form improvement for myself worth 30 seconds per mile.  That's 13 minutes off my marathon time for free.  The next time you go for an easy run, try some new things for a mile or two.  Make sure your head is looking up the road (I know Sandy says 6 feet ahead, but 40 or 50 feet works much better for me.)  Most of the ladies have their upper body in the right position (shoulders back, chest out.  I'm not looking for a show, but check out the finishing line of any distance race and you'll see the winners look almost unnatural the way they stand with their shoulders back.)  If you're looking down you're not going your fastest.  Are your hips helping you, or hindering?  What happens when you stretch out your stride?  How about when you shrink it?

Remember, the time to try new things is ending soon, make sure you have all your race gear figured out.  Race day is not the day to open a new box of shoes, or a new water belt, or even a new shirt.  Mileage test everything, your chances are beginning to run out for PEC.  Even sunglasses can leave a pair of large bruises on your nose (trust me, I had to wear my contacts for a week).

As for water belts...I flat refuse to carry water during a race of any distance.  I feel it is the responsibility of the race organizer to make sure there is water and sports drink for everyone.  I have carried my water, set it in strategic places and suffered for the last 4 months to prepare for their event.  They took my money and promised me water stations every 3km (or whatever the advertisement says).  I was not at all impressed that I had to pick up a cup from the side of the road to get a drink at PEC, but I did.  I pay good money to race and have very few expectations in return.  I expect any race over 5km to supply water at least.  I expect any race that costs over $20 to include some food at the finish (I don't care about the shirts anymore, I have more than I can handle).  I expect that if food is supplied that it will be available to all finishers regardless of time, and that the front runners shouldn't need to wait until the awards ceremony to replenish their depleted supplies, or that the goal accomplishers be forced to eat leftovers (tough one eh? that's why we pay the big bucks.)  I don't think it fair to ask runner to carry an extra kilogram of weight for 26.2 miles (that's 1 liter of water), I've lost 4 times that much in training to make life easier.  Don't make me put it back on.

Sorry about the tirade...

Mike

[Sandy]

Well said Mike.

[Sue]

Thanks Moose for all the great info!  Our marathon group(Sandy's) ran 19 miles on the 12th of August and did 16 this past weekend.  We will do 20 miles once before tapering on September 9th probably in the county.  This is my first full marathon and it is very exciting but at times difficult.  I felt better doing the 19 than the 16 probably because of the humidy again this past Saturday.  Your right about not much time to try out any new things, I'm just starting to break in a new pair of shoes and thinking of what to wear.  This I find most troublesome as it was so hot last year when I did the half.  You really have to be prepared for any type of weather.  Good Luck with your training!
Sue

[The Moose]

I know it's hot now, but remember on that cool September morning that you'll be back down to shorts and a t-shirt in a few short miles.  It's easy to get sucked into how cool it is, but have you ever been under-dressed on a long run?  I mean short of mid-January across the top of Oak hill did you ever think you could use a few more layers?  Since early April you've more likely wondered if your jacket would be there when you got back if you just left it at the side of the road.  This applies if it's raining as well.  I know it's far more practical to overdress and peel than to freeze the whole time, but you are going to get much warmer as the run progresses.  Unless it's cold enough to snow, you won't be wearing your jacket by mile five.  (I was too hot at Around the Bay last year in thin lycra tights and a long sleeve dri-fit shirt, and it was snowing.)

Now the hard part.  Because we're all different, these assumptions are based on my experience and may be way  off base for you.  If you're the type who runs in long sleeves up until the middle of June then I've given you some bad advice.  Please share your experiences with others (and include examples) so that this knowledge base can be useful to more runners.

Mike

P.S. Good luck on your first marathon.  Soon you will be among the elite runners.

Only 1 in 10 people run.
Only 1 in 10 runners race.
Less than 1 in 10 of those runners will even attempt a marathon.
So 1/10 of 1% of the population attempts the marathon distance, that makes you pretty special doesn't it.

(And ultra-marathoners like Sandy are from a whole other planet.)

[Sandy]

I like your statistics Mike, it puts it all into perspective for those doing the marathon.  If it were easy, everyone would be doing it!!!  Now about me, same planet, different part.

[The Moose]

Ah... The mythical Mount Olympus, home of the Gods.  I knew it was real.

[Sue]

Mike,I like your stats too. Thanks for your encouragement and advice!  I have learned alot from members on the forum.
I have on occasion been over dressed while training and learned from those experiences.  From the spring on I'm usually in short sleeves and shorts.  Your right it doesn't take long for you to warm up.  Sandy has always told us to add 10 degrees to the temperature and to dress for that temperature.  Winter dresssing is certainly more challenging.  The last two years the PEC run has been pretty warm and I expect it will probably be similar.  The first year the race was run I was a little chilly as I was a spectator.  This was when I wondered if I could ever do that?  I started a learn to run program and trained for the half last year and am now training for the full.  I still can't believe that I'm doing it!
Sandy's pretty amazing isn't she!  She's a wonderful inspiration!
Sue

[Jane]

Sue, YOU are amazing too!!  I hope Sandy has my name down to work at the finish line at PEC, so that I can be there to cry with you when you finish!        

[Sue]

I hope your at the finish too Jane!  There's nobody I'd rather have a good cry with!   Thanks! 
Sue

[Cathy]

I want in on those hugs and tears. 

[Sue]

You're in of course Cathy!  Miss you guys!  Hope your training is going well for the Goofy!
Sue

[ShoppinShannon]

Can I get in that group of hugs and tears????  I'm always good for it!!!
I plan on being at the PEC too.  Cheer people in at the finish.  It will be nice to be on the other side.

[Jane]

Hey Shannon, you're back!  You missed trail running this evening.  It was a lot of fun!

[Sue]

Hi Shannon, I am looking forward to the hugs and tears at PEC with you too!  Hope you've had a great summer.  Sounds like you guys are going to have a great time at Run for the Toad.  We had such a great time at Mississauga!  I'm sorry I am going to miss it.  Maybe next year!  Good Luck to you all and hope you guys have a great run!
Sue

[julie]

i almost died when I read the tirade by Moose about water.  I could not agree more!!!  I have been in many half marathons and 10k's and am flabbergasted at the amount of people (90% women!) with these ridiculous belts around their waists with these copious amounts of water strapped to them!  Don't get me wrong, these belts are not ridiculous during training, they are very, very important.  I have one myself.  But why use them in a sanctioned race with water stations???  And don't tell me it's because you might want a drink between stations...that's crazy!  If you're doing things properly you should be able to drink at the water station and not require more until the next station.  And don't tell me it's because of the "crowds" at the water stations...if the elite runners can handle it without affecting their times then why would an "average" runner worry about it?? Why does anyone want to run lugging all that water when there is water, water everywhere?  I'm telling you it is pure joy to run without that weight around your middle. And by the way, does anyone else have any problem with the exorbitant fee that the PEC charges the half marathoners???  The half marathoners outnumber the marathoners 2 to 1 and it is the ONLY race that I know of that does not offer a bit of break on the entry fee for the half.  Does anyone know of any other marathon/half marathon where both entry fees are the same???