Runners?

dreamache

dreamache

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Jun 26, 2006
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I know, stupid ass question to ask on a webmaster forum, but I know there are a few fitness nuts here..

I'm not running a marathon, rather a half marathon (13.1 miles) this sunday. Furthest I've ran is 10 miles a few weeks ago, fuckin calves were toasted for a few days. I'm not a twig like most long distance runners, I was 210 a few months ago but down to 188 now, I like lifting too much.

Eventually I'd like to run a full marathon, but figure I should test the waters first with a halfer. A part of me says fuck it, just do a full marathon if those ex-fast-bastards on biggest loser can do it, but something tells me working out for 8 hours a day, every day, like they do for 3/4 months straight gives them somewhat of an edge, maybe i'm wrong.

Any other WF'ers run long distance?
 


I was a sprinter in college, but now just run and workout to feel good about myself. Being a sprinter, anything more than 400 meters was too far...lol

But know I run about 4 times a week about 2-4 miles each run. On top of that, I lift about 4 times a week on ave. I'm looking to jump into a half before trying a full. If you've done a 10 mile run recently...a 13.1 mile race will be easy.

I would say go for a half first, boost up your confidence and training regimen, then go for the full...
 
I'm training for a Thanksgiving day marathon right now. It will be my first marathon but I've run a few 5ks and other "fun runs" before, including some trail runs.

I never was a "big" runner and the longest I've ever run at one time before was 18 miles and that was 10 years ago when I was still active duty. I always said I'd run a marathon and I figure that I need to go ahead and do it. I started training about 4 months ago because my goal is not only to finish, but to finish under 3 hours 30 minutes so I can qualify for the Boston marathon in 2011. I also want to compete an Iron Man in 2011 as well.

Training is the biggest hurdle and the way you get hurt - take it from me. I got sidelined from running last year's marathon about this time last year because of some gnarly shin splints.

My best advice is to keep your cool at the beginning of the race and pace yourself. You'll be surprised at how antsy you get standing there with hoards of other people waiting to start and its really easy to run past your pace in the beginning, which can set you up for pain for the last few miles.

Good luck and let us know how it went. Be sure to have someone near the finish line with a camera too. It's always fun to go back and look at your face when its all over with and remember how you felt crossing the line.
 
full marathons are hell. They say there's a wall at mile 18. FUCK THAT. felt like I got hit by a damn truck. I was fit, but never ran more than 10 miles at once.

The best thing you can do before a marathon is run a marathon. It's simple an issue of repetitions. You're taking tens of thousands of steps without stopping; your body is going to hate you. Might as well give it a taste test before the real thing.

Eat pasta, drink water. Every 10 minutes, walk 1 minute. You'll be fine, just give your knees and hammies a break as you're going
 
dchuk said:
full marathons are hell. They say there's a wall at mile 18. FUCK THAT. felt like I got hit by a damn truck.
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Yeah, and the last 6 miles of this particular course I'm training for is all at a slight (and sometimes not-so-slight) uphill grade too.

dchuk said:
The best thing you can do before a marathon is run a marathon.
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This is exactly how I'm training. Once or twice a month each month leading up to the race, I'm running at least part of the actual marathon course. With my mileage buildup schedule I will get to run it in its entirety at least twice and hopefully three or four times before the big day as long as I stay healthy.
 
I've done two marathons so far. Both of them were hard as hell.

First one I trained for about 6 months. I started running 2 days a week around 2-3 miles. Then I added in a Saturday long run. Towards the end I was doing "short" runs during the week around 5-6 miles and my long runs got up to 20-22 miles.

The second one I did at Disney World in January. The previous year it was 75 degrees, this year it never got above 30. Needless to say it was a miserable painful experience.

Like dchuk said, the best thing to do is go out and run one.

It had been 15 years since I had done any serious running when I started training for my first marathon. While I wouldn't recommend it, I went right to doing a marathon. No 5k's or half-marathons. Basically I made a drunken bet with my friends one night, but it was the best thing I ever did.

I'd highly suggest you start using some supplements.

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I'm getting ready to start training for a half marathon in November. I figured since I've never done one it might be fun and not as strenuous as a full.
 
Since I've been training my ass off and will continue to do so for the next 6 months, this whole marathon thing has kind of consumed my life a little so I have a little more to offer the thread.

When I read this article (in the print version of Wired), it made me realize I needed to get off my ass and start training again. The guy it's about, Dean Karnazes, ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days. He's kind of a nut job but he's inspirational as hell.

"He covered 350 miles without sleeping. (It took more than three days.) He ran the first and only marathon to the South Pole (finishing second), and a few months ago, at age 44, he completed 50 marathons in 50 consecutive days, one in each of the 50 states. (The last one was in New York City. After that, he decided to run home to San Francisco.)"
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He helped North Face design these "laceless" shoes (click on them in the upper left corner) that I've been itching to try. I haven't found them in a store yet or else I'd have already grabbed a pair and I'm hesitant about ordering them online without actually trying them on. They're worth a look even if they may be a bit...gimmicky. Overall, I still dig my Nike AirMotos. I've also tried my hand at barefoot running. It's amazing how quickly you get used to it.

Also, check out the Runner's World forums. I'm a lurker there but there's some crazy fanatically knowledgeable people there.
 
Last Sunday I had to drive my brother to the start of the Comrades Marathon which is an ultra marathon (90 km/56 miles).

Like me, my brother smokes, drinks too much beer and has the resultant beer gut but he still managed to finish in time for a medal so I figure I'm gonna get into training and give it a go next year. I mean if HE can do it....

They figure that in order to train for the Comrades you need to do about 1000 km of training (I think that's around 680 miles) in the six months leading up to the run and complete a standard marathon in sub 5 hours in order to qualify.

I saw some really fat/old people finishing (the oldest was more than 80 years old!) so I genuinly think I can do it but what scares me the most is getting to the halfway point - exhausted, in pain and there is still a marathon to go!
 
I did the 20km of Brussels last Sunday, which is almost a half marathon. During the last few months, I've completed a few half marathons during training, but that was on a flat terrain. The terrain in Brussels was very steep, especially towards the end. Needless to say, I died a few times. My time was very disappointing: 2 hours 25 minutes. That's 25 minutes slower than my training time on flat terrain. I've never been so disappointed.

At this point, I'd say I will never ever run a marathon or another half one again. But I know the running addiction with get the better of me and I'll be running again soon.
 
CygnusX said:
I did the 20km of Brussels last Sunday, which is almost a half marathon. During the last few months, I've completed a few half marathons during training, but that was on a flat terrain. The terrain in Brussels was very steep, especially towards the end. Needless to say, I died a few times. My time was very disappointing: 2 hours 25 minutes. That's 25 minutes slower than my training time on flat terrain. I've never been so disappointed.

At this point, I'd say I will never ever run a marathon or another half one again. But I know the running addiction with get the better of me and I'll be running again soon.
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I looked up some info on that race. Sounds pretty brutal. I wouldn't be ashamed of that time at all. Train up and hit it again next year.
 
Last Sunday I had to drive my brother to the start of the Comrades Marathon which is an ultra marathon (90 km/56 miles).
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<-- That's so badass! Ultra marathons are my next stop. And those guys can drink beer like no body's business. :) I recommend you read “Born to Run” it’s a great book out on ultra runners and distance runners.

I have done marathons. I just did the Denver marathon 3 weeks ago and I've done Chicago twice. I'm at 3:30-3:45 time-wise. Decent for a girl. I think Chicago is the best marathon in the country. Great course, awesome support along the whole race, there’s bands and people line the streets. It’s lots of fun. I hear San Fran is really good too.

I log just over 200 miles a month. Usually 12-14 miles twice a week and then some 6-8 mile runs in between. Keeps me in shape enough I can blast a 18-20 miler once a month.

I think the best guide is still Hal Higdon's marathon training, it’s been around for a long time. I modified it a bit when I trained for my first marathon and did well.

http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/Mar00index.htm

My advice is always just run far, a lot. If you can run 18-20 miles you can do a marathon. And trust me - it's an incredible feeling to complete a marathon. The rush lasts for 3 days and you never lose the confidence of having been able to accomplish such a demanding goal.

Run rabbit run!! PM me if you want any resources or tips. And good luck to you!
 
Used to run a few miles a few times per week, but never went that far as to try a marathon. So not really qualified to talk, but I think most people can do it with the right training and the mental attitude.

I remember watching a TV program where Eddie Izzard (the comedian) ran 43 marathons in something like 45 days. He was nearly 50 at the time too if memory serves.

Ahh, found it - Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man | TV Review | Television & radio | The Guardian
 
Just an update on the half marathon..

Woke up at 6:30am this morning and felt like fucking hell (I'm used to waking up at 10/10:30am), said FUCK this and went back to sleep lol, was raining and the radar was showing rain for the entire race.. Race was to start at 8am, was stupid of me to schedule myself to run for it, not a morning person..

So I went back home, decided to run my own 13.1m (didn't want to not do it), weather was good, a quite low 62 degrees.. drove the course of the run and set out 4 water bottles along the way.. Anyhow, finished it in exactly 1:59, and for a few hours after felt like fucking hell, almost felt like I had the flu, skin was all cold/goosebumpy :P

Just glad I did it, and looking forward to putting back on the muscle I wasted running lately.

Honestly do NOT see myself running a full 26.2m any time soon, maybe I'll save that for a midlife crisis ;)
 
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