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Poll: Have you run a marathon?

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Re: Poll: Have you run a marathon?

#31

Post by hsitz »

jefflinwood wrote: post #7

I think the best thing you can do is run with a group, especially if you can find one training for the same marathon. It'll keep you a lot more motivated than running by yourself, and it's a lot more fun. Plus if you're a techie, it's a good way to get outside and meet people. FWIW, the 2013 Chicago Marathon and the 2013 NYC marathon are pretty close together for a first-time marathoner. I would suggest just doing on…

I think the percentage of marathoners who qualify as a "marathon maniac" is quite small. To become a member of Marathon Maniacs at even the lowest level you have to document running (a) 2 marathons within 16 day timeframe or (b) 3 marathons within 90 day timeframe. (http://marathonmaniacs.com/criteria.html ) This is certainly doable, but I think percentage of marathoners who have done this is small. Such short intervals between marathons are not generally a good idea for people who aim for getting best possible times -- too stressful for body -- more for people who just like to participate in the events.

Best subculture I've found for actually getting training help and discussion is in the 'Marathoners' subforum at Runners World message boards: http://forums.runnersworld.com/forums/runner-communities/mar...

Re: Poll: Have you run a marathon?

#32

Post by bazzargh »

cullenking wrote: post #16

Whatever you do just realize that marathons are, for most people, bad for your body. I ran my first (and last!) marathon last year and ended up not being able to go on light runs for over 6 months. This isn't an uncommon story. There are a bunch of training plans you can find online and they all share one thing in common: start out easy and work your distance up, then back off a month before the run. Make it to 16 or…

You're not wrong. In context here, I was in a running club, regularly racing half-marathons-usually running a longer distance than that at least once a week, as one of 4 training sessions, and I'd run a marathon before. But training for my second marathon, I developed a niggle in my left hip.

I tried to cut back on training but still do the marathon, as it wasn't far off; but on the day, 6 miles in, I tore my right calf (most likely because I had unbalanced my stride from the first injury).

A torn calf takes weeks to recover from, but after I recovered from that I found I was still hirpling from the injury on the left. That was over a year ago, and while I don't limp any more, I still can't walk distances without pain, despite physio.

The moral here being - don't attempt to run one carrying an injury.

Re: Poll: Have you run a marathon?

#33

Post by [deleted] »

pseut wrote: post #21
cullenking wrote: post #16

Whatever you do just realize that marathons are, for most people, bad for your body. I ran my first (and last!) marathon last year and ended up not being able to go on light runs for over 6 months. This isn't an uncommon story. There are a bunch of training plans you can find online and they all share one thing in common: start out easy and work your distance up, then back off a month before the run. Make it to 16 or…

> don't do what I do and train in only 5 weeks This part needs to be first because it heavily discounts your first paragraph.

[deleted]

Re: Poll: Have you run a marathon?

#34

Post by imaffett »

note - I have the genes for running.

One marathon in an Ironman (3:48). Tried for a BQ this year, but was injured and pulled out 10 miles in.

I under-trained the run (three runs over 15 miles, but raced a few half ironmans in training) and did a lot of long bikes on an indoor trainer (3-4 hrs) with short runs after. When I got to the run, I felt fine and just paced myself. Most ironmans have aid stations every mile, so the last 10k, I walked the aid stations.

Re: Poll: Have you run a marathon?

#35

Post by adamcw »

pseut wrote: post #22
MicahWedemeyer wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1/3 of people who clicked on this link and decided to answer. Most non-runners probably just don't care to read about it.

I'm still confused about the 2/3 of people who opened the link to vote "no."

I answered no because I am a runner, but I have not run a full marathon yet. I am planning on doing my first one in June.

Re: Poll: Have you run a marathon?

#36

Post by dangerf »

mrspeaker wrote: post #18

I've run one. I hit the "wall" at the 25Km (out of 42) mark - which was really weird, because I was doing 21Km runs 4 or 5 times a week leading up to it - and they were no problem! Once I got passed it was fine, up to the 39Km mark when I decided to walk for a bit. BAD DECISION! I walked for a few hundred meters, then went to start jogging again. No way. My body refused to start up! I had to do a weird shuffle-my-sho…

A 21km run though is really insufficient though for your long run!

Re: Poll: Have you run a marathon?

#38

Post by dangerf »

I agree with another poster, it is not a great idea to do both the Chicago and the NYC marathon in the same year, especially if it's your first.

Training programs are really dependent on your previous experience. If you're starting as a non-runner (or a once-a-week runner) then your training plan would be much different than someone who is running 5 times a week. Also important to take into account if you're doing it just to do it or doing it to do well.

I used a plan that was based on a Pfitzinger plan. It was helpful (I got a Boston Qualifier on my first marathon), but you need to be quite disciplined. It is high mileage and takes commitment to running 6-7 days a week.

Re: Poll: Have you run a marathon?

#39

Post by dangerf »

RLindley wrote: post #12

http://running.about.com/od/marathonprograms/a/marathonbeg.h... Really the best training program is just to get out and run. Push yourself for long distance over a flat terrain. I did my elevation training on an elliptical. Long distance built the stamina, and the elliptical built the strength. I did the Flying Pig marathon last year for my first marathon. The combo of long running with elliptical cross training real…

That's hardly good advice for a novice though. I agree somewhat for that a lot of people, they just need to get out the door and run, but there are too many people out there that think they need to run as much as possible. And that's how injuries happen. I know way too many people that have gone and done too much too soon on little training because they're not following good, practiced advice.

Re: Poll: Have you run a marathon?

#40

Post by cullenking »

benburleson wrote: post #30
cullenking wrote: post #16

Whatever you do just realize that marathons are, for most people, bad for your body. I ran my first (and last!) marathon last year and ended up not being able to go on light runs for over 6 months. This isn't an uncommon story. There are a bunch of training plans you can find online and they all share one thing in common: start out easy and work your distance up, then back off a month before the run. Make it to 16 or…

Not being able to run for 6 months after a marathon you've trained only 5 weeks for may not be uncommon, but you didn't take an intelligent approach. Your experience is not common for people that put in the effort early.

I disagree. I used to run cross country competitively, and had been running off and on until I discovered cycling. It is universally accepted in the running community to be injured at any given point. It's almost like a badge of honor. Yes, 5 weeks is dumb and contributes to it and I should have swapped around my statements, but I stand by the fact that your chance of injury, regardless of how well trained you are, is high.
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