Any runners here?

[Vegan702]

I am about to embark on my first full marathon in about 6 months and looking for advice from some people experienced in this. I currently run anywhere from 3-5 miles a day 5-6 days a week on the treadmill at about a 8 minute a mile pace. I just started running again about 2 months ago after not exercising for about 7 years. So far in the last 2 months I have lost 60lbs through exercise consisting of just the cardio work I have been doing and a complete change in diet. I have dropped from 290lbs down to approximately 227lbs and am 6-4. I wanted to lose as much weight as possible before starting to train for the marathon to keep as much weight off my knees as possible. I am now at a comfortable weight to start my training program. I plan on running the Marine Corps marathon in VA on Oct. 26th.

 

[TJSum]

Vegan, there are some excellent training books out there with planned workouts showing you how to build up to a marathon, I would check into those. I am a "jogger", too slow to be called a runner, but only do 5K's. The main thing is avoiding injury while building up your mileage training for those types of distances. It is extremely hard getting a slot in the Marine Coprs Marathon, not sure when registration is, but it usually fills up in less than one day.

 

[Joan McNew]

Just wanted to say, congratulations on your weight loss and fitness regime! That is fabulous! I've never run a marathon, only 5 ks and 10 ks - slowly! I trained once for a marathon but did not get past 13 miles at a time. I enjoy Runner's World magazine; they have articles on marathon training fairly frequently.

 

[Jerry Bone Jr]

I currently run anywhere from 3-5 miles a day 5-6 days a week on the treadmill at about a 8 minute a mile pace. I just started running again about 2 months ago after not exercising for about 7 years.

Sounds to me like you are training too much, too soon. In running we have a 10% rule (increase 10% per week in total distance).

http://www.runningplanet.com/training/marathon-training.html
http://www.marinemarathon.com/training/training_tips.htm

Good luck with the run. Keep us informed.

 

[Vegan702]

Thanks. I will keep a weekly update going. I will start around 4/15 as I have to get a ingrown toe nail taken off on 4/3. I figure about a week or so for that to heal and then I will start with the program. I will hit up the bookstore this weekend to search out some good books on it. I saw one from the guy who ran 50 marathons in 50 days advertised, but it doesn't come out until later this year. Registration is 4/30 for this marathon.

 

[Kevin Keck]

Congrats on the weight loss. Keep it up.

I've ran three marathons to date. Each was progressively slower than the last but that's okay as it seems I get older and slower ever year. Given your current regime it would appear that you already have a pretty good fitness level. The 10 percent rule as stated above is critical for avoiding injury. You should also consider cross-training at least once a week. I think swimming and cycling are excellent choices. For running, proper footwear is essential. Make sure you go to a local running store and are properly fitted for running shoes. Local running stores are also a great source for training tips and many sponsor marathon training programs. Training with a group of people, especially for your first marathon, really helps with motivation. Most running stores also have good marathon training books. I would recommend the latest marathon training book from Jeff Galloway. Good luck.

 

[Kali the Boston Terrier]

I ran my first marathon in September and am training for my second in about 5 weeks. My advice http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_4/130.shtml if you cannot do the pre training comfortably you have a long time before you are ready. Wait to decide which marathon you are going to do, based upon where you are in fitness levels...the training is hard enough for people who can run the pre training comfortably.

The problem with first time marathon runners is that we/I tend to pick the specific marathon we want to run, as opposed to making the goal to run a marathon. By picking your date in stone you may push yourself to levels that are not healthy and will cause injury...and lead you not to run a marathon at all, and possibly reverse the weight loss.

The goal with any first marathon is to not get hurt, throw caution out the window for the other ones (yeah right). Go slow, at any given time there is a marathon going on, on any given weekend.

 

[Hall McClenahan]

I ran 15 miles a day from the time I was 15 until I was 39, I tried a marathon one time. Dang near killed me.

It taught me that there is more to the training than muscle condition. Diet and hydration are extremely important as well. If you want to complete the distance you will also need strategically place replacements. You need to figure out how much fuel and water you are burning and then figure out which replacements you need and which products your body can process quickly. At some point you will find that a 6 oz soda product (yes believe or not once in a while soda is good for you, weird I know) will be highly rewarding.
You will have a tendency to push your pace beyond what you have conditioned to, because of the other runners, so, develop a system to assist you in regulating the pace. Music, poetry, mathematics are useful. You are not going to be in the "race" so don't let it control you.

I would suggest you contact a physical therapist and get a post run plan in place. The pain you will feel when it is over is different and sneaky. Due to extreme over fatigue post race stretches, massage, ice and heat therapy, hydration and body fluid relief should all be planned in advance.

You should have a few friends placed in several segments of the race with exit strategies and emergency first aid supplies. Have them staged and tracking your progress. Cell phones and numbers for the others, emergency procedures in writing for each will save you a lot of grief.

Have fun, good luck!

 

[Jason Barber]

I ran 15 miles a day from the time I was 15 until I was 39, I tried a marathon one time. Dang near killed me.

So you're saying you ran 105 miles per week, or 5,460 miles per year... but 26 miles in one day almost killed you???

Olympic athletes don't even train that much.

You must have gone through running shoes like they were disposable razors.

 

[Vegan702]

Lots of great advice. I am shooting for the Marine Corps Marathon but have the Vegas marathon as a backup which is about 2 months later in case I don't make my goals for the first one.