I’ve posted several times about my marathon training that started back in February.
The schedule looked extremely daunting back then. I was worried about motivating myself to complete the weekly runs and increasing-distance long runs. I’ve read several books on running and marathons; it seems that the key to marathon training is enjoying the training itself instead of focusing solely on the finish line. Kind of like that old idea about enjoying the journey of life instead of always looking forward to the next thing. Doing the training and having fun with it were my goals.
And what do you know. On Saturday, I finished my last long run. I’m on the edge of joyful tears as I write this; I really didn’t think I could do it, but I did!
Every long run became a distance record for me and on Saturday, I actually went further than marathon distance. 27+ miles.
Motivating myself was not too hard. I didn’t do EVERY weekday run, but I did most of them and made sure to get all of my long runs.
I’ve posted it before, but it rings so true today that I have to post it again:
It’s all downhill from here. A three-week taper. The marathon itself will be the icing on the cake.
Thank you for your support during this time, Dopers. It’s been great to be able to share this experience with y’all. My homegirl scout1222 especially.
Way to go gazell. Glad to hear that you’ve made your goal. My running has slacked off the past few weeks. Maybe 3 or 4 days a week, and no real workouts. I’ve had a lot of other things going on, and while it’s not a time issue, it is a mental effort issue. I hate running, so it’s a fairly large concentration of effort and will to make myself keep it up…so when something else is taking that same effort, I tend to let running slide. But I’m still maintaining some milage, so when I start back up full time, I won’t have lost much conditioning.
Good luck on your marathon, and how was the New York Trip?
Thanks Athena! w00t!, indeed. It’s gonna be fan-diddly-tastic.
Hey Atrael! Wow, you hate running? That bites. I sure as heck wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love it as much as I do. I’m confused; what’s holding you back from starting back up full time? Are you training for something?
Thanks for the well wishes for the marathon… The New York trip was a lot of fun. I didn’t get a run in, but I did walk all over the place. It made me want to live in Manhattan.
garius, three years ago I was 30 pounds heavier and sedentary. If you find thoughts like, Hmmm, maybe I can run a marathon. running through your head, go for it! Because if I can get through a marathon training program, anyone can.
Way to go, Gazelle! I’ve been following your posts as I’m trying to keep motivated also…my marathon is supposed to be in October.
Glad to see you made it!! The best of luck for the marathon!!!
And I’ll second the sentiments of the quote you had in the OP. Atrael, I used to hate running, too, but now that I actually can run 2 hours without being totally out of breath afterwards I’m so proud of myself I’m starting to really enjoy it.
The key for me has been to run slowly. Ever since I took running up again as an adult, I have been in no danger of winning awards for speed. But until I started this training program, I was pushing myself harder than I needed to and therefore, did not enjoy running as much as I do now.
After I made a few changes (I lost some weight, saw a physical therapist for my shin splints) the major shift came when I started looking at running as something for me. I was (and still am) competing against no one but myself. Shoot, even getting out the door is a victory! Because of the paradigm shift in my thinking, every time I run I feel good. Almost every time I get a runner’s high and everyime I get out there, I’m improving my health.
The marathon training program I followed was so sane. It was the “to finish” version advocated by Jeff Galloway. None of the weekday runs was longer than 55 minutes and the long runs were every other weekend. Galloway also stresses running s l o w l y on the long runs, keeping the heart rate under 70% of max. Builds endurance, wards off injury. And most importantly, he is a huge proponent of walk breaks. I’ve been doing 9 minutes of running, one minute of walking on every run over an hour in duration. On the long runs I felt – for the most part – like I could run forever.
“…my marathon is supposed to be in October.” Why the tentative statement, Einmon? Have you registered?
I’m doing one in October, too. Twin Cities. We can motivate each other!
I haven’t decided whether I will do the 9 minutes of running, 1 minute of walking thing in the marathon itself. My coach suggests doing it for the first half, then switching to straight running for the second half, if I feel good.
Thanks Archergal and sorry about your knees. You know, I thought I was going to have knee issues but as soon as I stopped “doing the stairs” with my co-workers twice per day (they do 12 flights), I’ve been fine.
Hey dropzone! Actually, it is a very flat course, point-to-point. They bus us out to the start in Two Harbors and we run on the shore of Lake Superior all the way back into town.
I did the half marathon last year; it’s a gorgeous course. One serious hill at about 21.8 miles.
Bosda me luv, you cracked my Monday morning ass up.
Gazelle I’m so impressed…and inspired. I’ve often thought of running a marathon but have the same basic problems you had when you first started out. I’m sporting at least 30 (more like 40) extra lbs but that "hey maybe I can run a marathon " does pop into my head time and again.
My MD is a marathon runner and when I remarked at how impressive that was to me he said “it’s only a thought away”. You have proved that.
velvetjones, you are a sweetie. I’m sending big hugs down to you in the Sunshine State. I’m so flattered by your compliments. ::
Weight Watchers helped immeasurably. It’s amazing how much easier running is without extra poundage. And the physical therapist helped get me the rest of the way. I never thought I’d be rid of the shin splints and Achilles pain, but they are gone.
I should also mention that I am not yet within what WW considers my healthy weight range. At my height and age (5’5", 34) I should weigh a max of 144 pounds. I weigh about 147. I’m no where near perfect and running makes me feel like Superwoman!
My best friend, a 2:55:15 marathoner, told me a loooong time ago that anyone could do it. I looked at her lean, toned, perfect body and said to myself, Yeah, right. But she was right! I owe her so much, I can’t even tell ya.
Gazelle I bow before you.
I cannot imagine running a marathon. I’m truly impressed with anyone who takes on a task of this magnitude. You should be proud.
My longest training run has been 22 miles. I can’t believe it. Now you TRULY know you can run the marathon.
My buddy Biff ran 21 miles of the Rock and Roll marathon here yesterday as his last long run before his marathon - your marathon in Duluth.
Seriously, I’ve got it in my head that somehow when he’s in Duluth he’ll run across you. Perhaps not on the course, since he’s shooting for a 4 hour marathon, but perhaps somewhere else. So if you happen to see or meet a chap named Biff (and seriously, how many people are named “Biff?”) - he’s one of my peeps.
Just you wait until you finish the marathon for real. You’ll be crying like a baby. I was.
And when I stood up later that week in my WW meeting to tell them all I’d done it (they knew I was training for it), I started crying again then. There probably wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Enjoy the taper, though you’ll probably get antsy.
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