I don’t think I could have run a marathon if I wasn’t motivated to do so. The training runs are pretty boring and there’s lots of aches and pains along the way; for me it was pretty tough on my body. I used it as a measuring stick, to solidify the gains I had made over the previous two years (losing 60 lbs, becoming a real runner, and identifying with my brother who is a marathoner). Now I’m registered for a 50K for many of the same reasons - having a concrete difficult goal gets me out there every day.
The other reason is that I can really see the benefits for my other outdoor adventures. I can hike/bike/ski faster and for longer than ever, and have a better time doing so.
I run often enough, and when I finally signed up and did my first marathon, I just did to see if I could, I guess. It’s sort of like George Mallory being asked why he would climb Mt. Everest. “Because it’s there.” A marathon existed, and plenty of people have done it before, many of them faster than I ever will, but I still knew it was there and I wanted to try it. The other thing I’ve heard about running, which I agree with, is that “it’s like fun, but different.” I can’t really say why I like it, but I feel empty on days when I don’t get out there. If you’re wondering, no I don’t recommend doing it unless you actually want to, but if you start doing some longer runs (like 10 miles and more), you may find an itch to go for it.
I have done a bunch of half-marathons, and a lot of shorter races. Only one full marathon (so far). I started running about 7 years ago in my late 30s, but I look at the marathon as just one stop on the journey. Incorporating running into my fitness routine, and gaining an appreciation (first hand) of what it is like to complete a marathon is mainly what I got out of it.
This morning, 32 degrees, frosty, bundled-up, 4 miles as the sun came up in bright red and pink clouds, then shining on the underside of clouds right above. Just gorgeous. What more motivation does one need?
I have to say that I’m doing GREAT despite some setbacks. Or a setback, rather.
Two weeks before my scheduled 20 mile race, I ran the course for practice. It’s two loops; not long after I started the second loop, both ankles and knees started hurting on downhills. By the time I was 14 or 15 miles in, I was cringing with every downhill step I took…but note that these downhills were more akin to descending a flight of stairs than going down an incline.
I finished all 20 miles, but man the last 3 miles were awful. Sharp, piercing pain behind both kneecaps and the interior of both ankles.
I was still hurting two weeks later, so I didn’t participate in the race. I do take comfort in my 5-hour finish on my practice run, though.
So, here is my self-diagnosis of what happened: I did way too many slow runs of 10 or 15 miles leading up to that race. My theory is that while I was gaining a bit of endurance, I was losing (or at least not gaining) strength that I needed to support my joints.
So I dropped my mileage back down to 3 mile runs, and I’m building up again. My longest run since then is 6 miles. I’m doing more fast, short runs. I’ve already noticed more muscle development and my road runs now flirt with 9:00/miles, which is good for me.
So, plenty of time to build safely back up to re-run the 25k I did last September, and add the 50k in October.
He went on a diet (about twenty years ago) and lost one hundred and seventeen pounds. To keep it off, he started running. Three years later, he did his first 10K. Two years later, he did his first marathon.
That wasn’t enough. He entered and completed the Iron Man Triathlon in Hawaii - a 2.4 mile swim, 112 miles biking, and then a full marathon (26.2 miles). 14 hours, 47 minutes.
I’ve been dealing with some foot pain, plantar fasciitis related. My doctor gave me some orthotics and I’ve been stretching every day, plus he prescribed some anti-inflammatories that have helped. I ramped up my training fairly quickly, from 12-15 mile weeks to 24, 26 and 28. This week is a dialed back week, then the following week I’m planning on 18 miles for my long run.
I ran my third marathon two weekends ago. I took 7 minutes off my previous best and felt good throughout the whole thing. My pace was consistent through the first 20 miles, but it did drop over a minute for the last 6.2. I’m ok with that. It got warmer, though not hot, and the sun had started to come out, plus I made a point to get water and Gatorade at each of those final stations.
I came out of the gate slowly, due in large part to a mix of marathoners and half-marathoners with the same starting time, but I’m pleased with how it turned out. My longest build-up runs were 14, 16, and 17.5 miles, with the 17.5 coming a month ahead of the race. I’ll make a point to do more of them in the upper teens for my next race, but except maybe one 20 mile run, I don’t know that I’ll feel the need to go much beyond that. I’m also going to do speed work over the next few months to hopefully shave some time off. I’d like to crack 3:30 for my fall marathon, which would be a 16-minute improvement.
Now that I have finished a 50m ultra my next goal is some trail running this summer. I want to do this loop in Guadalupe Mtn National Park (the big loop, not the small loop). Last year I finished the small loop but ran out of water: this time I’ll take 2 gallons plus soda, plus start out at midnight. (I like walking in the darkness. It’s atmospheric, plus the mica in this park shines interestingly in the dark, especially in the barest glimpses of twilight or moonlight. Please ignore the fact that I will be hiking up Bear Canyon in the middle of the night: this is actually on the edge of the territory of the black bear and mountain lion so they are rarely seen in the park.)
Just checking back in to say that i ran my first 100 mile race last weekend! It was the Superior 100 (all run on the Superior Hiking Trail in Northern Minnesota). If you are interested you can read my race report here:
This thread is inspiring me to do longer runs. Right now I just run 5ks a few times a week, and not very fast at that (running in boring Houston neighborhoods in scorching Houston heat is not conducive to great run times, I do much better on the treadmill on the boat in air conditioning).
But hearing about all you guys doing marathons and crazy 100mile runs and whatnot is making me want to run even more! I guess I need to start learning the basics like how to properly hydrate and feed myself before/during/after such things.
I’ve never been one of those crazy 100-milers, but I can advise you with great confidence not to get crazy and start increasing your mileage too much, too fast. If something starts to hurt, pay attention! Injuries are extremely discouraging and demand great patience.
That’s great Drew! My motto is, after all, “more miles, more fun!”. But like Truman said, just build up a nice base slowly first, and once you have that you will be amazed at what your body is capable of! Best of luck!
I set a goal to ride my bicycle 2,000 miles this summer. Passed that a couple days ago. My stretch goal is to exceed the distance of this year’s Tour de France, which should happen Monday or Tuesday.
That’s not really in the same league as some of the posters here, though. It’s only 25 miles a day, mostly on bike paths; takes about 2 hours.
This summer I volunteered at a local 100 miler for a 12 hour shift and had great time. People’s best and worst come out during the middle of the night, fortunately mostly their best.
That was a great read, and inspiring! Once the kids are out of the house, I will train for a 100…which means that I have 13 years to work up my base
Do it!! If you can get out of the city for your long runs, do it. It’s much more enjoyable to have new things to look at and explore. And don’t be afraid to try; everyone remembers their first hour-long run, 10-mile run, whatever. When you’re dying after 4 miles, doubling that distance seems insurmountable, but with a steady training program it’s 100% possible.
This! A month or so ago, I had to take about 3 weeks off because of tendinitis in two places on my left foot. Very scary, because I missed a long run and was only 8 weeks out from my goal race.
I stayed off it, though, and even shelled out for a boot to wear at the recommendation of my orthopedic Dr. So very glad I did it ‘right’, because I feel confident that I’m ready now.
I got up at 4 this morning to have breakfast and get ready for my last long run, 26.2 miles. Then in a week, I’m doing that 25k that I did last year, and two weeks after that my first 50k.
Then I’m going to take a couple months and only run 3 - 5 miles at a time. Training is time-consuming.
I finished my Triathlon season a week ago last Saturday in Hyde Park with the kind of PB I hoped for (the Open Race at the ITU Grand Final - so the whole Olympic venue thing).
All good. Having concentrated on the swim last winter it’s the run this.
