Marathoners--- Good Update 12/17

What was your longest run distance and how many weeks before did you complete it? Also, if you experienced pain on your long training runs how did you do for the actual marathon?

(i'm not folowing a training plan and to say i am undertrained is a big understatment)

Update 12/17
Ran 20 miles today in 3:26. YAY! I am not going lie, the last 2 miles were torture, but its done and I felt MUCH BETTER than last week... I took gels & water every 5.5-6 miles and ate a waffle and banana before... and I wore my compression pants.

Message edited 12/17/2011 3:52:26 PM.

Re: Marathoners

I have always done 20 milers...the last being 3 weeks before...but Hal Higdon notes that Europeans use 30K as a round number which is only 18.6 miles.

I want to try the less is more approach which only gets to 16 miles, but the rest of the week has more mileage.

16+, for me, always sucks. I don't really enjoy it most of the time and it's these runs when I swear off marathons. By 18 miles into the race I do the same thing. LOL. anywhere from 4 hours - to 2 days after crossing the finish line, I am planning my next race! LOL This shift is very funny for DH. He lies to wait at the 25 mile mark to encourage runners. When they tell him never again (and so many do). He yells back - Thats what they all say!

The last 10K of any marathon is the toughest for every runner...even the elites will say this

Re: Marathoners

20 miles, 3 weeks before for both marathons. As Erica said, many runners do 18 max and have done well. 20 is a round number, not a magic number. Either way, I agree, the last 10k are tough. I will say that this time I felt much stronger than last and didn't really struggle until about mile 23. Then, I picked it up at 25 and finished feeling great. I know people who run 24-milers before the marathon to "push back the wall", but if i did that, I'd probably tear my joints in half and I simply don't have time to put in super high mileage and build that number.

When you say pain, do you mean soreness or injury pain? If it's more fatigue/muscle tightness, that just goes along with your body adjusting to the distance...our bodies are not designed to run 20+ miles.

I had a foot injury for this past marathon that came up on any run longer than 10 miles. After a few podiatrist visits, I ended up getting a cortisone injection. I got to about mile 16 of the marathon when it bothered me. It happened after the long hill on the Queensboro Bridge. I was happy I got that far with no pain, but still had 10 more miles to go. When that happened, I did a big no-no to many and took some motrin...but I needed to get through and it was one day.

Depending upon when your marathon is, I would not "cram" in long runs, that will just lead to a higher risk of injury. Just do what you can do. Your last really long run should be no closer than 3 weeks from the marathon. Some do 2 weeks before, but if it's your first marathon, might be better to stick with 3. Better to be 10% under trained than 1% over trained.

Message edited 12/11/2011 5:44:13 PM.

Re: Marathoners

I was going to fm you both later, glad you both responded!
Thigs did not go according to plan. The pain in my foot got worse the 2 weeks following my half marathon and i had t take about 4 weeks off- stress fracture. I did keep up with the elliptical and some recumbent bike. When i was able to start running i was able to do 10 miles pretty effortlessly that first weekend. My plan was i was already trained for a half marathon so halfway to the distance, the 4 weeks off was definitely a big set back. Then we had a vacation, we were gone for over 2 weeks and in the disney parks for 10 days. Walking from the time we woke up to the time we went to sleep. There was just no time for running but i managed to squeeze in a 7 miler and 10 miler. So that was another big setback. We got home on friday. I planned for 18 miles today and things were great until the 15 mile mark. Then i got bad leg pain, in every muscle and joint. I struggled trhough 2 more miles with a little walk break but had to stop at 17, just could not make 18. Endurance and energy were great, the problem was my legs. I never felt pain like that and maybe it had something to do with this being my first run over10 miles that i didnt wear my compression tights. I plan on running these long runs: 20 next weeked (3 weeks), 12 the following week (2 weeks), 10 the next
week (1 week to go). If i cant do the 20 straight i will run 15 and then 12 the next day.
Or the other option is to quit and just not do the race. I felt awful before and to think i would have had 9 more miles to go is just incomprehensible. I am ok with walking and as my first one my goal is just to finish, but even walking was painful. Please guide me!

Re: Marathoners

Also what is the best medication to have with me that day if needed? I think i heard or read aleve... I am not. Fan of meds especially while running but if i need to push through a few miles at the end i may give in.

Re: Marathoners

Julie, sorry to hear you have had such issues. I feel your pain, literally. There are a few ways to approach and look at this and I will put in my 2 cents, but do not feel that what I say is the right answer.

First, if you had a recent stress fracture, be careful. I know a few who have had them, and all have been able to run marathons after...but this is soon after, so just make sure your body is ready for the beating. And also be careful with the mileage jump...you said your ran 10 and then did 17 as your next? That is a big mileage jump and could be the reason for the pain you were feeling. With marathon training, slower increases are better, and taking a "drop down" week is good. So for instance, 12 miles, 10 miles, 14 miles, 10 miles, 16 miles, 10, 18, etc....etc...However, you are close to the race date, so that is irrelevant now. If it were me, I'd do an 18 miler and top off at that. That is enough.

Another approach, as you said...you can always walk some of it. For a first marathon, you probably should not have a goal time. Finishing is such an accomplishment in itself. However, if it's that painful to walk, maybe consider postponing? I know it's not what you want to hear, but there will be another marathon. Maybe you will have more time to prepare and train better. And if you don't end up doing one, that's ok too. It's not an easy thing - I personally am not doing another because my body just cannot handle the higher mileage....I just don't enjoy the pain that comes along with it anymore.

I always carry motrin for long races. Yes, it is not good to take health wise....I only take it if I absolutely need it. I have never had an issue with it, but not something to experiment with race day. My podiatrist advised me to take it for the marathon. It's dangerous if you take it all the time, for all runs. Long term, just not good. It's not advisable to 'mask pain", but my feeling is if during a race I have some random ache or need to keep inflammation down from a minor injury, that's' ok.

FM me if you want my e-mail address, I really don't come on here often, just happen to be lurking and saw your post. E-mail is the best way to reach me.

Message edited 12/11/2011 6:51:32 PM.

Re: Marathoners

Sorry if my post was confusing. I ran 14 miles before our trip (we left thanksgiving night). Then for the two weeks we were away I only ran twice which was 7 and 10, but we did walk from morning to night every day which must count for something! So the 14 mile was about 3.5 weeks ago, then I did 7, then 10, and then today 17. My plan sounded foolproof coming off the half oct 1 and then having 3 months more to train but of course things did not go according to plan. I don't think i would postpone I would just cancel completely. This was never a goal of mine before, it was something I decided on a whim after the half marathon. So I either do it now, or never do it (which I am ok with). I have to make up my mind before next weekend because I would hate to run 18_20 miles for no reason! On the flip side I have 2 friends running at a much slwer pace then i would try for, so I could always run with one of them... Having a buddy makes things better. Also everyhting is already paid for and this is the most "fun" marathon I could ever imagine doing (disney).

Re: Marathoners

Ok, got it. Well, then not such a big jump, but it could have just been the stress of the longer distance. I actually starting getting my foot pain after my 17-miler, must be something about that distance!

That is another option...running with someone slower. You might enjoy it more. Just listen to your body. Can you switch to the half at this point? Just another thought if the trip is paid for.

Re: Marathoners

sorry to hear about the pain! my only advice is to take it easier with it being your first marathon-i would do it only to finish which is an awesome accomplishment. time is important but not everything. that might help with your pains and put less stress on your body so you can at least show up and have the marathon experience. good luck!

Re: Marathoners

Just wanted to update, I had no pain the next morning. Barely even sore! Now that I think back about what happened, it must have been really bad cramps/charlie horse things in my legs. I only ate a banana before and drank water & had a gel half way through. That really isnt enough, is it... for my next long run I am going to also have a bagel before and try the gels every 5-6 miles instead of just having one at 9 miles.

Re: Marathoners

Re: Marathoners

Re: Marathoners

re: aleve. I believe that you have to take it for 3 days to have the anti-inflammatory/pain killing effects. Ibuprofen is a good choice.

You will hurt no matter what. An ice bath after will help and getting in a 1-2 mile run the next day.

Re: Marathoners

Ran 20 miles today in 3:26. YAY! I am not going lie, the last 2 miles were torture, but its done and I felt MUCH BETTER than last week... I took gels & water every 5.5-6 miles and ate a waffle and banana before... and I wore my compression pants.

Re: Marathoners--- Good Update 12/17

That's a great time! Congrats, training is pretty much over and believe me that was the hard part. Enjoy every moment of the marathon!

Re: Marathoners--- Good Update 12/17

Posted by jeanyus27



That's a great time! Congrats, training is pretty much over and believe me that was the hard part. Enjoy every moment of the marathon!

Re: Marathoners--- Good Update 12/17

Thank you!!
I know you time for training isnt important, but I just had to throw that out there to show I kept an almost consistent pace the entire time. I tried to take a little walk break at one point and it actually hurt more to walk than run!

But how am I going to add 6 more miles to this?


That's amazing. And trust me you will find away to do the last 6 miles. I always tell myself that its 10k I do it all the time. Or less than an hour left. Or I will visualize the 10k I do around home and that I can do it. You will be so excited at this point that you are basically done that you will push through any pain.

Re: Marathoners--- Good Update 12/17

Yay!!!