I was sipping beers with my buddy Brian last weekend and he told tales of his recent adventures running in the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Phoenix. He completed the half-marathon course.

Somehow we convinced ourselves that we MUST run the San Diego marathon June 5.

Week one of training is under my belt now. Dear heavens, I'm in for a world of pain, I just know it.

I'm a former runner, so my body knows the drill, but I've never run a marathon.

Anyway, if any of you have (or know someone who has) run a marathon, I'd love to hear your advice and/or horror stories.

My plan is this: I have 16 good weeks of training to go. I'm putting in two runs during the week (Monday and Wednesday. About 5 miles each), and then a long run Saturday (starting at 6 and building to 22). Tuesday and Thursday are my martial arts days, so no running then.

My goal is this: finish the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon.

Wish me luck. (I'll update my training here each week if anyone's interested.)

I'm planning on doing a marathon in 2006. I may do a 10k or something shorter this year, but the long one's gonna have to wait until I get into better shape.

I've been talking with a few marathoners lately about tips and training. They say that http://www.jeffgalloway.com/ and http://www.marathontraining.com/ are pretty good sources of online info.

I ran the Hartford Marathon in 2001 and it was tough but satisfying. I didn't train as much as I should have because around mile 19, I started to feel it.
Then, around mile 22 the "wall" hit me. I was on fumes the rest of the way but finished in 4 1/2 hours. I plan on running it again in 2006 with a better training plan.

Good luck to you!!!

BOL to ya TE

Wow, that's quite the distance, but it sounds like you have yourself a pretty solid training plan there. Good luck man, keep us posted.

And when you do run the Rock & Roll Marathon here next year, I'll be sippin' beers in the shade, cheerin' you on!

Good luck!

I wish I still had that kind of self-discipline. Some year I want to do a marathon, but it won't be this year. :)

I remember my first triathlon. It was a spur of the moment type thing, where a buddy asked me to do it with him. I didn't have a road bike at the time, and had to do it on my mountain bike. I hadn't swum in... wow, years. It was a ton of fun, though. After the swim and bike I was pooped. By about that time the elite athletes were just finishing their entire course. I got into the transition area, grabbed my 'after-the-race-meal-ticket' and chowed down with some awesome athletes. They were all talking about how their race had went, and when they asked me all I could say was, "dunno, I'm still in the middle of it!" That got quite a few laughs. :)

After that I did one a year for a while, and sort of geared my workouts towards them when I had them coming up. I wouldn't exactly call it training. I haven't done one since 1999 now, and I should probably change that. None of my buddies will do them with me anymore.

Man...I always thought a marathon would be a cool accomplishment; but then reality smacked me like a virgin on prom night. ( true story, for another time & thread)

I used to run just to stay in shape, or to drop some weight; but never was "religious" about it. Now I wish I could go from the house to the curb, with my garbage cans, without getting winded.

Hey Scott, if you'd like an awesome challenge that is in the 10K range, try the Quad City Times Bix 7 (http://www.bix7.com)

It's a tough race, but it is tons of fun. I ran it from 86 until 97, then it just got to be too much to stay in enough shape to even train for it. Leg, feet and ankle problems, etc. But it's an experience like you'll never get anywhere else.

For those serious runner that are familiar with the runner's names; you'll see lots of Olympians names in the rosters of the races. Bill Rodgers, who won the boston Marathon, was the first "big name" runner to ever come here; and literally put the Bix on the map as a place ofr elite runners to come to.

Joan Benoit-Samuleson was the first "big name" female runner to come here and helped it become a Mecca for female runners.

They have each won the Bix. Bill twice, JBS 4-times. JBS has run it pregnant too. Rodgers' nickname around here is Bix Billy. And because of the awarness those two spread about a race that started in 1975 with 84 runners, to over 20,000, they have been immortalized in bronze.

http://www.billrodgers.com/images/archive/bixbilljoaned.jpg

http://www.billrodgers.com/images/archive/bixinspect.jpg


Overhead view of the Brady Street Hill climb
http://www.qconline.com/progress98/ee/239.gif

"The Swarm" is what we call the ascention of Brady Street Hill
http://www.bbonline.com/quadcities/pix4.jpg


This is also a very family friendly weekend too. If you have kids that run they have a Jr. Bix, The Quick Bix, etc. Check it y'all. I won't run, but I'll root ya on.

*edit note- I took that really big one out rrmb. It was blowing up the thread. SB

:wtf:

Dude, I got all kinds of respect for you sumbitches. I tried to run up to the store (about 400 yards) yesterday and damn near had to be brought in for treatment. lol.

Seriously though, I played full court basketball last week for about an hour and it was like I had this living animal trying to get out of my chest. It was my heart. I was not well. I am not in good shape. I'm still sore.

Yeahhhh. I'm slowly working up to 26 miles myself. *ahem*.

Thanks for the info on the Bix 7, RRMB. I just might have to head up there this summer. I'm planning to do the St. Louis Marathon 5K Run (http://www.stlouismarathon.com/stl_marathon/events/5KRunWalk.asp) in April, so I'll probably progress to 11+K (or whatever 7 miles comes out to be) by late July.

Thanks for the info on the Bix 7, RRMB. I just might have to head up there this summer. I'm planning to do the St. Louis Marathon 5K Run (http://www.stlouismarathon.com/stl_marathon/events/5KRunWalk.asp) in April, so I'll probably progress to 11+K (or whatever 7 miles comes out to be) by late July.


The toughest part isn't the 6-9% grade you climb at the very start of the race. But your legs are fresh and strong, so as long as you don't try to sprint up "The Hill" and take your time, you'll make up your split times after the first 3/4 mile. Matter of fact the rest of the first half is mostly down hill.

There is one major incline after "The Hill," that starts with a real gradual 3-4% grade, then it jutts into a sharp, approximately 12% grade at about the 3 mile mark.

The topo map makes it easy to find. You have a 6% grade drop, the a flat mile or so until you get to "The Bitch." (as I call it) It will kill your calves.

Just find yourself a nice steady pace after you crest the top of Brady Street Hill and you'll cruise the rest of the first 3.5 miles, minus "The Bitch." After you top that you gradually decend on a 4% grade to the turn around.

The way back you are going up hill. Literally retracing your footsteps and that's when the tough part of the race is. You'll be going back on the exact same roads you went down; just on the opposite side of the street.

All the nice gradual downhill becomes gradual uphill, untill you hit Brady Street again. "The Hill" is the toughest part of the race now, because your legs are fatigued a little, the finish is within your grasp, and you're going BACK DOWN "The Hill." Which has caused many runners to get rubber-legged and tumble down it. You get to the bottom, go a couple blocks and head for the finish line.

The big thing about this race is the community. There will be people you never met before in your life, sitting along thecourse cheering you along, giving you water, candy, splashing you with a garden hose, hanging from a tree, etc. A lot of people on the course have big ol bashes. You could probably score a beer if you're lucky. The people are the best part of the race. They love it and want people to come back and party every year.

If you do the race, you'll have to let me know in advance, I'll try and get the day off and my wife and I will come up and hang out with you later after you recover.

Be a cool way to get VHLinks people together too. Justa thought.


note to seenbad: not a problem, when I pasted the url, it was half that size, don't know why it did that?!?

And when you do run the Rock & Roll Marathon here next year, I'll be sippin' beers in the shade, cheerin' you on!

Good luck!

No way, timmac. I'll be swiggin with you. After I do this one in June, that's it. No mas.

I have a long, complicated reason for that, but the short version is, I'm doing this thing to exorcise some old demons. I ran track and cross country at UNL (was actually a scholarship athlete), but I didn't leave the sport on good terms, so I hope to come to terms with that. This is weird stuff only idiot distance runners like me really understand, anyway.

Oh! Training update! I bought an MP3 player tonight. As long as I'll be trekking out in the desert for endless kilometers, might as well carry Eddie, Alex, Mikey, Sammy and Dave with me (and even one Gary).

Thanks for all the supportive words, guys! I'll keep this thread updated once a week or so.

MikeL -- Your triathlon story was hilarious! Good stuff.

You badass bunch of bastards! I was in track in college, but the most running I did was the approach to the Long Jump. That was enough hard running for my ass. My favorite had to the the 10 step approach for the high jump though. :thumb:

Unless it's a pie eatin contest ..it ain't worth it :D

Nah, wish I could get myself psyched up to do something like that...I have a friend who runs marathon's and he looks great, he's lost so much weight he looks nothing like he used to.

Cool you're doing it TE. Now that you got a MP3 player, find the song "Hard Climb" by Jetboy. That's a good running song. Keep us posted :thumb:

My twin sister ran her first marathon last May. She did the four-month training program as well, and got really buff. The months of training is important even if you're in good shape: even if you already run three miles a day, if you do a marathon cold turkey one day, you could end up hurting yourself.

The longest distance of any day on Lindsey (my sis)'s training schedule was 20 miles. On the 20-mile day, at about the 14-mile point, she got utterly exhausted and felt as though she just couldn't go on. It was painful and awful. She began to walk. She couldn't figure out what was going on; she'd run 18 miles the week before. Then she remembered that she hadn't eaten anything yet that day--it had just slipped her mind. When your body runs out of carbs to metabolize and has to go to burning fat directly (which had never happened to her before), you feel beat. Anyway, Lindz went and slammed back a couple of orange juices, and was able to complete the six miles.

Basically: If you're going to run 26.2 miles, you need to fuckin' eat. Eat a big meal the night before or a big early breakfast the day of the marathon. Calories are your friends.

Good luck!

Calories are your friends.

Good luck!

Yes. Calories and carbohydrates. That's the best part of all this. All my favorite foods are heavy on the carbs.

So, week one is done. During the week, I ran a 3-miler and a 4-miler, plus two good Tang Soo Do workouts (karate stuff). Did my long run yesterday. 6 miles at 7:28 pace. Felt good, especially with the tunes. (Why haven't I ever run with music before?)

By the way, I really dig "It's About Time," but it's a horrible running song -- seems really plodding. Oddly, the song I liked running to most was "I am a Man of Constant Sorrow" by The Soggy Bottom Boys. Go figure.

Oh- And thanks to ScottRoberts for the marathon training link. That's a good site.

[QUOTE=MikeL] I got into the transition area, grabbed my 'after-the-race-meal-ticket' and chowed down with some awesome athletes. They were all talking about how their race had went, and when they asked me all I could say was, "dunno, I'm still in the middle of it!" That got quite a few laughs. :)
[QUOTE]

That was funny - LMAO!! :D

Fuck.

My week:Monday, 4 miles, 7:15 pace. Felt strong and fast.

Wednesday, was supposed to run, but instead spent the day cleaning out my office because I was fired from my job.

Saturday, 8.2 miles in 64:14 (about 7:50 pace). My knees are killing me. I remember now why I quit running.

How come you were fired dude???

How come you were fired dude???
Spending too much time at VH Links.

No, that's not true. Long and boring reasons. Let's call it creative differences.

I see, like with VH. Going solo now too??? Make movie aswell??? :D

Kidding, good luck on finding a new job dude :thumb:

Beer runs are mini-marathons... And I run to win. :thumb:

Moving this to the Play Ball forum, guys.

Um, ouch ...

I've started trying to get back into running. I'm up to 2.5 miles at just under 10 minutes per mile. :drunk: I suck. But now I've got horrendous leg pain every time I run. Apparently too much too fast. I thought I was going pretty light! I just went to the doctor this morning and he told me it's shin splints. I've had those and this feels different but oh well, he's the doc.
I gotta give you marathoners credit though... That's great that you have that much discipline. Any time in my life that I've ever thought about running a marathon, I've just reminded myself of how they came to be and do something else instead. :D

I can jog 45 minutes without stopping on my treadmill. It isn't fun though! I also look like I just jumped in a pool after it, I sweat so much.

I also look like I just jumped in a pool after it, I sweat so much.
Me too. But it sure makes you feel like you accomplished something though doesn't it? :)

Me too. But it sure makes you feel like you accomplished something though doesn't it? :)Yeah for sure, I feel better after I changed my clothes and took a shower though.

It's too cold here in Canada to do much of anything outside right now, but I do about 26 miles on a stationary bike and lift weights every other day getting ready for dirt bike and mountain bike season.
I can't run worth shit cause my left got f^#*ed in a motorcycle accident years ago, and the constant impact shock keeps me from running any distance. I wear a knee brace when I ride buit can't run with it at all.
To be honest I was a piss poor runner even before that, but I've got a lot of respect for you pushing yourself like that.
More power to you bud and don't forget to pace yourself.

I walk around 12 miles a day at work. I am a "born" sprinter. I can't run for long distances, I've tried but can't do it for shit. In 6th grade: 100 yard dash in 12 seconds. 14 years old: 4.8 50.. 18 years old: 100 yards in 11 seconds. Since then, it depends on who is chasing me :D Just kidding, sort of.
I do not have the consistency like I had in the good ole days of running short quick distances. But.. I can still run like Forest if needed.
Good Luck in the marathon!

The training week began shitty. I tried a 4-miler Monday (after my 8.2-mile torture festival on Saturday). The first 1.5 miles felt good, but then a sharp - and I mean sharp - pain in my right knee. Walk-jogged home and made an appointment with the doc.

I forget the medical term for it, but the basics are that my quads are pulling my knee cap over to the side and my tendons are rubbing on bone.

Whee!

The good news is, this isn't a serious injury. The doc gave me specific stretches to do, told me to ice and try a knee brace, which will keep the cap where it's supposed to be.

Did my karate workout Tues. eve. no problem with the brace and plenty of icy hot. Took Wed. off, but did my stretching like a good boy.

Thursday's karate workout with the brace was OK. Took it kinda easy, though.

Saturday, 9-point-5 friggin miles. The first 5 felt wonderful. Miles 6 and 7 were uncomfortable. 8 to the end were extremely painful. (The knee again.)

Took a hot bath, did extra stretching, iced my knee down and by Sunday, no pain at all.

(I'm writing this Monday, just after 4 GREAT, FAST, KICK-ASS miles with no pain. Endorphins? Make mine a double! But this counts as next week's training log, so remind me in a week that at this time, I enjoy running again.)

OK, continuing from the post above, 4 miles Monday. I threw in a couple bursts of speed work. Not much, distance-wise, but felt good turning over the legs like that again.

Wednesday I did 3 miles and, honestly, this might be the best run I've had in a decade. It was play time. Did about a half mile of it at 6:45. Fun, fun, fun.

For non distance runners, the best metaphor for what I'm talking about is this: imagine you start playing an extremely difficult first-person shooter video game. The game's a bite in the ass. You get whacked on level one time and time again. Eventually, you get the feel of the character and how he moves. You pass level one, at last. You play the game for days, then weeks. The further along you get, the better weapons you find. But the monsters are tougher and nastier.

Now, let's say you've been playing for a solid month and at last, you conquer the game. All 12 levels. Nice cartoon ending, roll credits and suddenly, you find yourself in level one again. The game has started you over.

Except this time, you enter level one with all the weapons you picked up during previous play. The RPG, Uzi, sawed-off shotgun. The works. Not only that, but because you've played this level before, you know where and when those bad guys are going to pop up and attack, and they aren't nearly as tough as the upper level monsters are.

So you go through level one with glee, blasting hell out of the monsters and just, well, playing. No one can touch you on level one.

Long-winded, I realize, but that's what a 3-miler feels like to me now. At least that's what Wednesday's felt like.

Now, Saturday's long run was a different story. I cracked the double digits, and accomplished 10 miles. Like last long run, first half was good, but then it progressively got painful. Last couple miles were killers on my right knee.

But I followed doc's advice again and it's now sunday at 3 a.m. and my knee is virtually pain free.

See you next week.

Apparently I'm talking to myself in this thread, but that's OK. I promised weekly training updates and I plan to deliver.

I awoke with a cold last Monday, so I skipped my run in favor of warm tea and rest. Did my karate workout Tuesday night. Ran 4 miles Wednesday. "Me Wise Magic" came on during the middle of it and I sprinted during Eddie's solo. I mean up-on-my-toes, turning over the legs sprinting. It hurt. But I haven't done it in a decade, probably, so in a way I'm glad to know I can still do it.

Karate workout thursday evening, then another 4-miler on Friday. No sprints, just nice and easy jogging.

Saturday I hit the road intending to do 8. Because of last week's 10 miler (felt OK for 8. The last 2 about killed me) I thought I'd try 8 to see if that's indeed where my threshold is right now.

I ended up running 12. And I did it at 8:00 pace throughout. Best of all, no sharp stabbing pain in my right knee.

I'm not sure if this means I've broken through to another level, but 12 miles without excruciating pain HAS to be a good sign.

Short training week.

Ran Monday. Track workout with my buddy Brian who talked me into this whole deal. We jogged one mile to the track, then ran a 400 (one lap) at pace, then jogged a lap. Another 400 at pace, then jogged a 400. I did that once more, then one mile back to the car.

My reps were: 1:28, 1:24 and 1:10 (wanted to push that last one).

Did a solid 4-miler on Friday. Also, two karate workouts.

My long run didn't happen. Sick kid, parents visiting from out of state, volunteering for a local service club. I couldn't get it in.

[stewie voice] Blast! [/stewie voice]

Hey te5150, check this guy out:

Dean Karnazes (http://www.thenorthface.com/na/athletes/athletes-DK.html)

Ultramarathon Man (http://www.ultramarathonman.com/about.php)

Hopefully it'll inspire you.

Myself, I have to go for a bone scan now to determine whether I have stress fractures or shin splints. Freakin' figures. I finally get back into running and now I have to stop again.

Hey te5150, check this guy out:

Dean Karnazes (http://www.thenorthface.com/na/athletes/athletes-DK.html)

Ultramarathon Man (http://www.ultramarathonman.com/about.php)

Hopefully it'll inspire you.

Myself, I have to go for a bone scan now to determine whether I have stress fractures or shin splints. Freakin' figures. I finally get back into running and now I have to stop again.

I've been reading about that guy. Holy shit. What a stud. I'm gonna pick up his book.

Good luck with the scan. A stress fracture will sideline you for several weeks. If it's shin splints, I have some exercises and tips that can help relieve the pain.

Let me know.

Ugh! I could NEVER run a marathon! I think I'd fall over dead :scared: :eek: But I'm sure you'll do great! I'll bet you're in great shape so don't worry about, okay? :)

Are you losing a lot of weight doing all this jogging te5150?

Are you losing a lot of weight doing all this jogging te5150?

Nah. I just eat more to make up for it. That's one of the best benefits of running, as far as I'm concerned.

Actually, I am down about 5 pounds. I'm 5-foot 10 and right now I weigh 165. I'll probably shed about 5 more when my long run builds up.

Weekly update time. My boy was still sick Monday, so I stayed home with him. No running.

Wednesday my buddy Brian and I headed to the track at Fountain Hills Middle School. It's the only track in town. Apparently, though, members of the public aren't allowed on it while school's in session. So instead of a track workout, we ran out in the desert. Did a two mile fartlek run (normal pace with bursts of speed thrown in). Added to the warm-up and cool-down, was about 4.5 miles.

Friday, I didn't run. Instead went to see the Cubs vs. Giants in Mesa, where I met the strikingly beautiful Candice Michelle, known as the "Go Daddy Girl" from that Superbowl commercial.

Sorry to report, no wardrobe malfunction.

So, one run during the week and two karate workouts (as always).

Saturday I ran 14.5 miles at 8:08 pace. Felt strong and quick until about mile 11. Then I hit the wall. At least I know where my conditioning is. 26.2 miles is gonna bite, though.

My friend and I are starting our own business, which, I'm finding out, is a crappy time to train for a marathon.

But plow ahead I shall.

Tuesday I hiked 4 miles in the mountains. That night, a hellish karate workout.

Wednesday, Brian and I ran a mile to a long hill, did 5 reps on that monster and jogged a mile to cool down. The hill is .2 miles long and just a killer on the legs. Great way to get the muscles trained to work in oxygen deprivation mode. Total workout distance - 4 miles.

Thursday, another harsh karate workout. Mostly sparring, which gets all the muscles moving with the added bonus of adrenalin pulsing through the veins. Whee.

Friday, I took the day off. My legs were aching from 3 strong workout days in a row.

Saturday, I found out that one day off didn't do it. My legs felt heavy from the first step. I did bump the distance up a mile to 15.5, but I ran it in 8:27 pace overall. My training book does say that I should expect some down weeks (as far as pace and muscle strain is concerned. I hope this is a down week. That long run ate my lunch.)

Last week: four all-nighters in a row (new business) = no karate and no running.

Except for Saturday. And I shoulda stayed on the couch. Painful and uncomfortable from step 1. Made it to 14.5 miles before my calves seized up on me and I couldn't continue. First run in my life that I couldn't complete. I had to call my wife from a downtown restaurant for a rescue.

I'm down. Not out, though.

Bad, bad week training-wise. At this point, I wonder if I'll be able to do the marathon. Nothing is wrong physically, but the aforementioned new business is taking shitloads of my time. I can't seem to fit in the running.

I did my karate workouts Tues and Thurs nights and did a 4-mile hike Saturday, but no training for the race.

For those who think that karate and hiking should help, sad to say it's not true. The best it does is keep my cardio condition from slipping too much. But to run well, you must run. There's no other way to do it. So this week, nada, zilch. I hope this coming week is better, or else I'm gonna rethink this whole marathon thing because, frankly, I don't need the added stress right now.

good luck on your endeavor TE5150, I wish I could make myself go out and do what your doing. :thumb:

Karate Tuesday night. Did a fairly hard 2 miler in the hills Wednesday. Nothing again until Saturday, and then only 8.

Did half of what my long run should be as a test of how much endurance I've lost the last couple of weeks, and to see whether I should continue with this marathon thing.

The 8 felt OK. Not great, but I wasn't tired afterwards. I had several more in me. So, good news is I continue on. Bad news is the past few weeks have put me back quite a bit.

Karate Tuesday night. Did a fairly hard 2 miler in the hills Wednesday. Nothing again until Saturday, and then only 8.

Did half of what my long run should be as a test of how much endurance I've lost the last couple of weeks, and to see whether I should continue with this marathon thing.

The 8 felt OK. Not great, but I wasn't tired afterwards. I had several more in me. So, good news is I continue on. Bad news is the past few weeks have put me back quite a bit.
That's a pretty tough goal you're working toward. Even if you can't do it, you're working hard and staying fit.

I'm doing the 5K race tomorrow morning. I've already done 3.5 miles (about 5.6k) at the gym several times, so we'll see how it goes outdoors (and early in the morning!). Wish me luck!

I have to go for a bone scan now to determine whether I have stress fractures or shin splints. Freakin' figures. I finally get back into running and now I have to stop again.

So I went back to the doctor on Tuesday and the first thing he says is, "There was a problem with the digital transcriber and so I don't have my notes from your last visit." LOL! Anyway, he said that the radiologist's report was stress fractures but he thought it was shin splints (he's an orthopedist). Figures that I still can't get a positive answer one way or the other. Last time I'll be going to see that doc for sure.
He was telling me what to look for in shoes... He said to look at the way the shoe is stitched under the footbed insert. I apparently want to find something that's stitched down the center. I had just bought my Asics GT-2100's so I checked them when I got home. No stitching at all! I guess they do their shoes differently. They're supposed to be good though.
He recommended that I start running in a pool and work my way back up over the course of a couple of months. He also gave me "therabands" to use too. I'm trying to lose a little excess weight and get in shape... I can't keep waiting! Plus I don't have time to get to a pool somewhere. My work will give its employees $20 a month toward a gym membership and I still can't make it. I think I'm going to start cycling instead.

Hey everyone. Thanks for following along, but the trail ends here.

No marathon for me. No way. No how.

Oddly, it has nothing to do with a running injury. Instead, I snapped my colorbone in half in a mountain biking accident. Can't train with my arm in a sling.

You can read all about it here: www.take5.ws. Click on Greg and Todd Do Stuff.

Hey everyone. Thanks for following along, but the trail ends here.

No marathon for me. No way. No how.

Oddly, it has nothing to do with a running injury. Instead, I snapped my colorbone in half in a mountain biking accident. Can't train with my arm in a sling.

You can read all about it here: www.take5.ws. Click on Greg and Todd Do Stuff.
Wow! Sorry to hear that. Hope you're back on your feet and in the groove again soon.