Marathons?

[DietCoke]

I was thinking about trying one this year, with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon.

Has anybody run a marathon? What program did you use? Did you have to get up really early in the morning to train? Did you use a treadmill when it was really hot or cold?

Just curious about the experience and how realistic you think it is.

 

[YankeeFan]

Find a local running club. They'll have training programs laid out for you and group runs.

(Not that I've run one, but I'd also like to one day and have had several close friends/relatives run them.)

 

[Batman]

Find a local running club. They'll have training programs laid out for you and group runs.

Good advice. There's also some programs that have sprung up in the last couple years called "marathon makeover" or somesuch. You pay a fee, similar to your gym membership, and they'll walk you through the process. The program takes a few months to complete, and the ultimate goal is to run a marathon somewhere in your state or region.
You can find these things through your local running club or gym, most likely.

 

[The Big Ragu]

I have thought about this several times in the last few years. I want to do it. I just haven't been able to commit myself to the training yet. I run pretty good distances, even without training hard, but I know that there is a huge difference between the 10 to 15 miles I occasionally stretch myself out to and 26 miles. Also, if I do it, I am going to want to set a goal for my time (even though I am getting to be a geezer, so I have to recognize my limits nowadays), and that doesn't just require finishing, it requires training -- training I just can't commit the time for under current circumstances. I hope I can change that and do one before I am 50 (7 years).

 

[John]

I ran three in the 90s while working for my dad at Merrill Lynch, before I started covering sports. Under that regimented 8-6 schedule every day, it was easy to train.

Now, with my schedule all over the place, it would be much, much harder. My goal this year is to do a half-marathon or two since training for 13 is much less time consuming than 26.

 

[RickStain]

If you just want to survive one and aren't worried about time, it's not the training that will get you. Most people can commit themselves to the training it would take. It's the risk of injury during the training process.

 

[Sic semper tyrannis]

Considering the first guy that ever ran a marathon dropped dead at the end, I've studiously avoided them

That, and I smoke half a pack a day

 

[Screwball]

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has a wonderful program called Team in Training that welcomes first-timers. They provide the coaching and pay your way to the marathon. In exchange, you raise money for them (and they help you with that, too).

http://www.teamintraining.org/firsttimehere/sportprograms/marathonshalfmarathons

 

[bigpern23]

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has a wonderful program called Team in Training that welcomes first-timers. They provide the coaching and pay your way to the marathon. In exchange, you raise money for them (and they help you with that, too).

http://www.teamintraining.org/firsttimehere/sportprograms/marathonshalfmarathons

It's apparently quite effective, too ... I know two girls who have done it and neither is what you would think of as athletic. (The following are not value judgments, but simply observations of two friends and their fitness levels) One is reasonably in shape, but she's about 6-feet tall, all arms and legs and had never participated in a sport of any kind. The other is actually still fairly overweight, but she's done two (D.C. and New Orleans, I think).

 

[AgatePage]

I've done four in the past four years, will do 2 more in 2011. I can say I'm very glad I lost that bet on Fourth of July weekend 2006 and started.

As far as training, there are so many ways to do it. For the last one, I took the one straight out of Runner's World magazine, made some small changes based on my schedule and other activities and did the best I could.

Some running clubs have programs, others just organize group runs -- and this is the one thing I would encourage more than anything else. I ran essentially by myself for 3 1/2 years, but started with the local running club (to do an interview, of all things) and enjoyed it thoroughly. I still do plenty of runs by myself, but I always look forward to a group run now. Granted, we all get strung out during the run because we're all at different paces, but that's OK. Good to talk, say hello to new acquaintances, grab dinner afterward.

The one thing I can't stress enough, though -- listen to your body. If something feels funny, slow down, take a small break. If it still feels funny, shut it down. While I am far from the fastest person out there, I've had zero injuries and enjoy going out to run every time. That's been the whole point of all this. I'm not fast enough to be a BQ (and probably won't be until I'm 60, god-willing I can still run then), and I'm OK with that. But I just broke four hours for the first time, and now I want to get down to 3:50.

 

[AgatePage]

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has a wonderful program called Team in Training that welcomes first-timers. They provide the coaching and pay your way to the marathon. In exchange, you raise money for them (and they help you with that, too).

http://www.teamintraining.org/firsttimehere/sportprograms/marathonshalfmarathons

It's apparently quite effective, too ... I know two girls who have done it and neither is what you would think of as athletic. (The following are not value judgments, but simply observations of two friends and their fitness levels) One is reasonably in shape, but she's about 6-feet tall, all arms and legs and had never participated in a sport of any kind. The other is actually still fairly overweight, but she's done two (D.C. and New Orleans, I think).

Team in Training is a fantastic group. That said, they are very adamant about the fundraising portion of their project (I want to say it's a $1,500 minimum of funds you have to raise). Friends that have run for TinT have said the money part is more difficult than the running part.

 

[YankeeFan]

I have thought about this several times in the last few years. I want to do it. I just haven't been able to commit myself to the training yet. I run pretty good distances, even without training hard, but I know that there is a huge difference between the 10 to 15 miles I occasionally stretch myself out to and 26 miles. Also, if I do it, I am going to want to set a goal for my time (even though I am getting to be a geezer, so I have to recognize my limits nowadays), and that doesn't just require finishing, it requires training -- training I just can't commit the time for under current circumstances. I hope I can change that and do one before I am 50 (7 years).

Ragu, if you can stretch it out to 15 miles, you can probably do it.

Again, I haven't done this, but, my understanding is that it's mostly miles per week plus one long run that matters. But, even people who are training for a marathon don't do much more than 15 miles for their long run.

You can't train for a marathon by running 26 miles because it would take too much out of you and the recovery time would be too much.

The New York Road Runners is terrific. They have tons of competitive runs as well as training programs and group runs designed for people looking to run a marathon.

 

[playthrough]

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has a wonderful program called Team in Training that welcomes first-timers. They provide the coaching and pay your way to the marathon. In exchange, you raise money for them (and they help you with that, too).

http://www.teamintraining.org/firsttimehere/sportprograms/marathonshalfmarathons

It's apparently quite effective, too ... I know two girls who have done it and neither is what you would think of as athletic. (The following are not value judgments, but simply observations of two friends and their fitness levels) One is reasonably in shape, but she's about 6-feet tall, all arms and legs and had never participated in a sport of any kind. The other is actually still fairly overweight, but she's done two (D.C. and New Orleans, I think).

Team in Training is a fantastic group. That said, they are very adamant about the fundraising portion of their project (I want to say it's a $1,500 minimum of funds you have to raise). Friends that have run for TinT have said the money part is more difficult than the running part.

They're a rather passionate bunch. Can't bash them too hard, of course, since their bottom line is a helluva lot of money raised. But some chapters are borderline insane. I covered running at a former shop and once the TinT folks got their hooks into you they wouldn't leave you alone. I guess that helps them raise money.

 

[John]

I came up with my own training program. I basically ran six days a week, with runs of 5-10 miles each afternoon Monday-Friday and a longer run on Saturday morning. I never did more than 20 miles on the longer runs, and I only did two or three of those, with the last coming three weeks before the race.

The first one I did was at Kiawah Island, near Charleston, and it was pretty miserable. The field was only about 300, the course was flat but incredibly boring with no atmosphere or people around. I'd recommend something like the Marine Corps Marathon in DC for your first one. That was my favorite because of the crowds and marching bands playing at each mile marker, and it was neat to run through the city.

 

[Precious Roy]

A what? [/leaguejokenobodygets]

 

[RickStain]

A what? [/leaguejokenobodygets]

Got it. It was awesome.

 

[trifectarich]

It's nice to set your goals high (Boston), but get through 26.2 miles first and see if you like it.

I'd second the notion of joining a local running club. I always found it advantageous for several reasons. You have company and someone to chat with, but more important, there's always someone faster than you and you can use that for better training. Get two pairs of good shoes and alternate them on a regular basis. Plan for a MINIMUM of three or four months of good training and more than that if you're starting at Square 1 with no current running base.

Depending on what else is going on in your life (job, family, other commitments), yes, you might have to train early in the morning. Been there, done that; it's no fun running at 4 a.m. on a miserably frigid morning in the Northeast in January (but being done with your running before 5 o'clock is a wonderful feeling.)

You can probably go onto the Runner's World website and download a daily running schedule; they used to have several to choose from.

You can do this if you want to. But it's not easy. Good luck.

 

[eclapt44]

Runners World has a 12-week plan that I've used for both of the marathons I have run... I ran a 3 hrs 11 mins, 37 secs for my last one

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-244--9215-4-1X2X3X5-5,00.html

 

[Smallpotatoes]

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has a wonderful program called Team in Training that welcomes first-timers. They provide the coaching and pay your way to the marathon. In exchange, you raise money for them (and they help you with that, too).

http://www.teamintraining.org/firsttimehere/sportprograms/marathonshalfmarathons

It's apparently quite effective, too ... I know two girls who have done it and neither is what you would think of as athletic. (The following are not value judgments, but simply observations of two friends and their fitness levels) One is reasonably in shape, but she's about 6-feet tall, all arms and legs and had never participated in a sport of any kind. The other is actually still fairly overweight, but she's done two (D.C. and New Orleans, I think).

Team in Training is a fantastic group. That said, they are very adamant about the fundraising portion of their project (I want to say it's a $1,500 minimum of funds you have to raise). Friends that have run for TinT have said the money part is more difficult than the running part.

They're a rather passionate bunch. Can't bash them too hard, of course, since their bottom line is a helluva lot of money raised. But some chapters are borderline insane. I covered running at a former shop and once the TinT folks got their hooks into you they wouldn't leave you alone. I guess that helps them raise money.

Six years ago I did a marathon for a similar group. The fundraising was a *****. I imagine now, with the economy in much worse shape, it's even tougher.
I'm glad I did it and the cause was and is a meaningful one to me, but I'm not sure I'd do it again.
Some of the lessons learned:
1). Fundraising is tough, no matter how easy they try to make it sound. I also need richer friends.
2). I was not ready for a marathon. I followed the training plan and I finished the race, but I walked most of it. I had lost a lot of weight the year before and thought I'd be ready, but every time I tried to step up the running, my knees complained. If I had it to do over again, I'd start with a 5k and only attempt a marathon after a few years and several 5ks, 10ks and a half-marathon or two.

 

[micropolitan guy]

I did four. Long runs on the weekends, gradually building up to 3-4 20-milers (every other week), with a 10-15 miler on Wednesdays, one speed workout (800 or 1200 intervals), and a day off each week. Start your taper about two weeks before the event, and you should be fine. Just start the race out slow; the biggest mistake for first-time marathoners is going out too fast.

I was always in great shape but my body wasn't built for marathons; I could run a 35-minute 10K but never broke 3:20 for a marathon.

I have no idea where you live but Grandma's Marathon in Duluth is outstanding.