Chicago Marathon : Official Thread

I am not a personal training, be warned.  It depends how much you've done to date and how far you've gone thus far.  I integrated a 16 week program into my tri training all along, so I have built my way up to now.  Last weekend was my longest - a 20 miler.  The next two weekends I am doing a 15 then back then 20 after that, then the rest decreases to the race.

If you go and do a huge jump in mileage based on your max so far you definitely increase your risk for injury - I would definitely figure out a way to to get up to at least 20 miles, and do it a few weeks before the race.

A plan I recommend for reference and I a following...
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-244--8257-1-1X2X3X4X5X6-7,00.html

Good luck.

How long were your previous long runs?

It may be helpful to split your long runs up. For example instead of pounding out an 18 miler. Do repeats of 6 miles with 10 minutes in between to stretch, hydrate, eat some calories and get your heart rate down (especially if you are a bigger guy). Being as there is only 4 weeks to go there isnt much point to "taper" but you should be well rested without any runs much more than 5-8 miles the last week, depending on what you are used to. A few long runs between now and then would be good, but don't over do it, and be sure to integrate a little speed and some easy short recovery days. Might want to try sets of 1 or 2 mile repeats ~30 seconds below pace goal with active recovery in between.

Hope that helps.

This is a really good advice, mixes endurance without beating yourself silly. 

yea, i would just second the note about being careful about too much too fast.  3 long runs a week is probs way too much and 2 long long runs is probably not even necessary.

oh you lucky people

I was  going through my training perfectly up until a month ago today (patellar dislocation and severe knee injury).  I have not been able to run since this month, just now have I been able to not walk with a limp.

It is probably the dumbest thing ever for me to do with 5 weeks untilt he marathon. I will probably have to watch this one.

Sorry to hear about that, geez that puts it into perspective.  How did it happen?

Just got back from racing IMOO..and have four weeks to get into marathon shape. Hopefully I still wont be going down stairs backwards. Good luck to you all!! This ones just for fun for me....going to be running wih my sister in law who tried to do her first marathon 2 yrs ago in Chicago and was forced to stop the race because of the heat.

I have had a prior knee injury from High school.  But...I was playing sand volleyball with my softball team and just happened to jump into the net and bump into a teammate.  My knee wentone direction, leg went the other.

oh no!  that's a major bummer!  are you going to have to have surgery?

I, all of the sudden yesterday, started having major pain in my sesamoid bone.  Had a sfx there and was out of running from 11/08-5/09...it just wouldn't heal.  Now i'm terrified that i'm re-broken.  Fingers crossed that it is just because of all the high heels I've been wearing to work.  No more heels for me, though.  Now, I'm just on a mission to make running shoes work with a suit in court.

Edited by pennylope 2009-09-16 7:15 AM

Ok - weather predictions  for 10/11/09 (or at the very least wishful thinking)...

66 deg F.,  medium overcast with a light breeze off the lake, no precipitation - all in favor say "aye".

Damn my first year in three not doing this race and it's supposed to be perfect instead of 100 and humid! Dangit all to heck!

fingers crossed that it stays like that!!!!!!!

Even though running for me is not an option I am still going/ starting/watching.I mean hell I paid might as well.

What time do you get to the start line? Figuring with that many people how long does it take to navigate to your spot. I am in corral B.

Edited by Decatur217 2009-10-03 8:42 AM

Are you planning to try and run it or are you just going to start?  If you are not going to actually run the race maybe you should move back to the open corral so you are not in the way of people who are in the seeded corrals and going for a PR.

I have not ran further than 4 miles in the last two weeks.  I really do not expect to go very far, but my runs are around 8 min pace which is the B-C corral.

By the time I actually will drop out it will be spread out. I know more people in the open so that is probably what I could ask at hte expo but what time do we get there sunday to line up?

Race start I believe is 7:30 AM this year (1/2 hr earlier I guess to get everyone going before it warms up), you should have received your race pamphlet by now - check that to make sure.

oops.  looks like that link didn't link to what it was supposed to...anyway weather.com says high of upper 40s for race day.  no sun.