Things I learned during my first Marathon

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2006-08-13 9:30 AM

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Expert
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Durham, CA
Subject: Things I learned during my first Marathon

I found this document this morning, while doing some file clean-up on my computer.  I wrote these down the day after the Napa Valley Marathon that I did earlier this year.  I thought that this might be of interest to someone looking to do their first 26.2.

Feel free to add your own "lessons learned".

 

  1. Race euphoria will not carry you through to the finish.  Training, on hills and long run distances in excess of 20 miles, will help carry you through.
  2. Rain is not a big problem.  Wear a rain poncho the first mile or so, then strip it off once you warm up.  If temperature is above freezing, you will be fine.
  3. Rain can create issues for your feet.  Use good, thick socks, and lots of foot powder to keep blisters to a minimum.  Maybe a little body glide on the sides of your feet only.
  4. 18 weeks is not really long enough to train to run a marathon quickly.  It will allow you to finish, but not at a sub four hour race pace.
  5. Your feet, ankles, knees and hips are all going to hurt by the end of the race.  Plan on it, prepare for it, and get used to the idea.
  6. You will not be able to walk very well (if at all) at the end of the race.  Make sure you have a driver, and can get out and stretch every hour or so.
  7. GU stands for Gastrointestional Upset.  Make sure you have lots of ventilation for the trip home.
  8. Permanent maker is not permanent on Dri-fit shirts in the rain.  It will run and stain everything you have on.
  9. Walk when no one is looking, and run strong by the fans.  It makes both you and them feel better.
  10. The first two days after your marathon will be very painful.  Gently stretch, and take a couple of days off from work if possible to allow your body to recover.
  11. Take your gloves off before drinking Gatorade out of a cup, otherwise they will be very sticky for the remainder of the race.
  12. If nothing else, look good for the camera’s crossing the finish line.
  13. Wear a spiffy hat or visor if it rains.  It helps keep the rain off your face, and keeps you looking good (rather that the ratty stringy wet hair look).
  14. Compression shirts and Compression running shorts are invaluable, especially during rain events.  They virtually eliminate chafing issues.
  15. Males should use band-aids on two important friction points, to prevent painful chafing.
  16. If possible, find a hotel near the start of the event.  That eliminates the bus trip, and standing in the inclement weather for an hour or more.
  17. Sign up for your hotel early.  We reserved our room before the management knew that it was “race weekend”, and received a cheaper price, and one night rather than two night minimum.

Dennis

2006-08-13 10:05 AM
in reply to: #509988

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Champion
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Bellingham, Washington
Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon

Make sure you cross the finish line with the head up.  Don't worry about HRM or stopwatc.  5-10 seconds doesn't matter.

Also make sure you have your bib # on the front and it's readable.  Otherwise you have to sort through the lost and found photo section.

2006-08-14 8:31 AM
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Master
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New Jersey
Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon
Don't do anything differently than you did during your long training runs.

Fuel up plenty the night before. Just have your usual meal.

(In my case, both points are totally related - I took some last minute advice to go easy on meals the night before. That was stupid!!!)

And most importantly...Don't let a guy in a huge rhinoceros costume pass you by on mile 23!!
2006-08-14 9:22 AM
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Master
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Athens, Ga.
Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon

Buy and break in new shoes if you've already pretty much run the other, more comfortable ones into the ground (or washed them in the washing machine, which I found out later takes miles and miles off your shoes).

Encourage others as you pass them (even if you're on mile 16 and they're on mile 23). It'll make the race go by better and help keep your mind off the pain. 

If you're used to carrying a water bottle with you for long runs, carry it with you on race day. I made this mistake and relied on water stations... 

2006-08-14 9:51 AM
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Queen BTich
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Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon

Learn to love porta-potties.

I made no less than 6 porta-potty stops during my first one due to #7 hitting WAY too early.

2006-08-14 11:01 AM
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Pro
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Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon
Have comfortable shoes waiting for you at the finish line and some dry clothes.
Walking down stairs the first days after a marathon is not fun.
Write you name on your shirt, total strangers will cheer for you by name!
Wear a colored shirt so your friends and family don't have to find you in a sea of white t-shirts going by.
Don't run too fast off of the starting line.


"And most importantly...Don't let a guy in a huge rhinoceros costume pass you by on mile 23!!"

Did this happen in the NYC Marathon? This guy passed me too!!


2006-08-14 5:41 PM
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New user
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Detroit
Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon
well this thread makes me think one thing.......what am i getting myself into on Oct 29th....lol
2006-08-15 7:19 AM
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New user
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Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon
Use the following calculator to estimate what you are capable of:

http://www.mcmillanrunning.com/rununiv/mcmillanrunningcalculator.ht...

Entering a recent time into the 10K or Half Marathon field will predict your marathon capability. As always, this tool is only as good as your training. If you ran a 10K or HM during your training and continued your training in earnest than these calculators are amazingly accurate. Putting in you best 10K or HM from 10 years ago will provide little-to-know value.

As an example, I ran a 1:38:30 HM during my training for the 2005 Vermont City Marathon. If you enter that time into this calculator it estimates that I am capable of a 3:27:44 marathon ... I ran a 3:29. Pretty darn accurate and I used the tool to calculate my pace.

It took 4 marathons before I determined what pace I should shoot for ... this tool helped immensely.
2006-08-15 8:45 AM
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New user
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Detroit
Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon
that calculator is one of the coolest tools ive seen. it answered a bunch of questions for me. thanks for postin it
2006-08-15 9:07 AM
in reply to: #511945

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Cycling Guru
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Fulton, MD
Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon
- Don't decide a few weeks before the event as you start your taper that you can probably BQ even though you've spent the 15 weeks before then training for a 4-hour pace.

- (Related to above) Don't start the first part of the race at a 3:10 pace when you should really be running the 4:00 you trained for. Results in a LOT of walking in the last 5 miles .......

- Thank all the volunteers and police officers that you can.

(Oh, and I feel 18 weeks is plenty of time to train to break 4 hours, just maybe not enough to go for a BQ if you don't already have a strong distance background).
2006-08-15 9:10 AM
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Crystal Lake, IL
Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon

So, uh, I'm guessing it rained?

 

2006-08-15 9:18 AM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon
slow&steady - 2006-08-13 8:30 AM

Rain can create issues for your feet.  Use good, thick socks, and lots of foot powder to keep blisters to a minimum.  Maybe a little body glide on the sides of your feet only


I'm picturing all these first time marathoners going out and buying thick woolen socks....

Go to a running store and buy some socks that are designed to wick the moisture away from your feet. My preference is the WrightSock. If blistering is an issue for you they have some that are double layered.

Oh - and since you are buying new socks - make sure your shoes now fit your feet with these new socks on.

While there - pick up a tube of body glide and nipple guards.

Keep your toenails clipped short - this might help you avoid losing your blackened toenail a few weeks after your race.
2006-08-15 11:08 AM
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Master
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New Jersey
Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon
AbbieR - 2006-08-14 11:01 AM


"And most importantly...Don't let a guy in a huge rhinoceros costume pass you by on mile 23!!"

Did this happen in the NYC Marathon? This guy passed me too!!


Yep - that was NYC. i"ve since learned that there are a few of those runners who are trying to raise awareness for animals on verge of extinction. But, man, i was dying out there and to see this guy just really summed up my day. In hindsight, it's funny.
2006-08-17 9:31 PM
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Regular
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Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon

Thanks for sharing your tips. I am running a marathon on Dec 9th and Kiawah Island. I am already up to 23 miles of pain and by then I hope to have completed a couple of runs above 26.2 miles. At some point it has to stop hurting as I build up, right?

Run Forest Run!

Thanks Again!

2006-08-17 10:31 PM
in reply to: #515273

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Expert
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Durham, CA
Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon

From my limited experiance, the long runs do get easier....  But 26.2 is still a pretty long ways.  In a perfect world, I would probably ignore the experts, do a thorough gradual build, and run three or four runs at around 23 to 25 miles, so that the 26 mile run is not such a shock.

 

Good luck,

 

Dennis

2006-08-18 9:10 AM
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Expert
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Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon
It is true that there are only a few ways to sort of prepare yourself for what comes after mile 20...even elite runners will say it's hell on them, too.....that said, being out there 4-5 hours running is questionable benefit and not a lot of fun either....advice I have sought from strong marathoners suggest to learn to run the intermediate distance runs hard, so the 10-15 mile runs but at a much faster clip....they claim that builds better durability than being out there forever.....plus the recovery should be better...

2006-08-18 9:23 AM
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Resident Curmudgeon
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Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon

us50090 - 2006-08-18 9:10 AM It is true that there are only a few ways to sort of prepare yourself for what comes after mile 20...even elite runners will say it's hell on them, too.....that said, being out there 4-5 hours running is questionable benefit and not a lot of fun either....advice I have sought from strong marathoners suggest to learn to run the intermediate distance runs hard, so the 10-15 mile runs but at a much faster clip....they claim that builds better durability than being out there forever.....plus the recovery should be better...

Definitely agree, a weekly run of 10-15 miles at marathon pace or slightly better is of great benefit to me. I also try to run the last 25% of my "LSD" at marathon pace, to get those (relatively) fast twitch muscle fibers used to glycogen depletion.

Running 23-25 miles, especially if it takes you over four hours, is going to be counter-productive.

2006-08-18 9:47 AM
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Cycling Guru
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Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon
Also agree ..... my mid-week stuff is between 9 - 13 from now until my taper for my Nov. goal mary. with many of those being V02 and LT workouts while my peak LSD run is only 21 miles.

(Damn you Pfitzinger-Douglas for making me buy three pairs of shoes to train for one mary. ).
2006-08-18 10:04 AM
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Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon
Daremo - 2006-08-18 9:47 AM Also agree ..... my mid-week stuff is between 9 - 13 from now until my taper for my Nov. goal mary. with many of those being V02 and LT workouts while my peak LSD run is only 21 miles. (Thank you Pfitzinger-Douglas for allowing me wear out three pairs of shoes to train for one mary. ).
2006-08-18 1:11 PM
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Master
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Brooklyn, NY
Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon
I've read this applied to IM's but I take it to everything
"The only thing you can control at this point is your attitude"
2006-08-18 9:30 PM
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Veteran
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Atlanta
Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon
Sometimes they run out of stuff at the water stations...like the flavor of gel you prefer or the blue powerade and all they have left is lemon lime. Don't fixate on this, that part is over. Or worse, don't set your heart on the chocolate chip cookies at Hains Point (18 miles) at the Marine Corps Marathon. If they're gone, they're gone. Keep going.

Put your name on your shirt...You can use a Tyvek Fed Ex envelope and a laser jet printer to make it really nice, then it looks like an extension of your number. People will yell your name and it helps.

keep moving forward.

Above all, keep a sense of humor.

Edited by chop 2006-08-18 9:30 PM

2006-08-18 9:37 PM
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Veteran
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Atlanta
Subject: RE: Things I learned during my first Marathon
And terry cloth wristbands. Can't go long without 'em.

Drink the gatorade, dump the water on your head. Don't mix this up.

I have to bring a handkerchief because my running partner is disgusted by snot rockets. I think they're efficient.
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