My first marathon...

[steve]

...is going to be in Las Vegas on December 10th, 2006.
Just registered tonight. 158 days to go!

Training.. I will be following this training schedule created for NYC marathon participants (most likely authored by bob or shelly glover):
http://www.nycmarathon.com/training/...irst_print.php

It wants you to have a 15 mile per week base before starting the 18-week marathon build-up & taper, peaking at 35 miles per week. With 23 weeks til the marathon, and just now getting to 15 miles/week on my normal fitness running, the timing couldn't be better - exactly one month before I'd have to start that schedule for LV.

psyched!!
I have the maggot community to thank for the motivation, by the way (especially one maggot - you know who you are.)

-steve

[BeanDip4All]

Steve, you rogue... you only picked LV marathon for the after-party.

Way to go on signing up!!

[steve]

ooh, post-race parties..

I think I'll be dead by December 11th. (:

[yentna]

Congrats, I just ran my first half-marathon recently, it was such a blast! Super exhausted since I only started running last fall, and mildly, but it was a great experience. Hard to imagine running twice that distance.....way to go!

[Tuckerman]

Way to go mang. I just registered for the Jay Mountain Half Marathon there idea of half is 18.5 miles and the full is 30 miles up Jay Peak down the other side up a river and thru the woods. Good luck.

[Tuckerman]

So the race will be the first time you run over 20 miles?

[steve]

So the race will be the first time you run over 20 miles?

Yeah.. there is some controversy about this and how long your "long runs" should be.. this coach feels that, for beginners, 20 miles is fine.

[mnflyfish]

Steve,

Congrats on taking the leap. I too have my first marathon coming up in Oct., the Twin Cities 25th Annual Marathon. I completed my first half marathon in June, and I'm back on the training program working towards Oct 1st.

Enjoy yourself, it's actually kind of fun to train with a major goal in the back of your head. Makes those long runs on days you don't feel like running a little easier.

Good Luck,
Jay

[Daywalker]

I did my first marathon this spring (Spirit of St. Louis) following Hal Higdon's novice program:
http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/Mar00novice.htm

It worked out well and the longest prerace run for me was 18 miles. I decided to skip the 20 mile run week to go skiing for spring break. I feel I made the right decision on that one. The training for me was a blast, and a good step towards more athleticism in the future (have 2 more marathons lined up this fall, planning for a HIM in spring). It helps a TON if you have some running buddies. They keep you a little slow on long runs by talking, and you don't get to quit or let them quit during the race.

[elevens]

I'm running the NYC marathon this year.......and hoping to pass Lance and give him the over the shoulder are you coming look

Seriously - congrates and good luck. I'm training/shooting for a sub 4 marathon and will be happy just to finish. Only 3 more months of training left.

elevens

[steve]

I'm running the NYC marathon this year.......and hoping to pass Lance and give him the over the shoulder are you coming look

Seriously - congrates and good luck. I'm training/shooting for a sub 4 marathon and will be happy just to finish. Only 3 more months of training left.

elevens

Thanks..
NYC was my first choice. I entered the lottery, but wasn't picked.
The extra month of training before LV will help anyway.

-steve

[Tuckerman]

Im going to try that short run day after a long run day you got going. I ran a race on the 4th it was 5 miles and I ran to the race which was 8 miles so I have throw my traning all off wack and now I am just winging it.

[Tuckerman]

Happy tapper Steve.

[steve]

thanks..
i've been slacking on my training since the half-marathon..
but I'll still be there!

-steve

[BeanDip4All]

I'm running the NYC marathon this year.......and hoping to pass Lance and give him the over the shoulder are you coming look

Hey Elevens, how did this go?

[mnflyfish]

Steve,

I've heard great things about the LV Marathon. Aside from all the stuff to do around the event, the course is nice and flat, the weather that time of the year is about perfect, and I believe you get an Elvis singing at every MM. What more could you want! Oh, and I second the great advice on this board, Tacoma, Viva, etc. Would have had a hell of a time without their help and advice!

Good Luck with your first, expect to have a full blown addiction afterwards. I just knocked off my first at the Twin Cities in Oct, and not a day has gone by where I haven't thought about it. I've had a series of bronchial/colds/flu over the last 30 days so I haven't been running as much as Iwould have liked, but I'll be hitting the road pretty soon to start the training for the next one.

Congrats on registration. Once I sent that email and CC payment off it became real, as did the anxiety, am I training enough, too much, God I hope I don't get hurt before, etc. The registraion is a great motivator though, use it to get yourself out on the road when it's 10 below and windy, or when you had a few too many the night before, or when you hit the food too hard at the Christmas party. So GET OUT THERE AND RUN!!!

Good Luck,
Jay

[mnflyfish]

Oh, crap! I just noticed I already posted to this before. Well, welcome to the taper Steve! Good Luck in Vegas!
Jay

[elevens]

Hey Elevens, how did this go?

I reached my goal - the finish line in under 4 hours (3:51:47). I slept for a week and still feel the pain.

[BeanDip4All]

I reached my goal - the finish line in under 4 hours (3:51:47). I slept for a week and still feel the pain.

That's awesome!! GREAT time!!

[asandygal]

I'm contemplating my first 1/2 marathon this coming weekend... (Dec 2nd) the "Red County Half Marathon" in Irvine, CA.

The "red county" thing kinda turns me off... but I have been running a lot lately and since Mammoth has been so snow-less, I think I might give it a try.

Any advice for a gal for the week prior to a race? Food??? Mileage??? Etc.???

Anybody else out there interested???

[Viva]

^^^ My first race was in Irvine. The Bastille Day 8K back in 1980-somethingoranother.

"Red County"...Irvine sucks as badly as it did when I lived there.

[Daywalker]

Any advice for a gal for the week prior to a race? Food??? Mileage??? Etc.???

If you're one week away, no additional training will help you. Rest. That is the best thing you can do. Run a few miles (2) two days before the race to keep your legs loose. I fyou abdolutely have to, you can run a mile or two on other days, but no long runs. Get your legs fresh.

As for food, you can eat normally, just don't have anything that you normally wouldn't or anything that you know can cause gastric distress. The only things worse than long runs are long runs with diarrhea.

[mnflyfish]

What daywalker said plus HYDRATION!!!! Hit the water, carry your nalgene with you like a tourist. I always seem to under-hydrate, start no later than Wed. As for food, you could hit a higher carb meal the night before but nothing over blown. A half isn't quite the carb drain so just a good balanced, "regular" meal should be fine, maybe add a few rolls or biscuts to the table.

On race day, have you used any Gu or gels? If you have then take a couple in your pocket, if you haven't ignore this. I also like a Jolly Rancher or two on a longer run. Just enough sugar to give me a little extra after 10 miles. Again, it's a little too close to therace to experiement but maybe for future races. You're going to have fun with this so expect this to be your first of many.

Good Luck,
Jay

[asandygal]

Thanks to you all for the advice. I have run a few 10ks... and I know how addicting they can be when the snow is not flying.

It's amazing how much torture we put ourselves through when there are not easily accessible slopes (i.e. hiking for turns... running 1/2 marathons... to stay in shape...)

Never having run one I guess my goal is under two hours...........?????? Am I dreaming?????

[elevens]

That's awesome!! GREAT time!!

Thanks