Guys, this thread is ancient. The original poster finished his marathon 4.5 years ago. I don't think he needs any more commentary or advice.
Guys, this thread is ancient. The original poster finished his marathon 4.5 years ago. I don't think he needs any more commentary or advice.
Hilarious! I doubt if anyone noticed the original date.
Guys, this thread is ancient. The original poster finished his marathon 4.5 years ago. I don't think he needs any more commentary or advice.[/quote]
This was/is FUNNY.... Who cares if it's "out-of-date". I'll be running LA Marathon this weekend (without a lot of training).
Ex_XCountry & Track wrote:
Guys, this thread is ancient. The original poster finished his marathon 4.5 years ago. I don't think he needs any more commentary or advice.
This was/is FUNNY.... Who cares if it's "out-of-date". I'll be running LA Marathon this weekend (without a lot of training).[/quote]
Stick with the tried and true race plan: Go out slow, then ease off the pace.
As for the OP, since he hadn't run a step at all, he may not only not have finished, he may still be out there, frozen in time.
Actually, I was replying to "rsbones" who made the original quote about "....thread is ancient..." above.
I still think this whole link is very funny and appropriate for anyone who wants to try something they've never done before. They may hurt like hell the next day, but I think a lot of runners over-estimate the difficulty of finishing a marathon. I remember a friend asking me if a particular hilly course we ran was as hard as when I ran in school (1/2 mile & XCountry). I had to remind him that I was "racing" then, now 30+ years later, any course distance + steepness can't seriously compare. Hey, the OP may even pass me this weekend in LA (as long as he finished his original course).
I too plan on running the LA marathon this weekend, only about 10 mpw training. Maybe we'll struggle together.
It's me, John Z. I just now finished the marathon. My chip time was 39,360:52:xx. I think the hardest part was when I passed out around Mile 8, couldn't remember who I was when I woke up, and then just kinda lived on that street in LA for a couple of years.
But then just like they say, I caught my second wind, and was able to finish the last 10K in just over a year. Thanks again for all the advice and well-wishes. I'm thinking of trying Chicago this fall -- maybe I'll break the vaunted 5,000 hour mark this time.
-- John Z.
Does anyone know if they regulate the sub-3 and sub-4 hour corrals at the start as they claim (need wrist band)? The main corral starts at 8 min pace, so I don't know where I should stand if I plan on going 3:10. I've never ran a marathon before so I couldn't submit a qualifying time.
bump
no you should not, heres why:
The best troll of all time. People bumping this after 5 years...jeez. "Great upper body strength"...using the term "miles a week". Clearly trollin.
11/10
R U Kidding Me? wrote:
John Z,
This is absolute crap. You insult all of us who have been marathon training for months, through all the ups and downs, with your questions. I would rather get injured training 80+ miles a week and not run the marathon than simply finish with your approach. There is no pride in what you are doing. They have made some marathons into such carnivals, which supports John Z's attitude. This sport is about reaching your potential as an athlete, not being the center of attention for the spectators that gasp, "I could never do that!" If I am wrong, then tell me why else you would be crazy enough to run 26.2 completely out of shape...
ha ha, you're a douche.....get over your bad self.
I'M DOING IT! D2D0D!
Walk as much you can. It´s dangerous to run a marathon without training.
Oh sorry, I noticed that this thread is OLD. I hope you`re still alive.
Let me try again.
Oh sorry, I noticed that this thread is OLD. I hope you`re still alive.
Let me try again and again and again...
Oh sorry, I noticed that this thread is OLD. I hope you`re still alive.
Yes, this is an old post, however, there are probably alot of runners now in a similar situation. They feel like their in good enough shape to run a marathon because they bike alot. This is a quote from a well known biker after finishing his first marathon. "I think I bit off more then I can chew" (Lance Armstrong). So if you want to be in a world of hurt (even if you go out slow) then go for it. However, I wouldn't do it. Instead, run some shorter races like 5-K's first, then 10-K's and so on and gradually work your way up. Alot of world class runners start out with the mile, 5-K, etc. run fast times (3:50, 13:00) and don't attempt the marathon for years, and when they do they will often run times most of us won't see in our lifetimes (2:12 or better).
I actually am going to attempt to run a marathon tomorrow on ZERO training. I'm an ultracylist, completed the Furnace Creek 508 a couple months ago, and usually ride about 120 - 150 miles/week when I don't have an event (which may range in distance from 200K to 1200K). I fully recognize the absolute stupidity of this attempt.
My significant other has properly trained for the marathon (her first, the California International Marathon in Sacramento). Her friend, who has run a number of marathons, signed-up but couldn't make it. So we picked-up her race packet so she'd at least get her T-shirt. Realizing we also had her race number, the stupid plan was hatched. We did not pick-up her timing chip, and regardless, I will not cross the finish line even if I make it that far.
I used to be a runner, but haven't run in four or five years, and the longest event I ever did was a half-marathon about 15 years ago. I am currently 46 years old.
So we'll see how cycling fitness may translate. I can ride 350+ miles in 24 hours without sleeping. We'll see if I can run 26 miles in 4.5 - 5 hours.
OK, in case anyone cares or sees this...
Ran the marathon yesterday. I didn't follow the advice of "walk early and often" because I wanted to run with my girlfriend. I could feel the pounding, so to speak, within a couple miles. The outside of my right knee (IT band) started hurting somewhat at mile 8. We came through the half-marathon in either 2:02 or 2:04. Started slowing down at mile 15, and had to let my GF go. By mile 16, knee hurt so much that I had to start mixing walking with jogging. This ratio would vary to the end of the "race", from 100 steps running with 30 walking, to 25 or 30 steps running with 15 to 20 walking, and back to 50-60/20-25.
Had one stretch at about mile 18 where I had to walk for probably five minutes as the outside of my leg would kind of seize if I tried to run. Through the last 10 miles, my calves really started to ache, and my "running" eventually became more like a shuffle, but still a good bit faster than walking (and I was walking pretty quickly).
Anyway, did finish, in 4:44. GF, finished in 4:14, feeling good in her first marathon. I was obviously not an official finisher since I didn't pick-up the timing chip or run through the finish chute since I was wearing the number of my GF's friend who couldn't make it. But the time would have put me about 390th out of 495 in the Male 45-49 age group. Had I followed the "walk early and often" advice, I think I would have felt better, and maybe been 15 minutes faster.
So, bottom line is it can be done, but you will pay the price. I'm incredibly sore, and any kind of perambulation is extremely painful. But it will pass within a few days.
For those that will say I'm a fool, you won't get an argument from me. And for those who might have a "problem" with it, all I can say is you shouldn't have a problem with someone choosing to do things in their own way if they're going in "eyes wide open", which I was. And I will say I have the greatest respect for anyone who runs marathons -- they are incredibly tough on the body (saw plenty of what appeared to be experienced marathoners walking around gingerly at the finish). My advice, get a bike! ;-)