Marathon Training Thread - Week Ending 4/18

I'm pretty early in my Chicago buildup, but reading everyone's race reports is getting me excited to get out of work and go for my second run today. I look forward to joining you all in this thread every week starting soon.

pablo - I was going to introduce myself in the village. I was sitting right next to bird/Jay and Mont, but when I went to go say Hi you were gone, missing.

Sorry you didn't have your stellar day, but I'm guessing you'll have many more ahead...

No doubt, Pablo.

So I was looking through the results... man, that really was painful. I think there were only 3 or so guys IN THE ENTIRE RACE who had a faster half split who ran slower then me. Wow. I wish I knew what caused the early cramping. My quads are SHOT today. I could easily say I went out too fast, but my first half splits were: 5:46, 5:49, 5:52, 5:52, 6:00, 5:59, 5:59, 6:02, 6:00, 6:06, 6:05, 5:56, 6:06. They don't seem aggressive in hind sight, and they definitely (for the first 10) felt really easy during the race.

Guess I just need to power on and make sure I have some better indicators of my fitness before Chicago. Hopefully I won't have such a crazy up and down buildup for this one.

Anybody else walking up stairs sideways? My quads feel like they are strapped in barbed wire.

Pablo, I'll echo others not to get too down. To bomb out in the last couple of miles and still run 2:37 is unbelievable on a second outing. I do wonder if you were dehydrated (20-40oz by most studies) or did not eat enough (sparing as much of your glycogen stores as possible). I blew up spectacularly in my first marathon at mile 18 thinking I was above gels and sports drinks and hobbled in at 3:02. You are def a sub-2:30 guy and your splits look pretty solid given your training. Just a thought. 3TM?

I was just clicking through marathon photos and I can already feel a little itch to start training for Chicago (and then I stand up and feel like tinman.)

Alright, I'll see if I can't add some details to the race. I should've remembered some of your guys' bib numbers for a hello and hi-five. That would've been great.

Original goal was 2:52:59, thought I was probably in 2:48-2:50 form. Finished in 2:50:51. I wouldn't have believed that was possible one yr ago, but now it's in the books baby.

Felt good at the start, took it out a little too slow at the gun but whatever. Was running with the Japanese guy dressed as Minnie Mouse for a while. There was a hippie dude running barefoot. It was fun to look around, check out all the kids wanting hi-fives and handing out orange wedges, the signs, the national guardsmen who were out. It was a beautiful day to be out in a race. Wellesley was incredible. I ran through there just smiling, it was awesome. One girl had a sign that read "Kiss me, I'm a senior". Sadly, I have no pics. One guy ran through with hi-fives and the pitch of the screaming went up a notch. You could still hear those ladies long after we'd passed on.

Hit the half in a PR, 1:24:40. Felt good, spot-on with the pacing. The crowds really started to build at 16mi where the first metro-stop was. I was scanning the crowd for my wife and began to realize the weight creeping into my legs. For some reason I just started to zone out on all those faces and the clapping and begin to not notice the runners I was passing or running with. I felt the strain in my legs on the hills but passed loads of guys that were beginning to move backwards. I didn't notice Heartbreak until we were on it. People had told me it was nothing, all hype, but it was pretty big. The crowd was just hollering and screaming at us. A couple of guys ahead of me just broke and started walking. It took me a moment after I'd passed them to think 'Did those guys just stop running?'. Wow.

After Heartbreak I started to worry that collapse wouldn't wait for 26mi. There was considerable carnage going on around us, people pulling out into the road to stretch a hamstring, people just stopping in the water stations to get their fluids down. Lots of people moving backwards. I had imagined myself smoking past all these guys after 30K and gaining strength from it, but instead it was freaking me out that somehow it was contagious and the legs weren't going to make it.

I looked up at one point and saw a sweet looking coed with a sign that read 'Run faster bitches'. That just cracked me up and I snapped out of it a little. Unacceptable level of speed - copy that. Some guy in front of me must've been wearing a Yankees hat, or Yankees shirt or something and the students at BC just laid into him. I was only running with him for a hundred yards or so, but he had to have been cursed at for the entire 26mi. Not clever taunts or curses, just hatred. I'm not sure what the motivation for that guy was.

AKMarmoset - I didn't hear you at 22man. That would've been awesome though. It was awesome to read that you saw us all go by. I was real focused at that point on the ground in front of me and the repetition of my foot-strikes. Just mentally willing the pace, clinging to the idea of breaking 2:50 and not burning up into a fireball of doom. The crowds at this point were just screaming. I was in serious pain, but it was incredible. Better than I would've imagined. I probably passed a couple hundred runners over the last three miles but it was a very fine line between the surrounding implosions and one of my own. Turning onto Boylston my watch read 2:48:30. I was flailing at top speed, trying not to fall flat on my face since the legs were getting wobbly. Checked my watch 30sec later and the finish line was no closer, so I knew it wasn't going to happen. Got passed by a guy that looked about 55+ and was fine with letting him go, then thought F* that, and kicked past him to the line. I know it's all chip time but my last memory of that race was not going to be some old guy pipping me at the line after running all that way. Had to go Clubber Lang on that dude.

So, strong race. Incredible experience. Great day. Congrats to all and best of luck to those running in the coming weeks.

mi 1 6:49 whoops

mi 2 6:20

mi 3 6:20

mi 4 6:20

mi 5 6:37

mi 6 6:26

mi 7 6:28

mi 8 6:29

mi 9 6:22

mi 10 6:31

mi 11 6:27

mi 12 6:27

mi 13 6:26

mi 14 6:28

mi 15 6:34

mi 16 6:21

mi 17 6:40

mi 18 6:46

mi 19 6:29

mi 20 6:44

mi 21 6:52 Heartbreak

mi 22 6:34

mi 23 6:43 this one had me worried

mi 24 6:33 I'm back! I'm also mostly blacked out

mi 25 6:34

mi 26 7:34 (6:18 pace) old guy punchout

Good job everyone. I'm looking forward to posting on this thread again soon...going to take another shot at sub 2:40 this fall.

Another wrote:

Motorbreath

I had a good race but not a great race. It still was a 3:21 PR, 6:09 faster than last year and 28 minutes faster than 2008. But I feel like I left time on the course which I think is better than blowing up.

be happy dude; I've been following your posts with some interest because I have the same goal of sub 2:50 but am aiming to do that in Chicago not Boston because I know from 5 Bostons that I don't handle the downhills so well . . . I ran 2:52 in Chicago last fall but only 2:56 in Boston Monday and I am happy with that, having utterly crashed in Boston with a 3:5x in 2008 and bounced back in 09 with a 2:58. So, my friend, life is GOOD!!!

How did Star of Keys run in Boston? I have been following this thread for awhile, and it looked like he was knocking out some really solid training weeks, but no reply as to his race.

That is one great race!... and your mile 5 is slow like everyone else's because that has the first uphill of any note- and into the wind Monday.

I really can't post my own race because it was so forgettable- totally blew up during and after mile 20- but that's to be expected when you go into a race having broken your arm 7 weeks before and hoping somehow you make up the lost training in the 4th through second weeks before- AND with not a single 20 miler in the cycle. Still, I made it to 35k faster than I ever did in my 2 previous Bostons- I just was cooked going up heartbreak- made the death walk/shuffle the final 4 miles. But I learned finally how to plan for Boston's hills- I'll nail it next time around.

Well, my Boston did not turn out as planned. Goal was sub 2:40. Finished in 2:47:27. Had a rough week with a cold, poor sleep/diet and family crisis, but I felt that my training was much better than my 2:42 from last spring (flat course). I tried to hold back early and went through half in 1:20:13. The plan was to hit half in 1:19:30, so I figured 2:40 was out, but could get a 2:41-2. Doors began falling off after 16; side stitch, sore legs, unable to take more gels (only took 2) because felt I would get sick. After the hills, I just wanted to finish and didn't think I would get under 2:50. As others have said, it was humbling.

Not sure what happened and still not sure what I would do different in preparation or in the race. Will chalk it up to one of those days. Planning on eating lots and drinking beer until next week before running again.

CTA - I wish I had a sub 2:40 time, but not yet. Still plan on getting it though. I do like your "2:40 plus age," but I was 41 last year when I ran 2:42. Maybe that should be my new goal first, then sub 2:40.

pablo - Had the same slow mile 5 and it did freak me out a bit. Actullay thought the mile marks were off, but this was Boston, not a local 5k.

mh - Agree with your assessment that 75mpw may not be enough. I averaged only sligtly more. Not sure where i could fit in any more tough. The undulating course does take something out of you.

2TM/3TM - Another Boston? Right now I cannot decide if I want to run a fast time on a flat course or redeem myself next year at Boston. I am disappointed in myself right now, but am already leaning towards the latter. Also agree the 59th street bridge is the worst hill in NY.

All others - It was fun following everyone and getting feedback on my own training. Not sure when/if my next marathon will be just yet, but will continue to follow along and try to post when I can.

arroyo runner wrote:mi 26 7:34 (6:18 pace) old guy punchout

So Im thinking of maybe signing up for BayState on 10.17 since that course should be faster than NY and Boston right? Though if the weather was like last year Id skip and concentrate on NYC on 11.7. If not Id go for it at BayState and treat NYC as the freak show/victory lap that it is.

And yes my legs are sore to the touch and going down stairs is horrible.

Man, I don't know how you guys can remember so many details about the race. Here's what I remember:

First half - Wow, this feels much harder than I'd like.

Newton hills - This is not so bad. I'm gonna hammer it home after cresting heartbreak.

Mile 22 - Here goes nothing!

Mile 23 to the finish - Really thinking about dropping out - legs hurt more than they ever have. I guess I'll try to hang in there and finish.

Below are my splits (I hit the lap button way late for 8):

1. 6:07

2. 5:57

3. 5:51

4. 5:49

5. 5:56

6. 5:53

7. 5:58

8. 6:16

9. 5:39

10. 6:00

11. 6:00

12. 5:55

13. 6:03

14. 6:05

15. 6:15

16. 6:03

17. 6:16

18. 6:24

19. 6:18

20. 6:34

21. 6:36

22. 6:07

23. 6:26 (nope - can't push anymore)

24. 6:23

25. 6:40

26. 7:59

I have to thank you all for posting on this thread. I've looked forward to reading all the posts each week and was very motivated.

Next up -

Goal Race: Philadelphia

Goal Time: sub 2:35

Another - That's a shame I just missed you. I went up to go to the bathroom and my buddy and I ran into some old teammates that I knew were running but lost contact with. I went back over to you guys and told Justin and Jay that I'd see them in the corral and went over to my new area. I was wondering if you'd be there, but I only knew Justin at that point and was introduced to Jay through him and had no idea who anyone else.

3TM - One of the guys that had a faster first half than you, then crashed and burned was my buddy who I traveled with. He was shooting for 2:40 originally, then proceeded to run 1:18/1:37. I know it's not much consolation, but try not to think about it too much. You know the old cliche that every athlete uses..."it is what it is"

arroyo - Great report! I love the way you tell your experiences. That guy w/ the Yankees hat must get motivation from all that cursing. I can't imagine being ridiculed like that for 26 miles. Boston College area had to have been the worst for him...when I passed through there, those guys were already blitzed and it was only going to get worse.

ebirt and VeganDude - Great races! Boston is an odd beast, you can have the absolute worst possible day and still want to come back and do it all again.

Yes, my legs are still completely trashed, though today they feel better than the past two days. It doesn't help that I live in a second story apartment with no elevator.

I'm 95% sure that Twin Cities is next up for me on 10/3/10.

Just got through the race reports. First of all, want to congratulate each and every one of you. Regardless of times, reckon it takes guts and serious mental fortitude to train like a maniac and then toe the line of the 26.2M monster. The reports have been inspirational reading and really make me want to run Boston again.

Pablo - 100% guts finish. Reckon that's a solid time on that course. Think the tenacity you showed in the last few miles was awesome.

Another - fine running. Really close to your target and would agree that Boston is ~3 mins slower than Chicago. That's still a lot to take off your PR, nicely done. Reckon there is a limit to improvement versus age, but I keep telling myself it's after 45 as I'll be 41 this year, so think you've got much more to come yet.

Arroyo - 7 min PR!!!!!!! Good lord, that's astonishing. Superb.

Track Meat - brilliant. Really impressed with your approach to the race and execution. Very wise racing.

brett_j - mate, you were a mile under your target. You totally crushed sub-3. Very well run.

2TM/3TM - another really gutsy performance. Well done on sticking it out and seeing it through, sounds damn painful to me.

AJ - can we change your name to "Mr Metronome"? Astonishingly even pace and well, well under your target. Fantastic running.

Vegan Dude - that's a huge chunk to take off your PR. Congrats.

mh - that's a great time and although it might not have been what you were after is something many, many people would be envious of.

Pittsburgh Joe - you kicked ass! Fantastic running, superb splits, quality marathon.

Old Town - genuine guts for seeing it through.

Sorry if I've missed anyone. Again, awe-inspiring stuff chaps, has me really stoked for Berlin.

I just came across this:

http://jimrhoades.com/10/boston/

Check it out. I found about 6 pics of myself. Jim Rhoades, wherever you are. You are the man.

Thanks, Marmite! I agree, everyone deserves a huge congrats for running gutsy races. And thanks to everyone for sharing their training, the hi's and the lo's. I am def going to keep posting as I plan for Chicago.

What marathon do you think is faster/better ING Hartford or BayState?

Ha ha - do Baystate! Kidding, I don't know, haven't done Hartford. But I heard it was good.

Hey Pablo, funny - Whirlaway, those guys are my teammates!

Arroyo, man that's a tough race you ran.

I just want to say congrats to you and others on this board. I have thoroughly enjoyed following you all. Your dedication, positive attitude and stellar workouts are very inspiring. Keep up the excellent work!