Your debut marathon training and how you did...

Spring track season, then threw just more miles (60+) in during the summer. Took it easy and finished in 2:42h. Don't remember about tune up races but in that spring I think I ran a 15:40 track 5000. So I guess the Marathon could be considered a sub par performance but then again, it was one of the very few marathons where I didn't go for burn/crash. Good times.

Had never run more than 35 MPW. Bumped it up to about 50 MPW in marathon training. Smoked a 3:03.

28 miles per week from November to February - I was a sophomore in high school - 14 mile long run, ran 2:54. Came through 20 in 2:08, thought "the wall" was a myth, hit 22 and realized they just moved it back a couple miles. Really felt that last 4 miles. I was racing 34 minute 10ks that winter. I would not recommend this marathon training plan for anyone.

When I did mine I was 3 years removed from college running but had kept miles going just not workouts.

Average for the 24 weeks leading up to the race was 48.5mi.

One long run of 18mi @ 6:18 pace. Maybe 3 track workouts and a few to pace this fast girl who was training for the same race.

Mainly raced my way into shape...looking back it wasn't the best training I could have done.

Two half-marathons, 10miler , 5miler 2-5k's.

Best thing I did do was change my diet and drop down to the point where I was at my old racing weight. Weight is a big deal in the marathon.

2:36:12- At mile 4 the half-marathoners and two marathoners pulled away. After mile 5 I did the same. The pace had been too fast earlier. Ended up catching the guy in 2nd place by mile 24. Threw in 4 surges in the last two miles because I was imagining that guy creeping up on me....wasn't in my right mind.

Good Luck best advice I can give you is that no matter how good you feel stick with the pace you know you can hold. It always feels too easy for the first 8 miles or so.

Tony Soprano wrote:

Letsrun,

Can you explain a little of your training leading up to a marathon and what you ended up running? Maybe some races you ran leading up, too?

I'm about to tackle a Northeast marathon in a few weeks, my debut, and I'm curious to see what other people have done for their debut training and how it worked out.

Thanks!

I considered my debut to be Boston though I ran two marathons in preparation. I had to run at least one to qualify:

Which marathon are you running? I want to run my first one hopefully in 2011. Preferably Eugene in May, but it depends on how healthy I am. I'm in the process of figuring out the right training plan.

Philadelphia Marathon. Like 20 days left and I'm LOSING MY F'IN MIND! I can't think about anything else and I expect it's only going to get worse...