Calves destroyed in Marathon

you should never run a marathon in a pair of shoes you haven't used before in a long run, if that's what you're asking. that could be the reason for your troubles.

I currently wear both/either shoes for uptempo days and have done some longer runs in them as well.

You hit the wall, that's all. How hard you hit it will determine if you can aim for a realistically good time in Oct. Only you know. Probably quite a bit of muscle breakdown went on, and if you are trying to run through it, it may take a long time to get over.

It''s possible to buy new shoes one day and race in them the next... assumes you're well-trained and biomechanically sound.

Sounds like you need to work on your fuel efficiency, but that might have to wait till complete muscle repair is complete.

I guess all that didn't help worth a crap... but maybe help you to think about what to do next. It's not about strrength, it's about fuel economy, so forget calf exercises.

I don't agree, sore calves are not always a result of hitting the wall. You can get sore calves very early in a race.

"It''s possible to buy new shoes one day and race in them the next... assumes you're well-trained and biomechanically sound."

True. What I meant to say that you shouldn't be training in one type of shoe then switching to another for a 26 mi race. Still, I'd never buy any new shoe the day before a marathon if I'd never run in that style before even if it is the same type.

I had this same issue on my first road marathon attempt in Chicago a couple of years ago. I chalked it up to not doing enough running (especially race specific) on pavement. I'm also a bigger guy (I'm 6'3" and was probably 167# then) which may play a part. When I run another road marathon, I'll probably put in a little more training in on the roads, but I'll still try to limit it (no use in getting too beat up and not making it to the starting line). So I'll probably do some of my long runs, some of my marathon pace runs, some of my tempo runs, and some of my intervals on the pavement. Also, I would suggest training enough in a pair of racing flats so that you're ready to race in them on race day. If you're running sub 2:40, you should certainly be able to race in racing flats. Good luck in your preparation.

BDG

Read again. These are not his first marathons. In the 2 that he raced, he got sore calves. Apparently this did not happen to him when he ran slower.

If he was used to sore calves in races he would have said so. It would appear they are not a problem at shorter distances...

We have to assume that the sore calves is linked to his running faster in these 2 marathons... ergo... he hit the wall.

You are correct that I didn't have the problem when I ran a couple others in regular training shoes (Pegasus/Structure Triax) in 3 hours. But in the two that I pseudo-raced it seemed like it began to develop fairly early (14-15) and got progressively worse. It isn't a problem to run 15 miles at 6:00 pace. So you recommend better fueling?

Better aerobic training (first) and then better fuelling for race day. Start by running long repeats (3k, building to 5k) at 15-20 secs /mile slower than Mar-pace. Maybe start with 4 x 3k (with 2 mins jog break) and then build to 5 x 3k. When you can finish that session knowing you could do more, then start with 2 x 5k, and (slowly) build to 4 x 5k by a month from race day. Again, finish the session knowing you could do more, even though it's a normal training night with no taper, etc.

Do such a session once per week. Go 2hrs on Sun and (maybe) 2hrs 20 on alternate Sundays.

Other than that, lots of easy miles with the odd (maybe every 2-3 weeks) 10k-10 mile race for faster than Mar-pace training. Substitute the race for the long rep session and keep all else the same that week.

You wanna be running consistent 80-90 mpw. Maybe a touch more if you can handle it... you don't give your recent mileage.

Do that for 3 months you should be in fine shape. Then it'll be up to you to see whether you should race.

Then get yourself a good carbo-loading prog on race day.

add heel lifts to your shoes, helps alot.