You know, once I am done training for this stupid marathon, I am done. I quit.

do shorter distances. 5k's 10ks…although training for speed can be hard on the body too. It's just not as long so you can handle the pain for a 6 mile run rather than a 26 miler. Good luck, we've all been there.

fisky wrote:

Camus wrote:

Marathon training is a grind. (To say nothing of the race itself.) Focus on shorter stuff and forget the arbitrary notion that the marathon is the pinnacle of distance running.

This.

I'm with these guys. Never understood the mare fetish. Can anyone explain it using logic and reason?

Ca$hclay wrote:

fisky wrote:

This.

I'm with these guys. Never understood the mare fetish. Can anyone explain it using logic and reason?

Logic and reason don't exist on the LRC boards

I'm pretty much in the same mindset as OP. I'm gonna pick up my bib on Saturday, run a hard 13.1 on Sunday, maybe jog another 1 or 2, and then pack it in. Gonna take at least 8 weeks off after that and the see where I'm at mentally.

The only thing tempting me at this point is i hit a new age group next year, and a BQ is eminently attainable

Camus wrote:

Marathon training is a grind. (To say nothing of the race itself.) Focus on shorter stuff and forget the arbitrary notion that the marathon is the pinnacle of distance running.

Correct. 'Thons are career killers. Not that running was your career, but you know what I mean.

So, I ran the marathon. I never, ever run with headphones and guess what I did? I took my iphone and put in the headphones. Bad attitude. Serves me right.

Finished in a respectable time. However, by mile 6 my knee started to hurt. Not the throbbing pain you get around the lower part of the knee every so often, but a sharp, hammer on the bone pain you get when you whack it with a roofing hammer.

A week later and I am still in pain.

I haven't run a bit since and I have hit the bike maybe six times. No big deal as I didn't sprint much.

So, what's up with the knee?

Camus wrote:

Marathon training is a grind. (To say nothing of the race itself.) Focus on shorter stuff and forget the arbitrary notion that the marathon is the pinnacle of distance running.

This is what I've learned the past 5 years and I'm much happier for it. Ran a few marathons including Boston and I rarely got the satisfaction out of it that I got from winning some neighborhood 5k. And the training was numbing. At near 40 years old, I train for the mile and 5k and I'm happier.

Sub135 wrote:

So, what's up with the knee?

Pretty much this:

Camus wrote:

Marathon training is a grind. (To say nothing of the race itself.) Focus on shorter stuff and forget the arbitrary notion that the marathon is the pinnacle of distance running.

I agree.

Yep, that about sums it up, "incurable shitty ankle."

NJ Possible wrote:

Camus wrote:

Marathon training is a grind. (To say nothing of the race itself.) Focus on shorter stuff and forget the arbitrary notion that the marathon is the pinnacle of distance running.

This is what I've learned the past 5 years and I'm much happier for it. Ran a few marathons including Boston and I rarely got the satisfaction out of it that I got from winning some neighborhood 5k. And the training was numbing. At near 40 years old, I train for the mile and 5k and I'm happier.

I think you're on to something. Especially about the numbing part. I may give the marathon one more shot though, shooting for a BQ next year in a new age group. After that, I am done with it. Then I will try and break 70 again for 400, and sub 21 for 5k

bring back the mile

Do something different.

Break 20 for the 5km before tackling the marathon.

Otherwise, you're just slogging and suffering on all those long training runs.

IMO, one shouldn't do a marathon unless you have a reasonable chance of going under 3:30 the first time (under age 50).

Not a popular opinion though because it doesn't make money for the marathon "industry".

Top Noticer wrote:

there is simply no way to have a meaningful life and train adequately for such a distance unless you're just jogging it for fun.

This has to be acknowledged. There is simply no way for a hobbyist to get enough mileage in to give the marathon a fair shot.

For those that like to run long, 30k and 20 milers need to become more of a thing.

Good observations here...especially in regard to the marathon.

speed before endurance wrote:

Do something different.

Break 20 for the 5km before tackling the marathon.

Otherwise, you're just slogging and suffering on all those long training runs.

IMO, one shouldn't do a marathon unless you have a reasonable chance of going under 3:30 the first time (under age 50).

Not a popular opinion though because it doesn't make money for the marathon "industry".

fisky wrote:

Camus wrote:

Marathon training is a grind. (To say nothing of the race itself.) Focus on shorter stuff and forget the arbitrary notion that the marathon is the pinnacle of distance running.

This.

Seriously. It seems like every running magazine (yeah, all two of them) just pushes harder and harder for EVERYONE to do a marathon, which results in people that should most definitely not do a marathon signing up anyways. It seems like runners don't understand that going further and further isn't the answer. I wish people would start with a 5k or something, get to the point where they can REALLY RACE the WHOLE thing, and then if you REALLY want to, move up in distance. I don't want to seem like an elitist dick, but a race is a is a place to compete.

Besides, you can do 5k after 5k, weekend after weekend without having to take weeks off after the race. I'm never going to do a marathon because if I race, I want to do it right and I can't be bothered to go over 105 mpw for like 3 months in a row.

wow

Excellent points here, though one does not have to do 105mpw to put in a respectable marathon perfprmance. For those under age 40 (or 35), I can understand what you are saying in this regard. I think, though, a smart 40+ guy can put in a respectable performance on 60-70mpw. I agree with your other points. Certainly, the marathon is not for everybody. I have never run that distance, but perhaps, if I am ready someday, I will.