A friend suggested I do a Q&A about my marathon experience- especially as a first-timer.
So, ask away- Questions about hydration, bathroom breaks on the run, what I ate the night before... I will answer anything. I still can't believe I ran 26.2 Saturday.
And yes, I'll run another one. Hopefully the St. Jude Memphis Full (I did the St. Jude half last year) next December.
Thank you to my dad for documenting this day. UNBELIEVABLE.
My year of training has led me to this. The County Music Full Marathon. Click here to have pity/view the course. Thanks to my running buddies and runnersworld.com, I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be. As I'm preparing for the big one this week, I ran across a great checklist (for those of you going or racing at all this year):
Running shoes Comfortable socks Lightweight shorts or pants depending on the weather on race day Lightweight and breathable top depending on the weather on race day Hat Sunglasses Additional clothing if you plan to leave extra clothing at the finish line Watch with the ability to take splits Heart rate monitor if you plan to use one during the race Identification Any paperwork required for check-in Race number if it was mailed to your prior to the race or if you picked it up at a pre-race check-in event Race belt if you intend to use one in place of safety pins to secure your race number Timing chip if it was mailed to your prior to the race or if you picked it up at a pre-race check-in event Sunscreen Hydration packand liquid to fill the hydration pack Nutrition bars or energy gels if you plan to carry your own on the course
Here are a few I've added:
- Money (for beer, Gatorade, etc immediately after the race) - Gum - Chapstick - Ibuprofen - Hanky (for those with runny noses) - iPod
Please feel free to add to the checklist or add any additional marathon advice! Good luck to all running this weekend and those keeping up with their training this week.
I'm sure this just looks like a small rise in the road, but imagine if you will: You are rounding the bend, and the hill continues... for another mile. The cruelst twist on the Percy Warner course comes at mile 9, which is the longest climb of the course.
Before the trek to Nashville, Amy and I decided to put in four miles at the Greenway in Murfreesboro before heading to conquer Percy Warner Park's 11.6-mile loop of doom.
This was the hardest run I have ever attempted, and it is my fault. I am training in the flattest part of Tennessee. This is just another reason why cross training is so important. My butt will be in the gym next week for sure.
Another lesson learned on this trip was the importance of hydration. It was 75 degrees Saturday, so having water on-hand was a must (especially since the park has no water fountains). Also a must- sugar. Either through Gu or jelly beans or something. You are going to need that extra burst of energy on this kind of run.
Now that I am technically a long-distance runner, I have found that the same ole running paths get a little old.
Percy Warner Park (Google Images)
This week, our running group (which, if you don't know the story there- I stalked them on the Greenway in Murfreesboro and have been running with them ever since- about two months now)... anyway, we're going to Percy Warner Park to do some hill training.
On my Runners World training schedule, I'm supposed to log 18 miles Saturday, but if you've been to Percy Warner, you know why I won't need to put in quite that much. This park has the hills, folks. OH Man.
And I can't emphasize enough the benefit of finding a group to run with. Running has become a very important part of my life, and I am lucky to share it with folks who feel the same way. They are a great source of encouragement, support and expertise.
There are runners EVERYWHERE. Find a buddy and get out there! Sarah B.
It is 21 degrees at 6:30 on this brisk Saturday morning. I'm going to run 8 miles. What are you doing?
*****
Great run this morning- it was hard leaving the comfort of my car's seat warmer, but worth every minute. After about the first mile, I was warm and in a great pace.
When I first started running (9 months ago), I used www.runnersworld.com as a tool to understanding a training schedule.
The calendar basically had me running/walking three days a week (which I still follow) with the off days labeled as XT/Rest. I figured, sweet- rest four days a week!
No. XT= Cross Train. They just throw in "rest" to make sure you choose a day to take off.
Now that I am cross training, I can really feel the difference- especially my endurance level. Cross training basically means choose any exercise besides cardio to do the days you aren't running. If you aren't running or walking- say, if you're doing yoga three times a week, then you can mix it up by adding cardio and so on.
There are plenty of other cross training ideas on Runner's World (here is a sample for beginner core strengthening)- free weights, yoga, spinning... And you can pretty much adapt any gym workout to your own living room. No weights? Dig in your pantry for some canned foods- no kidding- that's what I do!
And try browsing You Tube for some workout videos. If you have a fitness channel, turn it on between your favorite shows in the evenings. Or do some stretches and jumping jacks between commercials- By the time you've watched an hour-long show, you could burn 200-400 calories!!! That's at least half your dinner.
On the marathon training front, I ran 11 miles with a group on Saturday. It really makes a difference running with several people- and I got lucky meeting up with a group who has been running together for about six years! I am getting great input from these guys and gals and it makes the run go by so fast.
I have decided to document my journey to my first marathon (Country Music), which will be held in April. I am in week 3 of a 16-week training regiment.
This morning, my mom, sister and I decided to brave the snow and headed to our city's greenway trail to run. Mom and sis will be running the half together, and I'll take the full solo.
It was a brisk, windy 32-degree run. We ran 4.5 miles in about 50 minutes with a warm up and cool down of about a half mile.
I am using a training program I found on Runner's World: SmartCoach. It is based on my half-marathon time (St. Jude Memphis Marathon) which I ran in December with my mom and our friend, Kim. Mom and I finished hand-in-hand with a time of about 2:14.
