Question:
I'm training for my first marathon (OKC - April 25). I have been
running for the past 17 years - but have never tried distances over 10
miles. I completed my first half marathon December 14 in 2:11 and
felt just great.
But now my long runs are getting into the long mileage - I did 17
miles yesterday in 3:25 and boy was it hard... My motivation began to
go at mile 14 and by mile 15 my left leg just ached (nothing specific,
just dull throb and I have no pain today) I really have begun to
doubt my ability to finish a full marathon. (I'm not concerned with
time, I just want to finish). Is this doubting normal? Does long
mileage affect others like this? I have been doing 30-40 miles a
week. I do one speed workout, one pace run and 2 or 3 easy longer
runs (7-10 miles). I then alternate weekends for my long runs with a
rest weekend after each long run weekend. I increase my long run
mileage about 1- 2 miles each time... Any advice / motivation
suggestions would be appreciated!
I currently training for the Lakefront Marathon here in Milwaukee
to be held in October. I've been building up my long runs on weekends
and I am currently up to 16 miles. My last long run will be two weeks
before the marathon when I will run 20 miles. My question is, how far
do I run the last weekend before the marathon? I'm considering running
a half-marathon the week before but some friends have said that is too
much.
Any other opinions?
Answer:I don't run marathons, but I do use long runs in training. Long runs are
very hard at first. Hopefully, you adapt. Was this your first run over
10 miles ? If so, I'd expect that your legs would probably feel like jello
by the end, completely unresponsive, even though you're going at a slow pace.
That's how I usually feel when I run distances I'm not well-adapted to anyway.
They should get much easier. That's why you're training! You're supposed to
adapt, but it's not going to be easy the first time.
I expect everyone worries about being able to finish their first marathon.
After all, the training is an enormous investment of time and personal
commitment and you're afraid to see it blown away.
The initial long runs are always a grind. But the body adapts very quickly
and a month from now you'll smile at the memory of that aching leg as you
plod past the 18 mile mark (actually that's too soon to be doing 18 miles -
you want March to be your biggest month. Don't rush to get too many long
runs under your belt before then).
Keep on going and enjoy those crisp winter mornings as you head out into the
hills on journeys of exploration to places you'd never usually reach in
training :-)
You may get some anecdotal response that someone ran at 30k - 100k race
the week before and then ran a 2:10 marathon. The bottom line is there
is very little little you do one week before that will help but
you can do things that will hinder. If you care about your marathon,
not just using it for a training run, then listen to your friends.
I have yet to see a marathon schedule that suggests a 1/2 the week
before. Some, Benji Durden, suggests a SLOW 2 hour run about 10 days
before but that is for carbo depletion.
In general the taper is difficult to come to grips with. You have usually
trained your butt off and then suddenly a mass cut to nearly zip miles.
Stow the guilt, relax, and learn to enjoy and appreciate the taper.
