First Marathon
dvisser1
Posts: 788 Member
Yesterday I ran my first ever marathon! Well....running may be an exaggeration of my run-walk pace the last 8 miles, but I finished it. I'm still fairly new to distance running, so being able to cover that distance feels like a huge accomplishment. Seattle rock N Roll Marathon: 4:29:49.
This very weekend last year I ran my first ever 5k and wasn't sure I was going to be able to handle running 3.1 miles non-stop. Last year I ran two 5k's (one trail, one road), two 10k's (one trail, one road) and two half marathons (both road), with the final half marathon being the Seattle half on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend in November. This year I had already run 2 half marathons (one road, one trail), a 15k road run and a 10 mile trail run. I've run a lot in the past year, but had never been that type of endurance athlete before.
I had some issues training for the marathon. In early May I switched shoes (from Asics gel kayano 18 to Saucony guide) and that did not go well when I pushed to longer distances. The Saucony shoe felt fine for anything up through a half marathon distance. A 17 mile run however left me with a swollen, tender knee and an extremely tight IT band. That was 4 weeks ago. I cut back my running, added cycling and more strength training to my workouts and gave my knee as much time as I could to heal. I also found some more of the Asics (the kayano 18 has been discontinued for a kayano 19 version) 18's on Amazon. Switching back, I really think that Asics kayano 18 is the best shoe for me. I wasn't sure my knee would hold together or that I would have the endurance to do the full distance, but I felt I had to give it a go. I'm glad I did.
I ran a controlled 1:52 half marathon split (~ 8:30 minute/mile) and felt good then. By 16.5 miles I was starting to break down and started walking some. Getting from mile 19-22 was just stubbornness. It was the most boring part of the course. Once I got to mile 22 I knew there was nothing going to stop me from finishing, even if I had to crawl. I jogged, would feel a cramp starting and then slow to a walk for a while to let it relax out. I never stopped moving forward. Running a race that long has plenty of physical challenges, but the hardest part I found was mental. Finding the will to keep going when you have no energy left and parts of gone from sore to painful, that was hard. But I hadn't even driven home from this race before I was putting together a mental list of all the things I would do differently leading up to and during my next marathon. Yes, I'm crazy enough to want to be doing more of this! Would love to qualify for Boston some day.
Have any of you run the Portland (Oregon) Marathon? Wondering what the course is like.
This very weekend last year I ran my first ever 5k and wasn't sure I was going to be able to handle running 3.1 miles non-stop. Last year I ran two 5k's (one trail, one road), two 10k's (one trail, one road) and two half marathons (both road), with the final half marathon being the Seattle half on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend in November. This year I had already run 2 half marathons (one road, one trail), a 15k road run and a 10 mile trail run. I've run a lot in the past year, but had never been that type of endurance athlete before.
I had some issues training for the marathon. In early May I switched shoes (from Asics gel kayano 18 to Saucony guide) and that did not go well when I pushed to longer distances. The Saucony shoe felt fine for anything up through a half marathon distance. A 17 mile run however left me with a swollen, tender knee and an extremely tight IT band. That was 4 weeks ago. I cut back my running, added cycling and more strength training to my workouts and gave my knee as much time as I could to heal. I also found some more of the Asics (the kayano 18 has been discontinued for a kayano 19 version) 18's on Amazon. Switching back, I really think that Asics kayano 18 is the best shoe for me. I wasn't sure my knee would hold together or that I would have the endurance to do the full distance, but I felt I had to give it a go. I'm glad I did.
I ran a controlled 1:52 half marathon split (~ 8:30 minute/mile) and felt good then. By 16.5 miles I was starting to break down and started walking some. Getting from mile 19-22 was just stubbornness. It was the most boring part of the course. Once I got to mile 22 I knew there was nothing going to stop me from finishing, even if I had to crawl. I jogged, would feel a cramp starting and then slow to a walk for a while to let it relax out. I never stopped moving forward. Running a race that long has plenty of physical challenges, but the hardest part I found was mental. Finding the will to keep going when you have no energy left and parts of gone from sore to painful, that was hard. But I hadn't even driven home from this race before I was putting together a mental list of all the things I would do differently leading up to and during my next marathon. Yes, I'm crazy enough to want to be doing more of this! Would love to qualify for Boston some day.
Have any of you run the Portland (Oregon) Marathon? Wondering what the course is like.
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Replies
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First thing I would recommend is getting your shoe situation taken care of, it sounds like you have some issues there. The "Balanced Athlete" in Bellevue has a very knowledgeable staff, take advantage of the fact that you live in a great area for distance running and have them check you out.
I have not run Portland but it is on my bucket list of races to run. I have heard the course is great as is the swag.0 -
I did the stupid thing of trying to push up mileage way to fast. I jumped from 13.6 to 17.2 miles from one weekend to the next and that is when my knee went soft. I think the shoes were part of the problem, either just not quite enough support or slightly wrong pronation angle on the sole, but I know I was a big part of getting hurt.0
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I wear 3 different shoes depending on the type of run I am doing. What works for a 10 miler likely won't work on a 20.0
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Finishing that marathon should not just "feel" like a hug accomplishment, it IS a huge accomplishment. Congratulations!!
Agree, shoes first. Have you been fitted for shoes at a running store? If not, I think that is job one. Second, do you use a foam roll? If not I would get one and use that. Running tightening things like you IT bands and piriformis so if you do not keep them loose you become injury prone, especially around the knees0 -
Congratulations on your accomplishment. Take time to feel proud of yourself!!
I am motivated by your post - I am training for my first half coming up in October, but had to really cut back on runs the last 2 weeks due to some nagging pains, and like you I increased my strength/cross training. When I ran a short 5 K on Saturday morning I felt so much better. I'm looking forward to my next long run.0 -
Congrats on completing the marathon! Great time!0
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Great job completing your first marathon!!
I think somewhere around mile 23/24 of my first marathon I was telling myself, "when you get to the finish line, tell your husband to NEVER, EVER, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES let you ever sign up for another marathon again!!!" and within the week, I'd already signed up for marathon #2. So, yes, I'd agree - during the race, times can get tough, but it's worth it in the end. You should be very proud of your accomplishment - not everyone can call themselves a marathon finisher!
And, yes - get your shoe situation figured out. I personally hate how much money I have to spend on shoes, but I know it necessary and worth it. A foam roller is also good to have around as a distance runner.0 -
Thanks Everyone!
I started using a foam roller after my knee started acting up after that 17 mile run. I also did some online searching for IT area deep tissue massage and therapy treatments to get the IT band to stretch and release. Those are kind of painful to do, but so very worth it. For a long time I have done hip flexor and IT band specific leg stretches as part of my normal pre- and post-run stretching routine. Now that stretching is pretty much every workout after I warm up.
I have not gotten fitted for shoes at a running store, even though I understand the benefit and highly recommend doing that to people just starting into running. It's not that I can't take my own advice, it's that I wear a size 16 (US men's, 52 in euro size) and almost no stores carry any product in stock in that size. Given the very limited selection of shoes made in my size and made for moderate stability control, I've tried almost all of them by now. I will give a couple of the stores (Balanced Athlete in Bellevue, Wa and Super Jock N Jill in Green Lake) a chance because it's still worth my time.0 -
Even if they do not have your size they should be able to tell you the type of shoe to get (motion control. neutral, etc.)0
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Congrats! That is awesome man, keep it up. I did my firstt age 48 and it took me 4:50...I got sick at the end with low blood sugar and nasea....wasn't pretty. I did my last one in 4:17 and am hoping to break 4 hours in Jan at the Houston Marathon....just need to toss about 20 lbs. Anthing is possible!!0
