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I want to join the less than 1%

imogene912
imogene912 Posts: 32 Member
edited November 30 in Social Groups
Hi guys! I wanted to introduce myself, as I'm new to this group. I have been a runner for quite some time, and have participated in 5k and 10k races. I have one half marathon under my belt and another one coming up this summer. Oh yeah, and my first FULL! The Aspen Marathon - 16 weeks from now! I can almost guarantee that I will do one and only marathon, but I want to always be able to know within that I did it and can do anything! Have a great day :)

Replies

  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    My guess is that at least half of us who have run multiple marathons started off by saying we were only going to do one. Just sayin... ;)

    Good luck on your first!!!
  • OrionSlayer
    OrionSlayer Posts: 29 Member
    Great decision! Good luck and be sure to find a way to have fun doing your training. This sixteen weeks were going to happen anyway, what a cool way to make them memorable. Who knows, you might get hooked and this will be your first of many marathons.
  • peacerunner
    peacerunner Posts: 30 Member
    Ha, I said just one. I am training for my fourth. Every five years or so I get a bug and just have to prove to myself I can do it.
    Good luck on your first!!
  • WhatMeRunning
    WhatMeRunning Posts: 3,538 Member
    I too said one. Then wound up signing up for two more while training for the first one. These distances have some effect on people, making them certifiably insane perhaps.

    Good luck! I hope you have a great time!
  • imogene912
    imogene912 Posts: 32 Member
    Thanks everyone! You all who've run a marathon are heros to me!
  • trswallow
    trswallow Posts: 116 Member
    During the last five miles of my first marathon I decided that I was retiring from marathon running. It was a trail marathon near where I grew up, so when I found out about it I went from barely running to marathon in about 6 months. I didn't have a good base and at the time I didn't know of any good hilly trails near where I live, so I was not fully prepared for the experience. It took me three years, but last year I ran my second marathon and I am looking at doing several this year, plus hopefully I can work in a 50k.

    As everyone else has pointed out, sometimes it just gets in your blood and you have to do it again.

    You should follow a marathon training plan if you are not already. It will take a lot of the guess work out of the process and alleviates anxiety over if you are sufficiently trained for race day.

    This being your first marathon you are guaranteed a PR, so don't stress about your finish time and enjoy the race.
  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    You never know. A year ago, I was planning to do a long gradual build of long run mileage with the idea of running my first marathon in September 2016, the Rochester Marathon. I got talked into registering for the Buffalo Marathon, which I ran in May 2015; my result created a moral obligation to run Boston 2016. Then I was shocked when a runner I know said, "Welcome to the 1%."

    I have no idea how accurate the 1% number is, but it's uncomfortable to think of myself as being that special.
  • MNLittleFinn
    MNLittleFinn Posts: 4,271 Member
    If I can get the training in, I'm hoping to join the less than 1% next June. Registration starts in October, so I'll have to decide by then. Good luck!
  • OrionSlayer
    OrionSlayer Posts: 29 Member
    It sure doesn't look like "the 1%" when you are standing in a LONG porta-potty line before the race!

    According to Marathon Running Statistics "Percent of the U.S. population that has run a marathon 0.5 %"
  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
    Good luck!
    I ran one and only one marathon. That was 20 years ago. I still run -- a lot. But I haven't been bitten by the bug to do another.
    I love being outside and moving. But, two hours of the same motion, plodding along on your long training runs........Brrrrrrrr! No thanks. Those long runs are boring.
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    OrionSlayer wrote: »
    It sure doesn't look like "the 1%" when you are standing in a LONG porta-potty line before the race!

    According to Marathon Running Statistics "Percent of the U.S. population that has run a marathon 0.5 %"

    Isn't that the truth?!
  • STrooper
    STrooper Posts: 659 Member
    I planned to do one. I'm running my eighth in two weeks. I've run two or back-to-back weekends (now a Marathon Maniac). Like the Lay's potato chip commercial...bet you can't run just one.
  • rrcoffey
    rrcoffey Posts: 72 Member
    The less than 1% statistic is hard to grasp because I know so many people who have run marathons. Then again, my circles are mostly comprised of runners, so I guess the stat in my world would be skewed ;)

    I'm hoping to join the ranks in January.

    Best of luck to you!! Can't wait to hear all about it!
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