my marathon report
sammyneb
Posts: 257
So I ran my first full marathon this past weekend. I started running two years ago almost to the day of the full. I had run 6 halves, 5 of them being since January of this year. I went from a 2:21 half to a 2:00 in 4 months. I felt good going into training, no injuries. I ran two 20 mile runs and a 22 miler. I ran 2 half marathons during my training for my full, getting my PR at one of them. I thought I was ready for this full! I had a dream goal of 4:10 but would have been happy with anything under 4:30.
So the marathon begins, I feel great. Miles 3-8 have some hills. But I’m right on track at the 10K mark. By the half I had fallen behind, hit the half way at 2:15….it only got harder from there! Running a marathon is not only physical but mental! Physically I was fine (well except for the balls of my feet hurting from the pounding on the pavement), no muscle cramps, no “hitting the wall”. But mentally I wasn’t prepared. I have gone from a 5K to a 10k to a half..I thought the jump to a full would be just like the other jumps…yeah not quite. At least not for me. By mile 9 I was ready to give up..I had ran 9 mile countless times…but never with 17 more miles to go..and unfortunately that is where my mind was the rest of the race. I couldn’t get in the positive. By mile 22 my friend (who had been coaching me since my 3rd half) caught up with me, I started to cry and he ran with me for two miles then his wife and another friend caught up and I had an entourage bringing me in (they had all just ran the half). I know I would have finished the race, but I probably would have just walked the last 4 miles if it wasn’t for my support team.
I had said before the race that if it took me 5 hours I would never run a full again (that just seemed like a long time to be on my feet, when I had finished my 22 miler in 4 hours, with several “pit stops”) well I finished my first marathon in 4:51.. I have declared that I will not do another full for at least one or two more years. I need more running under my belt before I can take that on again.
But I am now considering pacing for a half. I can’t express how much gratitude I have for my friends who brought me in…I would love to be able to support someone in that way. I may sign up to pace a half for the 2:20 range (I should be able to handle that )
I will stay I have even more respect for both groups of marathoners now, the ones who are out there for 7 hours, that is a long time to be on your feet! And of course the ones who can manage that distance in 2-2:30 hours!!!
So the marathon begins, I feel great. Miles 3-8 have some hills. But I’m right on track at the 10K mark. By the half I had fallen behind, hit the half way at 2:15….it only got harder from there! Running a marathon is not only physical but mental! Physically I was fine (well except for the balls of my feet hurting from the pounding on the pavement), no muscle cramps, no “hitting the wall”. But mentally I wasn’t prepared. I have gone from a 5K to a 10k to a half..I thought the jump to a full would be just like the other jumps…yeah not quite. At least not for me. By mile 9 I was ready to give up..I had ran 9 mile countless times…but never with 17 more miles to go..and unfortunately that is where my mind was the rest of the race. I couldn’t get in the positive. By mile 22 my friend (who had been coaching me since my 3rd half) caught up with me, I started to cry and he ran with me for two miles then his wife and another friend caught up and I had an entourage bringing me in (they had all just ran the half). I know I would have finished the race, but I probably would have just walked the last 4 miles if it wasn’t for my support team.
I had said before the race that if it took me 5 hours I would never run a full again (that just seemed like a long time to be on my feet, when I had finished my 22 miler in 4 hours, with several “pit stops”) well I finished my first marathon in 4:51.. I have declared that I will not do another full for at least one or two more years. I need more running under my belt before I can take that on again.
But I am now considering pacing for a half. I can’t express how much gratitude I have for my friends who brought me in…I would love to be able to support someone in that way. I may sign up to pace a half for the 2:20 range (I should be able to handle that )
I will stay I have even more respect for both groups of marathoners now, the ones who are out there for 7 hours, that is a long time to be on your feet! And of course the ones who can manage that distance in 2-2:30 hours!!!
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Replies
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Ahhhh... the marathon. It was your first and you finished and that's what matters! You should be super proud of yourself.
It's interesting - for me I feel like a 10k, effort wise, is about 65% as hard as a half marathon, even though a half marathon is more than twice as far distance-wise. Now a marathon? For me a marathon is more than twice as hard as a half marathon even though it's only twice as far. I'm not sure why that it is - but it is. Regardless, a lot can happen on race day - and maybe if you were to do another after having one under your belt, you'd be more mentally prepared. It doesn't sound like you had a physical preparation issue, it just sounds like you started to psyche yourself out a little bit. Now that you've accomplished the distance, perhaps future races will be smoother sailing. :-)0 -
I appreciate this report. First, congratulations on completing the marathon, that's a huge achievement
Do you feel like you could have done anything differently during training or the race to have had a different outcome? I think I am using the same training plan as you and we also run similar paces so I would love to learn anything from you that I can. I am mostly concerned about the mental aspect of it. 0 -
Thanks for sharing. You have just shown people who have not run a marathon (me included) that its not all puppies and rainbows. Hope someday you can appreciate your performance on Sunday. Running is like a bad marriage. It makes you drink too much, you end up getting hurt and you keep coming back for more.0
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I appreciate this report. First, congratulations on completing the marathon, that's a huge achievement Do you feel like you could have done anything differently during training or the race to have had a different outcome? I think I am using the same training plan as you and we also run similar paces so I would love to learn anything from you that I can. I am mostly concerned about the mental aspect of it.
Thanks, I am proud I finished, and that I can call myself a marathoner Advice...honestly I wish I knew how to prepare better mentally. Maybe music would have helped, if you listen to music. Anything to take you "out of the moment" . I have been told deep breathing, concentrate on your breathing.. I honestly thought I had did everything right, even making sure I did my longest run by myself to make sure I was ready to be out there for a long time alone. I think I lost a lot the first few miles. I didn't go out real fast, but i went out at 9:30's when I should have taken the first mile at a 10 minute mile. I charged the hills at the beginning to much, not a lot but just enough. Once the balls of my feet started to hurt (probably not wearing the "best" shoes for a marathon) it was a lot easier for me to come up with an excuse to walk.
My sister trained with me for almost the whole training..she has been running a couple more years than me (she ran a few more halves) but her paces were about the same as mine and she finished the same marathon in 4 hours.
I wouldn't take my race as a concern for your race, I tend to give up a little to easy on this whole running thing my first two halves I walked a lot too..I had given up on them also. I believe one day I will kill the marathon..just not yet 0 -
Thanks for sharing. You have just shown people who have not run a marathon (me included) that its not all puppies and rainbows. Hope someday you can appreciate your performance on Sunday. Running is like a bad marriage. It makes you drink too much, you end up getting hurt and you keep coming back for more.
You are so right! running is just like a bad marriage and my legs prove the whole getting hurt thing...and I am already planning my weekend run 0 -
Running is like a good marriage too. It never all bon bons and rainbows, but with a good support network and the ability to see it through, you make it work even through the rough patches.
I'm impressed by your first marathon experience. I love the idea by giving back by pacing a half.0 -
It's funny that you mention that music may have helped. For training, music is vital for me - I don't think I'd make it through training runs without it! But, during races (especially marathons), I still use music, yet I almost tune it out. I'd probably do better if I could tune out all the thoughts running through my head and just get to a zen, cruising, music-enjoying place, but so far that has yet to happen in a marathon situation. There is a giant internal dialog going on inside my brain the whole time.0
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I have two thoughts going though my head:
"Yay you finished! That is amazing!"
and
"Aw...poor thing...come here let me give you a hug!"
Combined they would have sounded just weird and stuff so had to separate them. What you described though is why I know I am not ready for the full yet. I only just started running in January, and did my first 5K in March. Two weeks ago I finished my first half, and already my cousins are pushing me to do a full, but I know I am just not ready physically for it. Mentally...I think would be so determined to push through that I would end up in crutches by the time the marathon came around. I am hard headed that way. Knowing this...I know I am not ready lol.
Thanks for the race report! I love reading about a runner's first time at a race. It doesn't matter if the experience was positive or negative, each story holds a memory that is awesome to witness.0 -
I had a similar experience at my first marathon two weeks ago, but didn't have the same kind of suport system you did (FTR, I'm a 1:49:10 half marathoner and apparently a 5:16:02 marathoner). I think you did an amazing job and you should be very proud of your accomplishment!!!0
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I had a similar experience at my first marathon two weeks ago, but didn't have the same kind of suport system you did (FTR, I'm a 1:49:10 half marathoner and apparently a 5:16:02 marathoner). I think you did an amazing job and you should be very proud of your accomplishment!!!
I am truely thankful for my support system, but then again if it wasn't for my "coach" I probably wouldn't have signed up for the full anyways, so he owed it to me to help me finish :grumble:
Seriously though, it did make a huge difference. I'm sure I would have come in closer to 5:20 if it wasn't for them helping me and encouraging me.
But it was rough either way!! And I'm going out and getting new shoes this weekend!! (the shoes I had were a more minialmist shoe, which was great and had no problems training, but they weren't good for almost 5 hours of constant pounding (very little cushioning!)0 -
Just joined this group, thanks for the report and congrats on finishing your first full! I just ran my 3rd marathon on Sunday, marathons are never easy. So much of it is mental, as you've pointed out. I have to play little games in my head to get through some of the tougher miles, counting cars or street lights. For each marathon I've run, I bring music with me (iphone or ipod), but don't use it until mile 20. I've found it changes things for me mentally right around the time I need it most, and it's a little boost that helps get me through the last 10k.0
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Just joined this group, thanks for the report and congrats on finishing your first full! I just ran my 3rd marathon on Sunday, marathons are never easy. So much of it is mental, as you've pointed out. I have to play little games in my head to get through some of the tougher miles, counting cars or street lights. For each marathon I've run, I bring music with me (iphone or ipod), but don't use it until mile 20. I've found it changes things for me mentally right around the time I need it most, and it's a little boost that helps get me through the last 10k.
that sounds like a great idea about holding off the music until the end. I never thought of that. I typically don't like the headphones (I have tired several pairs) as one of the reasons I choose to not listen to music. Plus I have been a afraid it would be like a crutch for me...but using it at the end..sounds genius
Oh and welcome to the group 0 -
Congrats on your first full marathon!! Such an accomplishment! I just ran my first this past weekend too came in at 4:06. Killer quad issues.....well started with a killer knee issue but that's a long story, around mile 18 that caused me to stop and stretch almost every mile. I was disappointed but I'm going back for more very soon.
Congrats again!0 -
You have to run a marathon to know what to expect.
Great job finishing.0 -
Congrats on sticking it out!
Even with training and experience, you still need things to "go right" on race day. As I often preach to anyone who will listen; 26.2 is a LONG way to run and I never understand why people are in such a hurry to do so (general statement, not directed at you). There is no magic to the distance.
You'll know when & if you are ready to run another one.
I love racing halfs, the jury is still out on marathons...0 -
What a fantastic and insightful review. Well done for completing it - an awesome achievement and thanks for sharing your reality0
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Even with training and experience, you still need things to "go right" on race day. As I often preach to anyone who will listen; 26.2 is a LONG way to run and I never understand why people are in such a hurry to do so (general statement, not directed at you). There is no magic to the distance.
AMEN!0 -
Congrats! Ahhh, the first marathon - you will either love or hate the experience, and while people usually say they won't do it again, they come back stronger and do it again with the experience under their belt.
Very cool that you had your support system with you. It's so easy to throw in the towel when you're mentally fighting with yourself.
Awesome job pulling through.0 -
You finished, and that is much better then a lot of people can say.
You're right, running a marathon is very much a head game. I've run two marathons in the past, and this second one I just finished was my strongest yet because I ran with a pace group. If you can find others to help pump you up while running, it becomes easier.
You went for it and you got it. Congrats on your first full marathon!0 -
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm about to complete my first half marathon this weekend. People ask if I'll jump to a full next and I'm like- Haha NO, not for a while.
Training for a half was hard enough, I can't imagine how hard it is to prepare for a full! Kudos to you for finishing, you did great!!0 -
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm about to complete my first half marathon this weekend. People ask if I'll jump to a full next and I'm like- Haha NO, not for a while.
Training for a half was hard enough, I can't imagine how hard it is to prepare for a full! Kudos to you for finishing, you did great!!
Great job recognizing this. Far too many runners attempt a marathon way too soon in their running careers and suffer greatly because of it.0 -
Ahhhh... the marathon. It was your first and you finished and that's what matters! You should be super proud of yourself.
I agree!0
