Marathon

AnneElise
AnneElise Posts: 4,206 Member
edited September 20 in Fitness and Exercise
Anyone run a marathon before? My sister runs them, basically professionally (3:09 is her best time) and I think it is so motivating to go and watch. I am REALLY tempted to run one. I am thinking maybe about doing Chicago 2010.

I run around 3 miles right now and I know it would be a big committment I know but I think it would be awesome. I havn't found anyone to run it with me yet. I am not sure I could run it by myself. My husband said he will do it as well but he will want to run faster than i can.

Anyone have any motivating marathon stories?

Replies

  • running_girl_84
    running_girl_84 Posts: 60
    No marathon stories. Just half stories. I'm planning on running one on may2nd
  • VballLeash
    VballLeash Posts: 2,456 Member
    I ran my first in May and it was SO GREAT! You should do it! I run by myself, and I trained by myself, it was hard sometimes but on the actually race day you have soooo many people around you and it makes it a lot easier, good luck, let me know if you have any specific questions :smile:

    ~Leash :heart:
  • chgudnitz
    chgudnitz Posts: 4,079
    No marathon stories. Just half stories. I'm planning on running one on may2nd
    So am I. Which one are you running?
  • mavsfan2009
    mavsfan2009 Posts: 261 Member
    I REALLY want to...but I'm only at around 3 miles right now too. It feels so far away :(
  • running_girl_84
    running_girl_84 Posts: 60
    Originally it was the Tacoma City Marathon. now it's the Vancouver Marathon as I'm moving back home for my husbands deployment.
  • emorym
    emorym Posts: 344
    I am training for a marathon in February. I find a group very helpful. In fact we are doing a 20 mile training run on Saturday. I have never run this far before so I am a bit nervous. I would check with a local running store and see if they have a group or know of any. you could always train on your own, many people do that you just need to find what works for you. I would decide on the race you want to do and make the arrangements to do it. Sign up book a hotel find someone to run with and make the commitment.

    Here is a link to help get you motivated.

    http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/marathon/program.html

    It is a series of videos about a group of people training for their first marathon.
  • mavsfan2009
    mavsfan2009 Posts: 261 Member
    That is awesome! I can't wait to check out the videos!

    I know the Texas Running Co. near me has a group that runs twice a week...but the guy at the store made it sound like they were all pretty advanced. I'm still thinking about joining them, though. I'll just be a little slower :)
  • AnneElise
    AnneElise Posts: 4,206 Member
    Thanks for the advise everyone! I think I really am going to do it! I may be writing you all later as i get closer. Any training programs that you would suggest?
  • AnneElise
    AnneElise Posts: 4,206 Member
    I ran my first in May and it was SO GREAT! You should do it! I run by myself, and I trained by myself, it was hard sometimes but on the actually race day you have soooo many people around you and it makes it a lot easier, good luck, let me know if you have any specific questions :smile:

    ~Leash :heart:

    Congrats on your first one! Thats awesome. What training program did you use?
  • VballLeash
    VballLeash Posts: 2,456 Member
    I ran my first in May and it was SO GREAT! You should do it! I run by myself, and I trained by myself, it was hard sometimes but on the actually race day you have soooo many people around you and it makes it a lot easier, good luck, let me know if you have any specific questions :smile:

    ~Leash :heart:

    Congrats on your first one! Thats awesome. What training program did you use?

    Thanks!.. Honestly I didn't use anything specific, I just ran lol I ran about 5 days a week, sometimes more, sometimes less. I just made sure to get to 20 miles about a month before the marathon. Just make sure you don't increase more than 10% each week. Runner's world has some good training programs so I would check those out! Good luck!

    ~Leash :heart:
  • chgudnitz
    chgudnitz Posts: 4,079
    Originally it was the Tacoma City Marathon. now it's the Vancouver Marathon as I'm moving back home for my husbands deployment.
    Oh ok. I'm doing the New Jersey marathon that day.
  • aythakay
    aythakay Posts: 26 Member
    I am running my 5th coming up in Jan. in Houston, I joined Houston Fit ( with USA Fit- a national marathon trianing program) back in 2004 and loved it so much, I became an assistant coach. I always tell people that ANYONE can run a marathon- it is just a matter of setting your mind to it, training right and smart (find a good group or training program) and you can do it!! It is a challenge but you will surprise yourself in with what you are capable of! It is very empowering! Find a good training group, some accounatability, and YOU CAN DO IT!!! :wink:
  • AnneElise
    AnneElise Posts: 4,206 Member
    I am running my 5th coming up in Jan. in Houston, I joined Houston Fit ( with USA Fit- a national marathon trianing program) back in 2004 and loved it so much, I became an assistant coach. I always tell people that ANYONE can run a marathon- it is just a matter of setting your mind to it, training right and smart (find a good group or training program) and you can do it!! It is a challenge but you will surprise yourself in with what you are capable of! It is very empowering! Find a good training group, some accounatability, and YOU CAN DO IT!!! :wink:

    Do you mind if I pick your brain? What training program do you suggest. I have run my whole life sometimes up to 8 miles but right now I am down at 3 to 4 miles at a time. Do you suggest a 26 week plan? I am aiming to do the Chicago Marathon Oct. 10th 2010.
  • KatWood
    KatWood Posts: 1,135 Member
    I trained for and then ran my first half marathon. It was awesome. Since I wasn't a runner I started with the couch to 5 K program and then switched to a more intensive program which lasted 10 weeks and gradually ramped me up past the 21kms before ramping back down a bit before the race. My goal was to do the half marathon in 3hrs. I did it in 2:24. I am more proud of this accomplishment than my weightloss. I use to hate running. I am short and stubby and things bounce when I run. I also quit smoking to train for the marathon. I never ever thought I could not only become a runner but also enjoy it. For me the race was a way to prove to myself that I can do anything I set my mind too. I can't wait to do it again next year.
  • michlingle
    michlingle Posts: 797 Member
    I ran chicago this year as my first. It was the best day of my life! It was so emotional for me. I loved every minute of it and am looking forward to Illinois Marathon May 1st and then Chicago again in 2010!
  • AnneElise
    AnneElise Posts: 4,206 Member
    I ran chicago this year as my first. It was the best day of my life! It was so emotional for me. I loved every minute of it and am looking forward to Illinois Marathon May 1st and then Chicago again in 2010!

    Yea! I am going to do it! I have watched the Chicago one (for my sister). I want to do it myself.
  • AnneElise
    AnneElise Posts: 4,206 Member
    Great Job! Thanks for your story!
  • RedHotRunner
    RedHotRunner Posts: 850 Member
    I'm strongly considering doing a half in October. We have a local group called Team in Training that I might join. In addtion to marathon training, they raise money for medical research. They have an orientation meeting in January. I *think* they might be a national group (I'm in California), so you might want to google.

    I'm up to 5 miles now, so think I should be fine. Will run a 10K in January and take it from there.

    Good luck to you!
  • kzalusky360
    kzalusky360 Posts: 29
    also check into the Team in Training program through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. You can do any type of endurance event that you want...half marathon, full marathon, 100 mile bike ride, triathlon, etc. I'm pretty sure it's teamintraining.org but just google Team in Training and tons of stuff comes up.

    Team in Training is an 18 week training program that will teach you how to complete an endurance event (whichever you choose.) In exchange for proper marathon training you have to commit to fundraise $3800. You fundraise for local Leukemia patients and research and they provide you with training, a group to do long runs with each saturday, and flight/accomodations for the marathon.

    I am currently training for the Walt Disney World Marathon taking place 1/10/10....I'm getting so close. and might i add....I DO NOT RUN....i have never been a "runner"...i was the girl in gym class that WALKED the mile run and sprinted the last lap to make it under the required 15 minutes. When i first started i would bust out of the gate like a race horse and would be gasping for air 7 minutes later. They taught me how to increase my endurance (sloooowwww down) and I'm now comfortably running 12-15 miles---straight!! hahaha, without stopping except for water! woot woot!!!!. I have like four more long runs to get myself up to 20. (you never run more than 20 before the marathon in this program--which i thought was odd at first but i guess that's how marathon training works.)

    the fundraising has proven to be really the most difficult part. if you have a solid group of semi-successful friends who like to drink, you wont have a problem. beer blasts/benefits/raffles seem to work really well. i didn't think id be able to come close to my goal, and i'm actually getting pretty close to hitting it!!

    shameless plug: check out my webpage to read about my journey and to make an online donation--there is no minimum so even a dollar or two or five is appreciated!!!
    http://pages.teamintraining.org/wny/wdw10/kzalusky

    DEFINITELY look into it. you will find people at your ability level, for SURE!
  • kzalusky360
    kzalusky360 Posts: 29
    oh yeah...and PS. weight loss is an amazing benefit of training for a marathon! ive lost 31lbs since the middle of september. my focus has changed from lbs lost to weekly mileage. overall, this has been an amazing experience that i should have tried earlier. i can't say i will be doing a marathon again (all this running has taken its toll on my joints--which i have always had problems with) but my next goal is a triathlon in august. (i figure the three separate exercises will be better on my body!)
  • kylielouttit
    kylielouttit Posts: 512 Member
    How long is a marathon? Sorry if this is a dumb question!

    My Dad passed away of Cancer a year and a half ago. He had received a double lung transplant in 1996 and afterward was determined to run one. He never got to do it and I think it seems like such an impossible feat!
  • AnneElise
    AnneElise Posts: 4,206 Member
    also check into the Team in Training program through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. You can do any type of endurance event that you want...half marathon, full marathon, 100 mile bike ride, triathlon, etc. I'm pretty sure it's teamintraining.org but just google Team in Training and tons of stuff comes up.

    Team in Training is an 18 week training program that will teach you how to complete an endurance event (whichever you choose.) In exchange for proper marathon training you have to commit to fundraise $3800. You fundraise for local Leukemia patients and research and they provide you with training, a group to do long runs with each saturday, and flight/accomodations for the marathon.

    I am currently training for the Walt Disney World Marathon taking place 1/10/10....I'm getting so close. and might i add....I DO NOT RUN....i have never been a "runner"...i was the girl in gym class that WALKED the mile run and sprinted the last lap to make it under the required 15 minutes. When i first started i would bust out of the gate like a race horse and would be gasping for air 7 minutes later. They taught me how to increase my endurance (sloooowwww down) and I'm now comfortably running 12-15 miles---straight!! hahaha, without stopping except for water! woot woot!!!!. I have like four more long runs to get myself up to 20. (you never run more than 20 before the marathon in this program--which i thought was odd at first but i guess that's how marathon training works.)

    the fundraising has proven to be really the most difficult part. if you have a solid group of semi-successful friends who like to drink, you wont have a problem. beer blasts/benefits/raffles seem to work really well. i didn't think id be able to come close to my goal, and i'm actually getting pretty close to hitting it!!

    shameless plug: check out my webpage to read about my journey and to make an online donation--there is no minimum so even a dollar or two or five is appreciated!!!
    http://pages.teamintraining.org/wny/wdw10/kzalusky

    DEFINITELY look into it. you will find people at your ability level, for SURE!

    THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, I will google this for sure! very very helpful! Congrats on all of your running expierances!
  • kzalusky360
    kzalusky360 Posts: 29
    haha, the person before me just wrote about team in training...and to both of you...YES, GIVE IT A TRY!!!!

    if you have any questions, let me know!

    also--go right for the full marathon....dont waste time on the half. the training schedule isn't THAT much different, believe it or not! train like you are going for the full, and if towards the end you simply cannot keep up with the mileage demand THEN make the decision to drop down to the half.
  • mavsfan2009
    mavsfan2009 Posts: 261 Member
    oh yeah...and PS. weight loss is an amazing benefit of training for a marathon! ive lost 31lbs since the middle of september. my focus has changed from lbs lost to weekly mileage. overall, this has been an amazing experience that i should have tried earlier. i can't say i will be doing a marathon again (all this running has taken its toll on my joints--which i have always had problems with) but my next goal is a triathlon in august. (i figure the three separate exercises will be better on my body!)

    One of my best friends just started working for Team in Training in Ft. Worth, Texas and I had NO idea what it was all about. Thanks for the insight - maybe I'll do that! Congrats, and good luck :heart:
  • Phatdaddymike
    Phatdaddymike Posts: 74
    i plan on doing my first in april 2010. its the kentucky derby fest. marat. ive done the half the last 2 years and looking forward to the full. im going to use a Hal Higdon training program, its 16 weeks. just google hal higdon. also, my wife started running too and has completed 2 half mar....i want to do this one on my own FOR HER, she is a brain tumor survivor and a great inspiration. she can do the next marathon with me :)....good luck..keep us posted on how its going...right now im up to 6 miles, but i wont start following the program until mid jan.
  • cc_campbell81
    cc_campbell81 Posts: 622
    I am looking into doing the Chicago marathon also. I live in Texas but I am from Illinois. There is a training program on the website for the marathon. I think having a training group would be really helpful.

    191371.png
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  • AnneElise
    AnneElise Posts: 4,206 Member
    A marathon is 26.2 miles
  • AnneElise
    AnneElise Posts: 4,206 Member
    I am looking into doing the Chicago marathon also. I live in Texas but I am from Illinois. There is a training program on the website for the marathon. I think having a training group would be really helpful.

    191371.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

    REALLY! Yeah! You should do it!
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