Marathon Advice Needed

[AdamMSC]

I have a marathon date for September 8th in Charleston, SC; it is my first marathon. Due to some setbacks (minor injuries etc), I am not on schedule to finish my training plan  by the date.

I see three options here, and I would like some advice from experienced runners.

1. Just go do the full marathon w/ the training you will have and hope for the best
2. Go to the marathon and use it as training for a later marathon on November 3rd-- ie don't finish the run on the 8th, just use it as a long run
3. Don't go at all and focus on the November 3rd date; it is a 3 hour drive for the Sep. 8 marathon

Notes of interest

• My longest run will be 18 miles by September 1st; the marathon is the 8th
• I will not be able to taper for the marathon if I do it Sep. 8th
• I already paid 100.00 for the Sep. 8th marathon and would like to finish it, but I don't mind waiting
• The Sep. 8th marathon is 3 hours away
• If I do go ahead with the Nov. 3rd date, I will be completely ready
• If I do the Nov 3rd date, my family and friends will be able to come-- just an added benefit
• I am leaning towards using the Sep 8th as a 20 mile run at an easy pace; then I will focus all my efforts to being ready for Nov 3rd
• I am all ears-- please give me any advice you can think of!

[Corney · Accepted solution]

@AdamMSC  If you have built up a good base I would advise a long run of at least 21 miles before your first marathon, why? because running is 80% mental and 20% physical.  At the 20 mile mark most people hit the wall where you have used up most of your stored carbohydrates and are running on sheer will power.  If you have run 21 miles then you know you can do the distance.  Try to run a constant pace, jog at water stops don't stop and walk, once you have stopped to walk it gets easier the 2nd and 3rd time.  You goal should be just to finish.  I trained for 9 months, running 7 miles everyday, 4 months prior to my first marathon I added 1 long run on Saturdays adding about 10% distance every week.  I ran 2 long runs of 20 and 21 miles 3 weeks prior to the marathon so I would know what to expect at the 20 mile mark.  It has been said once you reach the 20 mile mark the race is half over.  Mentally, never question yourself or your ability during the race, stay positive.  I never hit the wall and finished under my goal of 4 hours.  Good luck

[GershonSurge]

The first women's Olympic marathon was in 1984. Three weeks before, Joan Benoit had knee surgery. She took an early lead. I can still recall her expression of disgust, or what I perceived as disgust when she looked over her shoulder and saw nobody was staying with her. As I recall, she stretched her lead throughout the marathon and beat Greta Waitz by about a minute and a half. Waitz had never before been beaten in the marathon.

In my opinion, you will never forgive yourself if you don't run both marathons. You never know. The rest might have been good for you. You might run the most memorable race of your life. You might simply be proud of your guts during the last six miles.

Start slowly for the first five miles. You might bloop into the zone and surprise yourself. Don't quit unless continuing is risking injury. 

It's too late to do a long run before the September marathon. The fatigue can easily last a month for a person not used to the distance. If you insist, do it as slowly as possible. 

[Heather-S]

IMO, you should attempt the SC marathon.  You already paid the $100.  And if you absolutely can't finish it, then you can count it as a long run in your training for the November marathon and learn from the experience of it.  I would definitely shoot to go 20+ miles.  

I'd love to do a marathon!  What kind of training plan are you using?

[Corney]

@GershonSurge: Once again we disagree. I ran 23 miles 2 weeks before my
Marathon and fatigue never set in. Maybe it was my 9 months of training
prior to the marathon, or the fact I had built up a strong base of running
7 miles per day everyday, or the fact I kept a steady pace and didn't burn
myself out, or the fact I had numerous 10K races, 1 half Marathon and a 20K
race under my belt before the Marathon. To say that the fatigue from a 20
mile run can easily last a month for every runner is just false. Every
runners training is different. My last long run gave me the confidence
that I could finish the race. At no time during the marathon did I ever
question myself, or my ability to finish the race. After the 20 mile mark
I must have passed over 100 runners either walking or sitting by the side
of the road, I doubt it was because they had run 20 miles less than a month
before the race, they were not mentally or physically prepared.

[Corney]

@GershonSurge  Perhaps you should advise AdamMSC not to run his second marathon on Nov 3rd since it is less than a month after the Sept 8th Marathon, Fatigue fatigue fatigue!

[GershonSurge]

@Corney

When it comes to marathon training, many different training techniques work. My last marathon was the best run of my life, and I never ran in competition again after. Mostly, because I moved to Plattsburgh, NY where there weren't many races. I got busy with other things. I enjoyed running on three-wheeler trails through the woods.

This is what I actually said:

"It's too late to do a long run before the September marathon. The fatigue can easily last a month for a person not used to the distance. If you insist, do it as slowly as possible."

I thought I included enough hedging words in my post, so it was clear that what I said was only an opinion.

Now, I'm involved in a 100,000 Fitbit-mile challenge, so I'm more interested in everyday consistency and avoiding injuries than the long run. 

[GershonSurge]

---

@Corney wrote:

@GershonSurge  Perhaps you should advise AdamMSC not to run his second marathon on Nov 3rd since it is less than a month after the Sept 8th Marathon, Fatigue fatigue fatigue!

---

Check your math. 🙂 Sept 8-Nov 3.

[AdamMSC]

Thanks for the response. I agree-- it's a mental battle. I am afraid to see how my body responds at 20 ish miles. Tomorrow is my 18; I will probably start at 4am. Hopefully I can push it to about 20 like you suggested. Next week is going to be an easy week. Any suggestions there?

[AdamMSC]

I sure hope I can get into the zone during my race! I love that feeling... Only if it could come around more often! I am definitely going to take your advice on starting slow. Thank you for the response. 

[AdamMSC]

You are right-- I am going to do the SC marathon. I am going to go for about 20 miles tomorrow morning; hopefully I can finish it! I am on Al Higdon's Novice 1 training plan.  You should definitely do it if it's something you are interested in! It's a journey...

[GershonSurge]

@AdamMSC,

The best advice I can give is don't waste energy during the first five miles trying to work your way through the crowd. 

It's normal to feel all sorts of aches and pains in the few days before a marathon. They go away at the start. 

Hal Higdon has been training people for decades. I suggest following his advice about tapering. 

I'm confident you will be able to complete the last six miles. 

[Corney]

@AdamMSC: Continue with your normal daily run more for the mental aspect
than for the physical, if you aren't ready now it's to late. Good luck,
have fun! Your goal is to just finish.

[AdamMSC]

I know that's right. I did 20 Saturday morning and felt some aches but was fine the rest of the day.  I think I will be able to finish-- that is definitely the goal. Wish me luck!

[Heather-S]

Best of luck!

[Corney]

@AdamMSC: Good luck, Think positive. Never question yourself or your
ability to finish the run!

[GershonSurge]

@AdamMSC,

I heard an interesting statistic today from a reliable source. As you probably know, marathons are now open to people only interested in finishing in a time that works for them. The times have gotten slower, but over 99% of the entrants finish. 

Hal Higdon likely gave some estimates of your time based on your training times. Trust him.