Marathon Man, advice welcome
 

I have just been accepted to run the 2007 Boston Marathon as part of a charity team.

This will be my first marathon. I was a long-distance runner in high school, but that was a very long time ago. I've been doing lots of cardio at the gym this year just to build up endurance. But now I need to get going with the "how to run a marathon with six months of training" program. From all the websites I've researched, it is doable as long as you focus on increasing your mileage on Sunday runs each week until you can run 22 miles or so.

Anyone here have experience with marathons, and particularly with this six month program? I'm kind of nervous.

My advice would be, "Find Samantha Power and tell her Tim says 'Hi' and that he thought her book was great." Of course, that's just me. :rolleyes:

Other than that, I would suggest doing lots of hills; except 'ya gotta remember that doing that puts more stress on your knees, hips etc. But running uphill works your leg muscles a little differently; a little more; etc. and helps you build strength and endurance.
And isn't there something called "carbo loading?"

sorry, i don't have any marathon experience/knowledge, but i wanted to say congrats! that's really cool.

That's pretty much a given since I live in San Francisco! :laugh:

Good Luck! I applaud your ambition! do you already run up and down hills? where does the route take you?

You mean my training route, or the Boston marathon route?

get the "Couch to 5K" podcast. it is awesome. even though it's 5K, it will help build your endurance. good luck!!!!

I will do, thanks.:thumbsup:

Thanks, it's something I've always wanted to do and this is the right opportunity. I feel like I haven't really challenged myself much recently, physically or otherwise.

i know the feeling. for what it's worth, my friend who is a runner said that if you can run a half-marathon, the next 13 miles are all mental. i can't wait to hear about your progress!

Hey Ryan!
You'll do great!!!

^ Thanks!

Another thing, I developed asthma as an adult, so I'm a little concerned about how that will impact the run. My asthma is induced by allergies and April will be right in the middle of my bad season.

I figure since I'm not racing or anything, the goal will just be to finish and if I have to walk from time to time, then so be it.

^^^
That's a healthy attitude.
Just..Do your best!!!

The course:

http://www.factmonster.com/spot/marathoncourse.html

You will have a blast!:thumbsup:

First of all, good for you! :thumbsup:

Secondly, just make sure you have whatever allergy meds you usually take on hand. Of course, you don't want to get doped up on Benadryl :laugh: , but Claritin or something similar might be OK.

To be honest, it may not even be a real issue for you. Boston & San Fran might be worlds apart as far as allergens go. Different weeds, trees, pollen, etc. You'd be surprised what a difference there is in allergy symptoms just a few hours away, let alone across the country.

How bad is your asthma? If you don't have an Albuterol/Proventil inhaler, you should get one just in case. It's a bronchodilator, and taking 2 puffs about 20-30 minutes before you run should help prevent an asthma attack. If your asthma is really bad, you really should be on a more long term med, like Advair. These meds aren't used for acute asthma exacerbations, you take them long term to prevent attacks from happening.


And where the hell is Sparky? He was training for a triatholon a while back, he might have some good advice.

Ha, I can't even move on Benadryl!

Actually, my allergies are worse on the east coast. I'm a mess in DC around April, especially with the damn cherry blossoms. Maybe it's different in Boston. I don't believe I've been there during the spring.

My asthma isn't too bad, and is sporadic. I have albuterol inhaler but rarely use it. I'll make sure I do the puffs before the run, though.

^^
So..how much are you training now???
My friend Ed just did a half iron man here in L.A.

I've done a bunch of full marathons... and a bunch of half marathons.... Some relays races... and ONE attempt at a sprint or half Ironman... Which I totally sucked at and won't try again :distress:

The best time I had was running the Chicago marathon... That was a rush, not only cause you are running with about 30,000 people... but it was my first full marathon... and it was such a blast to finish it.. I was so high from it... Tired, but extremely happy!

For my first half marathon and the first full marathon - me and a running buddy of mine followed Hal Higdon's training programs which worked out really great.

Here are some links. This is the main Hal Higdon site: http://www.halhigdon.com/#marathon

And this is the 18 week program that I followed: http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/Mar00novice.htm

Good luck!

Thanks! That's exactly the program I am following.

Black Widow--right now, I'm just running about 3 miles per day to build endurance. On Sunday, I will run about 5 miles as my first "long run" and starting next week, I will follow the Hal Higdon program.

That is so cool.
I just quit smoking..so i can start running....:nod:

Another thing that I did was keep a log or a diary of the days I ran, the miles run, the time it took to run those miles... a bunch of details like time of day... outside temp.. whether it was raining or not.. that sort of thing. It helped you see if any paterns developed like the obvious if you ate well that day, drank enough water and if it effected your run. Plus, later down the road to look back at it was kind of neat.

^^^
Good idea...I would do that...

Yes, it's a great idea. I bought a journal the other day and plan to start my log tomorrow.

An update:

Last Sunday I ran 13 miles, and I'm on track with my "novice" training. I can't believe when I first started this thread, I was only running about 3 miles at a time and now I'm up to 13. This is the first week I can really visualize finishing the marathon.

And I've raised 2/3rds of my fundraising commitment.

And I want to be a novelist, what do you think.

KIDDING

Anyway....

Amazing Ryan... great job! :thumbsup: I am excited about April.

Wow, that's great! The running, I mean - I don't know about the novelist aspirations. :cool:

Ryan, congratulations! That is TRULY awesome.

Things like that, running the marathon... or being a novelist.. :D Are all about the DOING like you are, not the talking!

I bow down in awe. WAY of going about achieving a goal.

Sasja

I think you're gonna make a fantastic novelist! Good luck!:nod: :nod: :nod:

Good Luck!

:thumbsup: Good going, Ryan! I can't imagine running 13 miles and forget 22 miles. Ugh! Keep up the good work.

Just meditate and focus and envision yourself seeing that Citgo sign. Patrick Roy used to meditate on the net getting smaller and smaller before each game. It got him pretty far.
Get good shoes. Hydrate. And do your 6 month training. Congratulations. It's a wonderful thing you're doing, not only for your own sense of accomplisment but for the charity as well.

you rock. it's such an amazing thing you're doing.

oh ryan. :laugh: :laugh:

I am so proud of you! My little baby is growing up now.....:rolleyes: :p :thumbsup:

..good advice, Chris!!!:thumbsup:

Thanks for the encouragement and advice! :thumbsup:

So, an update. :D

Today I ran 18 miles, the longest run of my training. I was supposed to be up to 20 miles for my long run today but I had a couple of setbacks in recent weeks, including allergies/asthma and a case of justdidn'tf*kingfeellikerunningalongrunisitus one week. ;)

Thankfully, I now begin tapering for the final three weeks. I have enjoyed getting back into shape and challenging myself, but these really long runs are hard and lonely.

Next update will be after I complete the marathon. If you don't hear from me, well, a landslide or a heart attack will have brought me down.

Also, I have raised $3,371 for the American Liver Foundation in honor of my late partner and my ALF team has raised $500,000 so far! Special shout out to my first donor, Niki! :xoxo:

^ Good for you Ryan! :thumbsup:

Tomorrow is the Boston marathon. My first marathon ever and it will be during a nor'easter. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/art...shiver?mode=PF

Marathoners: Ready, set, shiver
Authorities brace for weather, mobilize medical help

By Brian MacQuarrie, Globe Staff | April 14, 2007

With a nasty brew of heavy rain, cold, and headwinds forecast for Monday, authorities are scrambling to mitigate the misery of 23,000 runners in what could rank among the worst conditions in the history of the Boston Marathon.

More than 1,200 medical personnel will line the 26.2-mile course, waiting to treat runners for hypothermia or injuries. School buses will be converted to emergency shelters, and communities along the route are considering using public buildings as heated sanctuaries for shivering dropouts.

"It's extremely disappointing," race director Dave McGillivray said of the forecast, which called for heavy rain and easterly winds as high as 20 miles per hour.

As arriving runners looked to the skies yesterday, the Boston Athletic Association ratcheted up preparations for the 111th edition of the race, the world's oldest continuous marathon competition. The race has never been canceled because of weather, and Guy Morse, executive director of the BAA, said that only a major snowfall would stop this one.

"We'd only do if it there's a public safety issue." Morse said of a postponement or cancellation of the race, scheduled to start at 10 a.m. in Hopkinton.

The wheelchair race is also scheduled to proceed as scheduled, said BAA spokesman Jack Fleming.

Despite the dreary forecast, marathoners who picked up their numbers yesterday at the Hynes Convention Center seemed stoic about the weather, even excited about the extra challenge.

"If you've lived around here, you've trained in worse weather," said Tom Licciardello, 57, of North Andover, who will be running his 31st consecutive Boston Marathon. "If it's going to be bad, I hope it's really bad, because it will be an epic that you can tell your grandchildren, and it'll get bigger every year."

The National Weather Service predicted yesterday that the worst weather would hammer the region tomorrow night, with heavy rain and winds up to 30 miles per hour. The rain is expected to lighten by late Monday morning, but meteorologists said the storm might not moderate before noon, when the frontrunners are nearing the finish line at Copley Square.

In addition to potentially heavy rain and stiff winds, meteorologist Alan Dunham said marathoners could face temperatures no higher than the low 40s.

McGillivray said the conditions could slow the leaders by two or more minutes and back-of-the-packers by a half-hour.

Although the number of medical personnel will be the same as it has been for recent Boston Marathons, McGillivray said that a fleet of 500 buses, which are normally used to ferry runners and clothing bags back and forth from Hopkinton, will do double-duty this year as dry, heated shelters along the course.

The Red Cross also will be stationed at 25 locations along the route, as usual, and three tents for serious emergencies will be spaced along the hilly course. McGillivray said the BAA will try to provide heaters for many of those posts.

In addition, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency will have up to 100 staff members at its bunker in Framingham, said Peter Judge, the agency spokesman.

"There's no specific template for this," Judge said. "There's concern, obviously, but we feel comfortable about the safety of the runners, as long as they take precaution."

Deveda Mah, a psychologist and marathoner from Edmonton, Alberta , said she was crestfallen when she heard a rumor that the race could be canceled. Mah recently finished chemotherapy and radiation treatment for breast cancer, but she is a long-distance fanatic who has been looking forward to running her second Boston Marathon this year.

Mah said her doctors do not know she is running Monday. "I think I'm OK; I'm feeling better," said Mah, who flashed an ear-to-ear smile as she held her race number, 17398. "At least I have my hair back," she said of the effects of chemotherapy and radiation. "I'm so happy."

Mah said that she is not concerned about the weather, but that she will not take the elements lightly and will dress appropriately.

For marathoners, dressing appropriately will mean layers of noncotton clothing, staying hydrated, and paying strict attention to any symptoms of hypothermia.

If hypothermia develops, runners will discover that they "are going to be physically cold, and they'll be shivering," said Chris Troyanos, medical coordinator for the race. "When the shivering stops, that's an absolute sign that you need to seek medical attention. And by that time, it's very difficult to deal with."

In addition to layers, Troyanos recommended that runners wear a wool or stocking hat to retain some of the body heat that escapes through the head and gloves or mittens. He said he expects 5 to 8 percent of the runners to need treatment.

Dr. John Boyle, a runner and orthopedist from Beverly, advised runners with hypothermic symptoms to "get off the course and get into warm clothing." This will definitely be a problem if it's raining, because you lose body heat much quicker if you're wet."

Troyanos also urged runners "to take some responsibility as far as the decision-making process about whether this is the right thing for them."

Marathoners also need a good exit strategy, Troyanos said, in which they can meet their families and loved ones quickly after the race. Otherwise, standing after the finish in Copley Square, which traditionally is a windy and cold place, will be an invitation for hypothermia.

John Powers and Raja Mishra of the Globe staff and Globe correspondent Amanda Bergeron contributed to this report. Brian MacQuarrie can be reached at [email protected].

^^ Good luck tomorrow! Those conditions sound dreadful. I hope it turns out to be better than they expect.