How bad is a marathon

[El&Asmom]

So I have been running to get back into shape after babies for the last 1.5years. I've run 2 halfs with another planned in a month, and done 3 triathlons including one olympic. The olympic took me just under 3 hours and I felt good afterward. I run, bike or swim 5-6 days a week.

My mental block is with a full marathon. It should take me about 4 hours based on my pace, but the thought of running that long still intimidates me. My longest run thus far is 14 miles and I felt fine, I just kept thinking that a full would be 12 on top of that and it scares that crap out of me. I''m signing up for the full for marathon weekend and already have BWV booked. I'm just wondering how miserable I'm going to be. If you train well with a good training plan, are you still miserable? What have your experiences been with your first full?
I always told myself that I will never run a marathon before I got back into shape, and I can't believe I'm at a place where I'll be doing one soon.

 

[FFigawi]

Personally, I don't think a marathon is very miserable at all. I've only had one where I finished and felt like absolute crap. All the rest ranged somewhere between feeling ok and feeling great. My first full was actually one where I felt pretty good. I ran most of the way with my training buddies, and we talked and joked and had a great time together.

There's really no way to predict if you're going to be miserable or not. Well, if you're woefully undertrained, the odds of it certainly go up. Other than that, though, you can never really tell what's going to happen on race day. The best thing to do is not dwell on it. Train well, eat right, sleep right, and stand on that start line knowing you did everything right and be confident you'll have a great race. If you're mentally prepared to have a good race, that's more than half the battle right there.

 

[rubato]

For me, a training run of 20 miles changed my thought patterns. Instead of only having run 14 and still having 12 to go, I ran 20 and only had 6.2 to go. After running 20, 6 is easy. I ran my first full this January as part of my Goofy weekend. I had moments (around mile 22 or so) that were mentally draining, but by the end, I was as hyped as I was at the start. Plus, I think having the mind set that you can always just walk it if you get in trouble really helped me.

 

[bunnyfoo]

My longest race prior to running the marathon in January was a 30K but my longest training run (due to injury) had only been 14 miles. If it's your first marathon, it's better to go in with the mindset of just finishing, in no specific time frame. For me, it helped that I was familiar with the course - I'd done most of the first 13 miles as part of the half marathon and the last 15K as part of the Minnie 15K. I also ran with rubato and even though I did all my training runs solo, it really helped to have someone else to run with - she kept me going when I wanted to quit and having someone to talk made the time pass quickly.

 

[FireDancer]

I found the race to by much tougher than a half, especially the training, but crossing the line gave me just as much more of a sense of accomplishment.

My first full was bad because I made a lot of the normal rookie mistakes. I didn't have enough mileage going into it, I didn't fuel enough before it, I went out too fast, etc. For my second I used a plan as a guide to get my base mileage up, had a Garmin to watch my pace at the beginning, and was more careful with my fueling before the race.

I prefer halves and do at least 3 a year but will continue to do fulls. I am determined to qualify for Boston on my next full (I need a 3:05 now) and am aiming for an Oct/Nov 2012 race.

I would say go for it but plan on doing two. I have yet to hear of anyone other than a pro have a good first marathon but just about all of them were glad they took what they learned and tried a second.

 

[J3nn78]

I don't think a full is bad either. The hardest part for me were the last few long runs-I went up to 22 miles prior. They were in December and they sucked. But, I was also running with a torn meniscus.

Sounds like you are already very active. I think you can easily tackle a full. For me (a full time working mom) I just had a hard time fitting the training into my schedule. The race was great and I would do it again in a heartbeat if I had more free time. My next full will be in January 2013 when I do Goofy.

 

[jmasgat]

So I'll give you my opinion without reading any of the other posts....

My first full was Disney 2010. My training went pretty well, except towards the end I had a recurrence of ITB and took it easy towards the end of the plan. 18 miles was fine. My 20 mile run sucked beyond belief--perhaps due to running through snow/sleet. Mercifully, the ITB didn't recur on race day--as a precaution I went to the expo and had the KT Tape guys work their magic on both legs, including a balky thigh strain.

Race day was cold--as I like it. But I just didn't "feel it". That happens, I guess. I felt okay through to 16 miles and after that it was a struggle. I developed a blood blister, which mercifully popped on it's own. BUT....there was no way in hell I was going to give up. I ran the whole race. I gave myself an in-race adjustment of another walk break and I did it.

It was tough--no kidding. But I'm glad I did it. I have since done two other marathons and it has been better.

So I say go for it. Don't expect a bed of roses. Be realistic in your goals and adjust on-course as necessary to get you through. It will feel incredible when you cross that line.

Maura

 

[ironz]

So I'll give you my opinion without reading any of the other posts....

My first full was Disney 2010. My training went pretty well, except towards the end I had a recurrence of ITB and took it easy towards the end of the plan. 18 miles was fine. My 20 mile run sucked beyond belief--perhaps due to running through snow/sleet. Mercifully, the ITB didn't recur on race day--as a precaution I went to the expo and had the KT Tape guys work their magic on both legs, including a balky thigh strain.

Race day was cold--as I like it. But I just didn't "feel it". That happens, I guess. I felt okay through to 16 miles and after that it was a struggle. I developed a blood blister, which mercifully popped on it's own. BUT....there was no way in hell I was going to give up. I ran the whole race. I gave myself an in-race adjustment of another walk break and I did it.

It was tough--no kidding. But I'm glad I did it. I have since done two other marathons and it has been better.

So I say go for it. Don't expect a bed of roses. Be realistic in your goals and adjust on-course as necessary to get you through. It will feel incredible when you cross that line.

Maura

Good post. It was so cold in 2010!!

OP....I did a marathon before I got into triathlon. I felt (and still do) that tri was much easier, even longer tris up to half ironman distance. Actually, I think even an Ironman marathon is 'easier' for me somehow than a standalone marathon. I know it doesn't make sense, but I'm not the only one of my friends who thinks so. Weird.

Sounds like you have a great fitness base, so I bet you will be fine. Be careful with time goals, since it's your first...but it is a good time, esp the WDW marathon! So much entertainment along the way, and you're never alone on the course, so the time and miles pass relatively quickly.

 

[El&Asmom]

Thanks for the responses. I like the idea of thinking that 26 is only 6 miles more than 20. I'm pretty sure I could go out and run 20 today. Plus I have 4 more months of training. I just hate to train in the winter and hope that December isn't horrible in Chicago.

I think this will be one of those races that really "mean" something to me. Like my first triathlon did. I went from not being able to run a block, to doing a sprint tri in 3 months. I had a benign brain tumor removed before my kids were born, and I didn't think I'd ever be able to ride a bike again due to balance issues. One day, I decided I needed to "tri", , and never stopped. When I cross that finish line and get my Mickey medal it will be a huge accomplishment.
Thanks for the all the words of wisdom. It's great hearing peoples stories.

 

[laughinplace199]

It sounds like you're in great shape already if you can do 14 miles with no problems. If you use a good training plan, I think you'll find the training is not too bad. I think for me the hardest training hurdle was the 17 mile run. It just seemed so much longer the 12, 13, or 15 mile runs I had done up to that point. But once I had the really long runs (17, 18, 20 milers) under my belt, I felt great.

I did run into some ITB issues during my training, but since you're already doing halfs (halves?) and triathlons, you are already off to a great start. I also overhydrated during my first marathon, so I wasn't feeling my best for the last few miles.

I train outside (I live in Boston) and it's really not too bad. I have had to reschedule a couple of long runs around snowstorms, but it hasn't been too hard to work around.

In some ways, I can compare running my first marathon to childbirth. As soon as it was over, I vowed I’d never do it again (did I mention I’m a mother of three? ). A few days later, my memory of the really tough parts had blurred a bit. A few days later, I found myself thinking of signing up again. I did sign up again and that race went much better. I will be doing marathon #3 in January. See you there!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I have to agree with Maura. I completed my first WDW Marathon in January and it is honestly the most difficult thing I have ever done. As a caveat to that, my first Half Marathon was definitely not something I would have put under the Picnic category either. I hope that I enjoy my second Marathon more than I did this one. Because it was more a test of my will than anything else. I got up there in mileage during my training so it wasn't like I didn't prepare but the mental part...I did great for the Half Marathon part because it wasn't my first time with those distances and felt great...but then I got over the 13 miles and suddenly had the realization that crap, I am only half way there!! In the end, I found a friend along the course and that helped a lot. So, if you have a training buddy, join a training club or just find someone that has done the race before to help you through the course, then I would highly recommend finding them to lean on so to speak.

So, although the Marathon isn't that easy, I am glad that I took the leap. Even happier that we had the ice/snow storm in Atlanta this year so I got the week after the race completely off. I needed it to recuperate. But, I think next year will be different.

 

[John VN]

IMO, you are well trained, you have competition experience and you are a focused-disciplined individual therefore you will have NO PROBLEM completing a marathon.

Coming from a bicycling background, I would compare the increase of 13.1 miles to 26.2 miles the same as 50 miles to 100 miles in bicycling. Sounds daunting but really isn't for someone with attributes such as yourself.

My first marathon this past January was the culmination of a Dopey Weekend. I had no problems other than sore feet and muscles after finishing but by Monday I was doing much better.

Train smart, stay healthy, don't over do it and more than anything else, HAVE FUN.

 

[buckeyecinderella]

So, how bad is the Goofy? (Maybe we need another thread for this...)

 

[SAHDad]

So, how bad is the Goofy? (Maybe we need another thread for this...)

The Goofy wasn't so bad. What made it hard the year I did it was the heat & humidity, which were a shock coming after a Michigan winter. I ran with a friend, and recall commenting that I started the day feeling like I had run four or five miles already, so the marathon felt more like a 50k than 26.2, but I pushed a stroller around the parks the rest of the day, and hit the parks hard the day after it.

I have had rough marathons, but mainly when I don't train in a serious way, and lack the long runs that make the marathon tolerable. If you train well, and run your race at an appropriate pace, you should have no problems.

 

[FFigawi]

So, how bad is the Goofy? (Maybe we need another thread for this...)

Goofy's not bad at all. At least the way I approach it anyway. I view it as a chance to enjoy all the patented Disney Magic, and thus I don't worry about finishing in a certain time. I treat both races as nice, easy long runs with an opportunity to get some really fun pictures along the way. I run the same pace both days, about 30-60 seconds slower than my normal marathon pace, just like I do with my regular long runs. Other people will race the half and survive the full, or go really slow for the half and race the full, but I find it more enjoyable to not make either of them a race and just go have fun.

 

[Nayrb]

Goofy's not bad at all. At least the way I approach it anyway. I view it as a chance to enjoy all the patented Disney Magic, and thus I don't worry about finishing in a certain time. I treat both races as nice, easy long runs with an opportunity to get some really fun pictures along the way. I run the same pace both days, about 30-60 seconds slower than my normal marathon pace, just like I do with my regular long runs. Other people will race the half and survive the full, or go really slow for the half and race the full, but I find it more enjoyable to not make either of them a race and just go have fun.

I really enjoy your approach to the goofy! I have signed up for the goofy this year and am extremely nerveous about it. But your approach is kinda the way I am planning on doing nice and slow and enjoy it. My goal is to finish the marathon and enjoy it!

 

[sunshine girl]

I think a marathon is obviously tough physically, but if you are able to stick to a training plan and get your long training runs in, this will help you get over the mental hurdles.

My strategy was to carefully prepare for the longer training runs (15 miles and up) like mini-trial-runs of the race. So, I ate what I planned to eat on race day and the night before, and got up and ran at the same hour of the day as the race would be. I practiced my own little "race day routine" which helped me mentally prepare, and also refine the routine.

Even though race day is totally different due to all the excitement, transportation, getting up insanely early, standing around waiting to run, etc... I find that controlling all the factors that are under my influence and practicing my plan on those long runs helps me feel confident.

You can do it!!