Running my first Marathon on Sunday!

I've done all the training! I'm ready to go! So excited.

I definitely have some taper madness going

Good luck! Make sure you don't over-do it and hit that dreaded wall. Stick to your pace and enjoy it

So excited for you! I'm running my first half in October and if all goes well my first full in April next year at Louisvilles Derby Marathon. 18,000 runners.. Now that's a race

Right on!

Best of luck!  Last minute advice:  Start slow + finish strong.  You've done the training; you've earned the event.  Have fun!

Second Dfish. Run your race. Don't let anyone sucker you out of your pace and your strategy.

Have fun and good luck!!!!

Good luck!

Let us know how it went.

OGR

^What they said!

Good Luck.

Awesome! Good luck!

Good luck, PK!

Wow, I just wrote a looooong list of things  ...  and then the computer blipped  ...  and it was gone.  Maybe later I will write it again.  #@$^*&^%

Good luck! I hope it goes well for you!

I just finished my first 1/2, am running another 1/2 in 4 months, but I am thinking a full might be in the works for next year! 

I can't wait to hear how it went.  I love hearing running stories!!

So here goes  ...  again.

I have run dozens of marathons.  You need to be disciplined and organized.  I plan everything.  I work backwards from the start time.  Here is my schedule from my last one.

Sunday

8:00  Start

6:00  Arrive at start.  Plan for 45 min waits at portacans.

5:30  Leave hotel

3:30  Breakfast

3:00  Get up, shower

Saturday

8:00 Lights out.  Yes, this is early.  But I like 7 hours sleep.  And I know it is best to get up early.  One of the biggest mistakes is to stay up late the night before then run with very little sleep.

7:00  Layout clothes, recharge Garmin, pin on bib and chip

4:30 Dinner.  Don't try to eat at 6 or 7.  There will be too many other runners and the normal Sat night crowd, and you wait an hour, then eat late. 

Do not overeat.  It makes for a bad run the next day.  Besides, it doesn't really help with your stored energy.

The day or two before drink plenty of water.  Since it will be warm, I like to drink chicken stock.  Helps with electrolytes and salt.

As to the marathon itself, plan your pace.  I write on my arm the cumulative times for 5, 10, 13, 16 and 21 miles.  That way I can check my progress against my goal.  In the first half, you can use the 5, 10 and HM pace info.  In the second half it is easier to calculate based on what is left, 10 or 5 miles.  Do not go out too fast.  You will have adrenaline, it seems easy, it is not wise. 

Make sure you take your energy.  I take mine at miles 7, 14 and 21.  You are likely to be running for 3 or 4 hours or longer.  So you will need the energy.  Be careful about taking food from the crowd.  It is not always safe to eat  ...  and can sometimes upset your stomach.  That is not good while running for hours.

I carry a bottle of water at the start.  That way I can skip the early water stations and the madness there.  Usually, I can get 5 miles before I toss the empty bottle.

Put Tylenol and electrolytes in a zip lock bag.  If you have pain, take the Tylenol.  Do not use Advil or Alleve DURING a marathon.  They are tough on your liver which is working overtime to produce energy.  They are OK afterwards though.

If it is a large event, you need to carry a phone.  Otherwise, you will struggle to find your family afterwards.  But, don't carry too much crap in your waist bag. 

Men who wear a wicking shirt, should put bandaids on their nipples.  Otherwise they will chafe and bleed.

26 miles at pace is a stress on your body.  You have to accept it.  At some point, your body will run out of readily stored energy.  This is called "The Wall".  In spite of it, slow your pace a little but plow on.  You have to just put those miles behind you.

Run your race, not someone else's.  Have fun.

Bump!

How was it?

Thanks for all of the well wishes and advice everyone!! I ran the marathon yesterday. It went pretty well. I fell a bit short of the time I wanted but I finished!

It was a bit warmer and more sunny than expected I think that may have slowed me down. I had sooo much fun! It was completely exhausting and amazing.

My fiance was waiting at the finish line to run the last 50meters with me. We got a picture of us at the finish together! I am so sore I can barely move today lol.

For anyone considering a marathon I highly recomend it. The marathon is something I thought I could never do just a year ago. Our bodies are amazing things.

Oh! I set a new Half Marathon PR (2:11:02) and  30km PR (3:10:48) so I was pretty happy about that!

Congrats!!!  So glad it went well, and even if you didn't get the time you wanted, you ran a MARATHON!!!  :)

Kate, congrats.

As to your time, heat does that.  I seldom run marathons this late in the spring because of that.  Marathon season is basically Oct to April.

As to the soreness, wear it as a badge of honor.  When you try to walk down a flight of stairs, and everyone asks if you are OK because you are struggling  ...  tell them you ran a marathon.  BTW, after a couple of marathons, you no longer will have that level of soreness afterwards.

You are now  ...  a MARATHONER!!!

Way to go, PK!