This thread is for anyone who has either attempted to train for or completed a marathon. There have been probably dozens of posts from people interested in training for a marathon and looking for advice, and this could provide some useful information for those as well. Please include:

-Height/Weight/Age on day of your first race
-Running background prior to deciding to enter
-Training plan you followed
-Brief description of your experience and finishing time
-Whether you did subsequent marathons
-If you started to train, got hurt or lost interest and never did the race, please post about that as well.


Me:

-6'2" ~185lbs 25yo

-Dabbled in running a bit but never consistently, had done 4 previous half marathons but wasn't anywhere near my best shape when I decided to sign up for the marathon (I had done a 1:31 half 18 months prior and a 1:43 half 6 weeks before the marathon)

-No specific training, probably running around 20-25 miles per week for the previous two months, did one 16 mile run a week or two before the race

-Ran around 8 minute miles for the first 20, started cramping in my calves and walk/ran until mile 22, at which calf cramps became severe and would completely lock up my lower leg if I ever attempted to jog. Last 4.2 miles took 1hr 1 min. Finishing time 3:59

-I've since done 3 more marathons, although I've never committed to training for one properly.

Good Idea BB.

-Height/Weight/Age on day of your first race
6' 0"/180 lbs/45

-Running background prior to deciding to enter
Hadn't run in a few years. Prior to that, I ran about 5-5Ks and 1-10K a year for about 10 years. Was never very fast. And never ran a lot of weekly miles.

-Training plan you followed
Haphazard. Just tried to increase my weekly mileage. Didn't do any speed work. More or less stopped running 1.5 months before the race. Generally, my training sucked and I was poorly prepared for the race.

-Brief description of your experience and finishing time
Told my family members that came, to expect me to drop out at around 14-16 miles. Was stiff and sluggish for the first 8 miles. Had a burst of energy from miles 8-16. The crowd and the weather really got me going. Felt great. Started to struggle around mile 18. By mile 20 I was miserable. Mostly walking. Ran a little bit between water stops. But my joints really hurt. Ran the last 1.5 miles. Sprinted like a goof the last 200 yards. Finished 5:08.

-Whether you did subsequent marathons
Haven't had the chance yet, as my first marathon was in Oct. 2008. I'd like to run one a year now.

just saw this thread:


race day stats: 6'2"/148 lbs/28 yrs. old

running background: former junior national champion on the track; decided to move up to the marathon

training plan: modified version of renato canova's program (the greatest marathon coach of all-time imo, search for his posts on letsrun.com)... put in about 5000 miles in the year leading up to the race...

experience: made all of the rookie mistakes-- went out too fast, not enough fluids early, etc.-- cramped up and hobbled in just under 2:30... actually outkicked a guy the last 1/4 mile while alternating short bursts of "sprinting" with short periods of paralyzing cramps...

subsequently: lowered my pr, but injuries kept me from qualifying for the olympic trials...

jesus christ that's impressive.

Awesome thread. Nice going all. Impressive running GroundFloor.

Height/Weight/Age.

I was 6ft 168lb 23. I was 210lb 2 months before starting my training and about 190lb when i started.

Running background prior to deciding to enter

Nearly absolutely none other than randomly going out at most once a week for 25 mins. I picked a goal i thought i couldn't achieve and went with it. I asked a close family member who ran often but slow and short if he wanted in and he jumped at it. This was 7 months before.

Training plan you followed

I followed Hal Hidgon's beginner schedule but like an idiot modified it to unnecessary include speed work. The weeks before that started i'd go out for 4 or 5 mile runs 4 times a week and once again like an idiot just go flat out and as hard as i could the whole way.

If you started to train, got hurt or lost interest and never did the race, please post about that as well.

I completed my last long run of training the 20 miler, after skipping the week before 18 mile run. I finished in 3:30 running through tons of knee pain. I went out the following tuesday to start my taper of 5 miles and couldn't run more than 2 miles. I went to the physio the following day an got told no running for 6 months as my kneecap cartilage was so frayed from not tracking correctly (runners knee) that i barely missed out on an operation to clean it up.

I'll list my mistakes in the hopes others don't do the same:

• I was an absolute brute with my training and running. Every time i went out i loved to push myself for new times, distances or just exhaustion. All of this with no foundation caused alignments and caused runners knee.
• I added speed work in as a beginner. Which by everyone after i was told wasn't optimal.
• Missed an important 18 mile long run.
• In my early days on my 9 mile long run i felt great and decided to run a half marathon. Obviously stupid idea, this was the first day of my knee problems.
• Didn't stretch nearly enough. Most newbies to marathon training think they don't need to and i was no exception.
• Aiming for a time in my first marathon. I guess this was what my brute mentality came from. I wanted to complete my first in under 4hrs, so i'd wrongly kill myself with every run.

Whether you did subsequent marathons

I can't wait to do one. I love running still and can't wait to get back to it. I still need to complete that goal and i'm excited about being able to learn from my idiots ways. I'm excited to run in a lot of half marathons. The Liverpool Half Marathon was in one of my training runs and it was a great experience. I finished at 1:45hr.

In hindsight i loved having a goal and working towards it, the skills it taught me and the mental attitude it gave me.

Great idea.

Height/Weight/Age on day of your first race
5'11" / 150 lbs / 23 (first race: Chicago Marathon 2007)

Running background prior to deciding to enter
I played hockey in high school and continued to stay active in college through hockey and tennis, but always thought about running a marathon. I ran consistently 2-3 miles per day for 3 days a week when I was 21/22 but never pushed the distance until deciding to train for the marathon. My longest run before training was 5 miles in December 2006.

Training plan you followed
I researched a lot about distance running and decided to follow Hal Higdon's novice plan while incorporating Maffetone heart rate training. I ran all my training runs, no matter how slow, under a 180 - age (157) heart rate. Started in January 2007 running 14 minute miles and could barely keep my HR below 157. Stayed with the program religiously minus a few weeks where my shins hurt, and by my 20 miler I ran that at a roughly 9:30 pace, at the same heart rate. Overall I had very few injuries that sidelined me at all, which I attribute to running slow all the time.

Brief description of your experience and finishing time
Four or five days before the race we all knew it was going to be a hot one. Race day temperatures were up in the upper 70s/low 80s by the start time (8 am). I felt ready given I knew how my heart held up during training runs, but I paced myself a little slower for the added heat of the day. I was probably trained for a 4 hr finish in ideal conditions, but started at a 10 min/mile pace (4:22 finish). I ran something like a 2:13 first half but the course got hotter during the second half. Race was "cancelled" when I was at about mile 23. Course was a disaster miles 19-26 - people were passing out left and right, ambulance sirens were constant, volunteers were pouring jugs of water on runners, cops told people to walk the rest of the way. I remember a police helicopter flying very low down one of the main roads toward the finish, telling all runners to walk or they could be arrested. I had to walk 1-2 minutes per mile the last 7 or so miles because it was so hot, but managed a 4:39 finish time.

Whether you did subsequent marathons
I felt I got shafted since my first one was called off, so I wanted a fair shot at it again. Did Chicago 2008, used the same training plan with HR training since I didn't keep up with running through winter. Work got extremely busy in July (I flew ~40k miles) but managed to keep some running in while I was traveling. Race day this year was in the mid 80s AGAIN, but not as humid. I paced myself as well as I could have hoped (1:59 first half, 2:00 second half) and squeaked under my 4 hour time goal at 3:59.

I love running but am going to take this year off marathons and focus on some shorter races, including one half. Ideally I'd love to try and make it to Boston but running would take over my life trying to hit the 3:10 qualifying time, and I have too many interests/things going on to run that much at this point in my life.