Calgary Marathon/Half/10k/5k is May 29th. Who's running?

[HotHotHeat]

Which distance are you doing? How's training going?

I'll be running the half this year. First one I've done. The training schedule is fairly intense, but it sure whips you into shape.


If you're looking for more info or to register, go here:

http://calgarymarathon.com/

[RatherDashing]

I'm running the full. It'll be my first proper marathon, and I'm pretty excited for it.

What is your training schedule like? I pulled one out of John Stanton's book (the guy who owns The Running Room), and it is working pretty well for me, although the snow we've gotten the last few weeks has put a bit of a damper on my training.

[HotHotHeat]

Yea the snow is making training a pain... I've just been using treadmills, which gets really boring on a 10 mile run.

I found a schedule from Adidas that's been great. Running 6 days a week with different focuses each day, I think it's fairly traditional. The cool part is where I used to dread the long run days, they're actually becoming the ones I look forward to most now.

[C-Four]

I'll probably be running the half this year

[MoneyGuy]

I don't run anymore but the Calgary Maclin Marathon was my first marathon. Ran 3:53 but really punished myself and gave it up for years. I knew I could do much better and used Jeff Galloway's system. It's in one of his early books. It's quite intense with some runs at distances greater than the marathon and plenty of fartlek. I ran my second in 3:18 and the next two (my last) were just under three hours. Galloway's book helped me immensely.

Running the half.. It'll be my second, but my first was in Vancouver (sea level) 4 years ago. Haven't been training too hard (which may be be my downfall) and I'm not sure how my knees will hold up.

But I did the Mount Royal Sprint Triathlon last weekend (my first Tri) and I think I did ok, other than the bike which s*cked because I used my tank of a mountain bike. But at least I had a top 5 time in the swim!

[The Goon]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

Running the half.. It'll be my second, but my first was in Vancouver (sea level) 4 years ago. Haven't been training too hard (which may be be my downfall) and I'm not sure how my knees will hold up.

But I did the Mount Royal Sprint Triathlon last weekend (my first Tri) and I think I did ok, other than the bike which s*cked because I used my tank of a mountain bike. But at least I had a top 5 time in the swim!

I have been toying with the idea of doing a triathlon (smaller distance) this year or next year. Did you do specific training around it with a group? It seems a bit intimidating.

Awesome job on the swim!

[Cowperson]

I'm running the half this year. Done it a number of times before and the full marathon.

This winter has been tough for training though. Ran lots in Hawaii a month ago but not much just lately and now at the tail-end of a cold so had to miss the Police Half last weekend.

Time to go hard core!!

I think I'm registered for Cochrane's half too. And Canmore. And . . . . I'll do the Harvest Half.

At my age, I'm not going to get any faster. I'm just trying not to get much slower.

Cowperson

Originally Posted by The Goon

I have been toying with the idea of doing a triathlon (smaller distance) this year or next year. Did you do specific training around it with a group? It seems a bit intimidating.

Awesome job on the swim!

Actually, I signed up for it 10 days before the event A little last minute, so: no. No training at all. The City has Tri training and "Brick" courses that you can sign up for.

I figured that I'm a good swimmer, I jog/run a fair bit and I know how to ride a bike... that it should be fairly easy.

If you're going to do the MRC one, I heard you need to sign up early in the year because it usually sells out fast. Although this year was an anomaly and I was lucky to get in last minute.

I wouldn't call the MRC one intimidating... there was a lot of varied skill levels. When we were being marshalled for the swim, I was thinking that some of these guys don't look like atheletes, but great for them for getting out there and trying.

[freakinsaprikin]

I'm signed up for the full marathon. This will be my first.

Like other's have been saying, training has been tough with the crappy weather!

[Komskies]

I'm not running in this, but my mom is doing the Forzani's 5k on Mother's Day and I decided to join her for it. I hate running though.

[scotty2hotty]

On a semi-related note ... anyone study POSE Method or Chi Running?

I've never taken any actual classes, but through the books and youtube vids I was able to greatly improve my technique. (I think, anyway )

[scotty2hotty]

Originally Posted by The Goon

I have been toying with the idea of doing a triathlon (smaller distance) this year or next year. Did you do specific training around it with a group? It seems a bit intimidating.

Awesome job on the swim!

I signed up for my first Triathlon last year without knowing how to swim. Well, I mean that I could stay afloat, but I had NO front crawl skills what-so-ever. I started teaching myself how to swim 1 month before the triathlon. I came in 3rd last place in the swim ..... and had a TERRIFIC time!

Triathlons are extremely friendly events. You will see people of every shape, size and skill level. They are simply fun events and you should not feel intimidated at all. I was nervous too last year and I just finished my 6th race this past weekend.

[Yasa]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Yea the snow is making training a pain... I've just been using treadmills, which gets really boring on a 10 mile run.

I found a schedule from Adidas that's been great. Running 6 days a week with different focuses each day, I think it's fairly traditional. The cool part is where I used to dread the long run days, they're actually becoming the ones I look forward to most now.

Do you have a link or anything to that schedule? I'd like to take a look. I've stopped running for a while, but need to get back into it. I'd always make excuses like "I don't want to" and "I really don't want to" but now...I want to. Plus I have new headphones that don't fall out of my ears.

[macker]

http://pfitzinger.com/effectiveplan.shtml

or Daniels Running Formula (Jack Daniels) pick up the books or just get it off of running forums or other sites as these two are very commonly used. Very demanding but you can knock off some serious minutes off of your times. Kinda militant but effective. If you enjoy pushing yourself look into these but if you just want to run more casually there is nothing wrong with the programs at the back of the Stanton books that you can get at the Running Room, as someone pointed out.

RE : Pose Running I agree you shouldn't pay to learn to run naturally and most of what Romanov teaches is easily found on youtube. Been using a hybrid of this for the past few years and it definitely works. He used to allow you to email in video and then he would send you back intructions on how to improve your form.

Favorite books on running : Once a runner, Born to Run and Personal Best. Good luck to everyone running!

[macker]

Originally Posted by The Goon

I have been toying with the idea of doing a triathlon (smaller distance) this year or next year. Did you do specific training around it with a group? It seems a bit intimidating.

Awesome job on the swim!

If you go to the smaller races in Vulcan or Turner Valley you can likely get away with minimal training and you won't find the race environment or courses intimidating. Once you get to the Olympic distance and beyond more training will be required. At the above races you will see every level and will have people on all types of bikes and swimming in all sorts of manners. Both pools are warm which is half the battle in the water!

[VladtheImpaler]

I think it was stupid to move the marathon from July to May, given that you need 18 weeks to train, and given the weather. Training on the tread-mill is borderline useless. I'm missing this year's due to being too fat . I want to do one every year, but given the crappy scheduling in Calgary, might have to make a vacation out of it, and go somewhere more suitable.
BTW, for those running the full for the first time, watch out for the Shaganappi hill. It's not hard going up in the first part of the race - it's actually coming down at the end that really kills the legs...

[C-Four]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

I think it was stupid to move the marathon from July to May, given that you need 18 weeks to train, and given the weather. Training on the tread-mill is borderline useless. I'm missing this year's due to being too fat . I want to do one every year, but given the crappy scheduling in Calgary, might have to make a vacation out of it, and go somewhere more suitable.
BTW, for those running the full for the first time, watch out for the Shaganappi hill. It's not hard going up in the first part of the race - it's actually coming down at the end that really kills the legs...

Agreed! And running through the stampede grounds was always a treat too

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

Triathlons are extremely friendly events. You will see people of every shape, size and skill level. They are simply fun events and you should not feel intimidated at all. I was nervous too last year and I just finished my 6th race this past weekend.

This!
When I was trying to coax my tank to move during the bike, I would say out of the 15 people that passed me gave me a cheer and told me to push hard. One girl said "go mountain bike! Hardcore!" after giving her the finger I realized she knew the hell I was going through and was trying give me encouragement.

And thanks for the suggestion of the Pose thing! I'm a definate heel striker. If I ever get over this cold I'm going to give that a try!

[red sky]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

This!
When I was trying to coax my tank to move during the bike, I would say out of the 15 people that passed me gave me a cheer and told me to push hard. One girl said "go mountain bike! Hardcore!" after giving her the finger I realized she knew the hell I was going through and was trying give me encouragement.

And thanks for the suggestion of the Pose thing! I'm a definate heel striker. If I ever get over this cold I'm going to give that a try!

Is this the Sprint Tri that you are refering to?