First Marathon. Tips or advice?

[J epworth]

I'm starting to get very restless leading up to the Marathon on Sunday. I know it's to be expected but I just feel like I'm sitting doing nothing all day after running so many miles the weeks before.

Oh and for those not running in the Calgary Marathon, if you're around downtown on Saturday you should check out the expo at the big four. Simon Whitfield will be speaking at 11AM, I'm looking forward to seeing that.

Also, Cowperson, are you organizing the Millarville Run to the Farmer's Market?

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

I'm starting to get very restless leading up to the Marathon on Sunday. I know it's to be expected but I just feel like I'm sitting doing nothing all day after running so many miles the weeks before.

Oh and for those not running in the Calgary Marathon, if you're around downtown on Saturday you should check out the expo at the big four. Simon Whitfield will be speaking at 11AM, I'm looking forward to seeing that.

Also, Cowperson, are you organizing the Millarville Run to the Farmer's Market?

You'll be glad you were taking it easy this week in the middle of the race. I'm running the Calgary half.

I'm taking a break at the Calgary Marathon Expo right now actually. Getting the Millarville Half Marathon booth set up.

Won't be here all the time but our Ag Society and Half Marathon presention includes Longview Jerky Shop and Banuka Bakery and their delicious products, representing Farmers Market vendors, a genuine Dream Outhome By Avi Homes - an outhouse that's a raffle prize for the Priddis & Millarville Fair, and, of course, the Half Marathon.

The health and fire inspectors were having a good laugh over the outhouse but I couldn't sell them a $5 raffle ticket. If you're a winner, we will deliver in the middle of the night to your enemies or friends within a 50 km radius. Draw is at the Fair on August 17.

I'm the Race Director for the Millarville "Run To The Farmers' Market" Half & Relay coming up on June 15.

We have examples of our hand-crafted, clay-fired Finishers Medals, made by Lopinto Pottery, also a Millarville Farmers Market vendor, on hand as well at the Expo.

www.millarvillehalfmarathon.com to register and www.facebook.com/millarvillehalfmarathon for images of our shirts and medals.

Strong field of frontrunners starting to show up in our race. Melissa Kendrick (former winner of the womens side of the Calgary Marathon plus 10 km Calgary winner and now back to defend her Millarville title), Nathan Kendrick, Duncan Marsden, Dave Proctor (just won the Canadian 100 km ultra a few weeks ago, Nadyia Fry (second place, Calagary Marathon womens side two years ago). We expect more.

Register now!!!

Cowperson

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

Congrats!! Only 1 Hour and 20 mins faster and you will be punching your ticket to Boston.

Was that really a congratulations?

Hell, even if I doubled my typical 1:44 half time, I wouldn't be close to 3 hours.

[fundmark19]

Very much so! I feel like I'm about to die after running a half anyone who can do a full gets my full respect! And my half is 147 ish

[TheGrimm]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

You'll be glad you were taking it easy this week in the middle of the race. I'm running the Calgary half.

I'm taking a break at the Calgary Marathon Expo right now actually. Getting the Millarville Half Marathon booth set up.

Won't be here all the time but our Ag Society and Half Marathon presention includes Longview Jerky Shop and Banuka Bakery and their delicious products, representing Farmers Market vendors, a genuine Dream Outhome By Avi Homes - an outhouse that's a raffle prize for the Priddis & Millarville Fair, and, of course, the Half Marathon.

The health and fire inspectors were having a good laugh over the outhouse but I couldn't sell them a $5 raffle ticket. If you're a winner, we will deliver in the middle of the night to your enemies or friends within a 50 km radius. Draw is at the Fair on August 17.

I'm the Race Director for the Millarville "Run To The Farmers' Market" Half & Relay coming up on June 15.

We have examples of our hand-crafted, clay-fired Finishers Medals, made by Lopinto Pottery, also a Millarville Farmers Market vendor, on hand as well at the Expo.

www.millarvillehalfmarathon.com to register and www.facebook.com/millarvillehalfmarathon for images of our shirts and medals.

Strong field of frontrunners starting to show up in our race. Melissa Kendrick (former winner of the womens side of the Calgary Marathon plus 10 km Calgary winner and now back to defend her Millarville title), Nathan Kendrick, Duncan Marsden, Dave Proctor (just won the Canadian 100 km ultra a few weeks ago, Nadyia Fry (second place, Calagary Marathon womens side two years ago). We expect more.

Register now!!!

Cowperson

If you were there yesterday afternoon I probably saw you as my wife and I were down there picking up our bibs for Sunday. Novice runners here, did my first ever 5k last fall, we are doing the 10k on Sunday though I am a bit of a hurting unit.

Anyone here ever deal with posterior shin splints? I've been trying to kick them for about 2 months off and on resting, I have a feeling I am just not easing off enough, but it's frustrating trying to train and recover from them at the same time.

[Dodsdomd]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

I'm starting to get very restless leading up to the Marathon on Sunday. I know it's to be expected but I just feel like I'm sitting doing nothing all day after running so many miles the weeks before.

Oh and for those not running in the Calgary Marathon, if you're around downtown on Saturday you should check out the expo at the big four. Simon Whitfield will be speaking at 11AM, I'm looking forward to seeing that.

Also, Cowperson, are you organizing the Millarville Run to the Farmer's Market?

I'm getting a bit edgy/nervous myself. This tapering makes sense but feels so, so wrong! Actually don't mind the nervousness and anticipation. Really trying to drink it in. Will never have this virgin marathon feeling again. Does that sound strange?

What have you been eating last couple days? You going above your usual caloric intake?

[TheGrimm]

Reading through this thread makes me never want to try a full marathon, not sure if that was the desired effect but it sounds like WAY too much work for a lazy guy like me.

[Arsenal14]

So, today's Calgary Marathon was my first (4:23!) and I've got to ask: what would possess somebody to do more than one race? I understand doing one. You are proving you can do it and you don't know any better. But to sign up to do it again? Do these people have a bad memory, enjoy pain or somehow find this to be "fun"?

Or maybe I'm just very, very sore right now and a few days from now everything will be better...

[Cowperson]

Nm

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Arsenal14

So, today's Calgary Marathon was my first (4:23!) and I've got to ask: what would possess somebody to do more than one race? I understand doing one. You are proving you can do it and you don't know any better. But to sign up to do it again? Do these people have a bad memory, enjoy pain or somehow find this to be "fun"?...

Congrats on your race. It's a tough thing to do.

Why do it? Because its there.

Post-marathon depression . . . a real thing per the link below. A worthwhile read for you because of your question above.

http://running.about.com/od/marathon...Race-Blues.htm

To be honest, every year I like travelling to a few different places to run races, which keeps it interesting. In the last year, Los Angeles Marathon, Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon in Scottsdale and even a 5 km in Hawaii. Mrs. Cowperson and I were just talking about the Loch Ness Marathon today as a matter of fact. New twists in different places. If we want to go to a place, I'll look for a race in that place around the dates we will be there.

If and when I do another marathon, it will be someplace else for a new race experience.

Ran the Calgary Half Marathon today in 1:53:26. Old guy speed!!!

Cowperson

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Arsenal14

So, today's Calgary Marathon was my first (4:23!) and I've got to ask: what would possess somebody to do more than one race? I understand doing one. You are proving you can do it and you don't know any better. But to sign up to do it again? Do these people have a bad memory, enjoy pain or somehow find this to be "fun"?

Or maybe I'm just very, very sore right now and a few days from now everything will be better...

I gave my speech yesterday:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kyvbdsx14qxck5e/NS%20PRD.docx

Day of race: couldn't move AT ALL
Day 1: walk a half hour
Day 2: walk 1 hour, bike 1 hour
Day 3: bike 3 hours
Didn't even TRY running until last night (Day 6)

[Dodsdomd]

Well that was something else!! haha What an experience! I finished in 4:21. Not going to lie, was hoping for a better time for my first marathon. I was golden at at 3:45 pace until km33. I suffered from a rank left calf issue from 33 on. Don't want to use that as an excuse but it certainly didn't help anything. I said this was going to be my one and only, I reckon that won't be the case.

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by Dodsdomd

Well that was something else!! haha What an experience! I finished in 4:21. Not going to lie, was hoping for a better time for my first marathon. I was golden at at 3:45 pace until km33. I suffered from a rank left calf issue from 33 on. Don't want to use that as an excuse but it certainly didn't help anything. I said this was going to be my one and only, I reckon that won't be the case.

Congrats on the first finish! It's fricken tough eh?

I hit the wall at around 33km as well. Was perfect for 3:45 pace then my legs just weren't responding anymore. Was able to grind out 3:53. Couldn't believe how long the last 10km felt, but I already want to figure out now what my next marathon or challenge will be. Want to do the millarville half but still don't know yet if I will be in town that weekend.

[Dodsdomd]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

Congrats on the first finish! It's fricken tough eh?

I hit the wall at around 33km as well. Was perfect for 3:45 pace then my legs just weren't responding anymore. Was able to grind out 3:53. Couldn't believe how long the last 10km felt, but I already want to figure out now what my next marathon or challenge will be. Want to do the millarville half but still don't know yet if I will be in town that weekend.

Congrats on you 3:53! That is a great time!!

Yeah the last 10k was madness. I lost so much pace then. The final 2km felt like forever. Great learning experience though. There is a 30k run here in September I'm gonna give a whirl. That should be easy peasy right?!!?? haha

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Dodsdomd

Congrats on you 3:53! That is a great time!!

Yeah the last 10k was madness. I lost so much pace then. The final 2km felt like forever. Great learning experience though. There is a 30k run here in September I'm gonna give a whirl. That should be easy peasy right?!!?? haha

My first marathon was 18 years ago . . . . I was on a 3:23 pace through 32 km and then cramped up badly in the legs, hopping on one leg the final 10 km and finishing in 4:09.

Funny to read everyone's weekend cramping issues with about 10 km to go . . . . funny for me, not for you of course, just because of bad but now old memories.

Great job!!!

Cowperson

[macker]

Calgary would be wise to adopt what Edmonton does and stager the start of the 1/2 and full so that there isn't soo many people starting at one time. Not sure why they do this but most big races don't. Good race otherwise aside from having to hold back on pacing as 1/2 marathoners are cranking it up. Saw the guy wearing full lacrosse gear on the way back in on memorial drive and he looked gassed! Did anyone hear if he made it back ok? Finish? Perfect conditions to run without lacrosse gear on!

[FireInTheHole]

Originally Posted by macker

Calgary would be wise to adopt what Edmonton does and stager the start of the 1/2 and full so that there isn't soo many people starting at one time. Not sure why they do this but most big races don't. Good race otherwise aside from having to hold back on pacing as 1/2 marathoners are cranking it up. Saw the guy wearing full lacrosse gear on the way back in on memorial drive and he looked gassed! Did anyone hear if he made it back ok? Finish? Perfect conditions to run without lacrosse gear on!

Martin Parnell is the guy who was in the lacross gear. He was going for a Guinness world record - had to finish in under 4 hours but didn't make it. He did finish, but in something like 4:20. He said it felt like his head was getting microwaved in that black helmut.

[Bagor]

The Kenyan long distance runner Wilson Kipsang claimed the men's marathon world record by 15 seconds as he stormed to the Berlin title on Sunday.The 31-year-old Kipsang clocked a time of 2hr 3min 22sec to better the previous mark set by his compatriot Patrick Makau in the same race two years ago.
Makau's time of 2hr 3min 42sec had been in Kipsang's sights heading into the 40th staging of the marathon around the German capital and the 31-year-old delivered in style, coming home well ahead of his fellow Kenyans Eliud Kipchoge (2:04.05) and Geoffrey Kipsang (2:06.26).

That's a decent chunk of change taken off a WR. And the 1-2 in the women's race? Yup ... Kenyans.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/201...n-world-record

For anyone that's interested in long distance running and often wonders/marvels at the absolute dominance over the last decades of the Kenyans at the discipline might I suggest ....

http://www.amazon.com/Running-Kenyan.../dp/0345528808

[1stLand]

bring toilet paper.

usually people soil themselves on their first marathon.
and its not a good clean soil. Its very messy.

If there are photographers there, it can be especially emabarrassing.


I am being serious too.

Thank god for that Calgary Parks and Rec Building on Memorial Dr. It had a bathroom otherwise I'd have gone in the bushes.

[macker]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

bring toilet paper.

usually people soil themselves on their first marathon.
and its not a good clean soil. Its very messy.

If there are photographers there, it can be especially emabarrassing.


I am being serious too.

Thank god for that Calgary Parks and Rec Building on Memorial Dr. It had a bathroom otherwise I'd have gone in the bushes.

Imodium might help? Or : http://www.shutupandrun.net/2012/05/...lf-on-run.html