The Running Thread - 2018

@Sleepless Knight ......I will not chime in with my first or second marathon experience because they were truly awful. But I kept at it and still running marathons 6 years later.

It really is 90% mental and 21 % Physical.
I have no doubt that you will accomplish your goal of becoming a marathoner. You got this!!

I agree completely with this. I don't know a single person that really had a "good" first marathon experience during the race. No matter how bad it gets mentally crossing that line makes it worth it. Maybe not right away but in retrospect. Even my friend that runs in the low 2:30's had a terrible first marathon experience. Mentally preparing for that inevitability is as important (IMO) as getting in the miles.
 
I agree completely with this. I don't know a single person that really had a "good" first marathon experience during the race. No matter how bad it gets mentally crossing that line makes it worth it. Maybe not right away but in retrospect. Even my friend that runs in the low 2:30's had a terrible first marathon experience. Mentally preparing for that inevitability is as important (IMO) as getting in the miles.

I think that would be true if the person is actually "racing" the marathon. My first marathon was at a slower pace that what I had been running in training runs and was at Disney. I enjoyed the experience, but I wasn't pushing my body hard like I was trying to PR or race.

I will say that 26 miles is a really long way to run. Once you get above 16 or 17 miles it's interesting to see how your body reacts.
 


From talking with slightly older friends that are runners I think I realistically have a couple more years where I can set PR's and then I suspect my performance will start to degrade.

This made me wonder. Does anyone think about your PR based on age group categories and not just lifetime? Or pre/ post major injuries?
 
I agree completely with this. I don't know a single person that really had a "good" first marathon experience during the race. No matter how bad it gets mentally crossing that line makes it worth it. Maybe not right away but in retrospect. Even my friend that runs in the low 2:30's had a terrible first marathon experience. Mentally preparing for that inevitability is as important (IMO) as getting in the miles.

OK- Just when I was feeling pretty good about my marathon training, I am now terrified.
So thanks for the "no one has a good marathon" talk...

My first marathon was my best running experience to date. I went into it severely undertrained due to injury. I’d never run further than 13.1 either in training or race conditions and my pace was limited due to the conditions of my rehab. That being said, I loved the whole experience and that positive was what hooked me on the marathon distance.
 


I am going to follow up to yesterday's question about weather impacting my run to say that my bed was too cozy this morning and I knew it was going to be really cold outside so I snoozed forever and missed my morning run opportunity. Now I am scrambling to figure out when I am going to get my run in today. Weeeeee.
 
OK- Just when I was feeling pretty good about my marathon training, I am now terrified.
So thanks for the "no one has a good marathon" talk...

It is not horrible the entire 26.2 miles, so don't be scared. I had probably two miles worth of misery due to heat and unexpected hills, but crossing that finish line was so worth. Having your first be at Disney will make it even more worth it!
 
QOTD: Do most people base their finish time off of the chip time when they cross the finish line or what their GPS watch says when they hit 3.1, 6.2, 13.1 or 26.2 miles?

Todays question is a suggestion from a fellow poster. Thanks for the suggestion!!

ATTQOTD: I always go with chip time.
 
ATTQOTD: chip. When I run in typically use strava, a built in app on my phone, and then fitbit picks it up when I set my intervals. Sometimes all 3 match, sometimes they are vastly different. Chip is the official time so that's what I go with.
 
OK- Just when I was feeling pretty good about my marathon training, I am now terrified.
So thanks for the "no one has a good marathon" talk...
Here, I'll fix that right up: I had a STELLAR first marathon experience! Honestly. Were there difficult patches? Sure. But in my book, deciding at mile 25 that you 100% want to do this thing again goes down as a "good" marathon! And honestly, my 2nd and 3rd marathons were equally good, if not better. It's definitely not all bad news!
 
QOTD: Do most people base their finish time off of the chip time when they cross the finish line or what their GPS watch says when they hit 3.1, 6.2, 13.1 or 26.2 miles?
ATTQOTD: Both? I mean, my official time is the chip time, of course. Period, end of story. But I also like knowing what I "actually" ran, since I never hit the exact race distance. I never used to pause my GPS for stops at rD races, but I do now, just because I'm interested to see how much time I spend on stops vs. moving. But that's not really my race time - that's only ever going to be chip time.
 
OK- Just when I was feeling pretty good about my marathon training, I am now terrified.
So thanks for the "no one has a good marathon" talk...

Sorry about that. I can assure you (and @Sleepless Knight )that the marathon I ran at Disney World was the BEST marathon experience I have ever had. The crowds, the course, the castle, the character stops, the choir, it's truly a magical experience. I am trying to get Mrs. Slogger to run a marathon and I told her WDW is the best place to do it.
 
I am going to follow up to yesterday's question about weather impacting my run to say that my bed was too cozy this morning and I knew it was going to be really cold outside so I snoozed forever and missed my morning run opportunity. Now I am scrambling to figure out when I am going to get my run in today. Weeeeee.
I've been having these really weird vivid dreams lately. Sunday night I was training to be a spy and had to escape a cruise ship by parachute. Last night was less strange and I dreamt that I missed my run because I overslept. I woke in sort of a panic and made sure to get my run done. Without that dream, I'm not sure I would have. It was cold and dark and I was sleepy... So maybe try dreaming about missed runs and oversleeping?

QOTD: Do most people base their finish time off of the chip time when they cross the finish line or what their GPS watch says when they hit 3.1, 6.2, 13.1 or 26.2 miles?
Always chip time. I never even considered anything else. For one, Strava & Fitbit disagree about distance so I don't really trust them. But also, I'm really bad about remembering to stop my watch. Just yesterday I was already upstairs and getting ready for work when I realized it was still running.
 
Since it's holiday time and family members are asking for my Amazon wish list, I need to make sure there are things on there! What are some running related things you all are hoping to get for the holidays?

I am thinking of asking for a new Garmin. Mine is basic. Most likely I would go with the Forerunner 235 that's on sale at Best Buy for Black Friday.
Maybe a new running hat for the cold weather.

A gift card to pay for all Disney races in 2019?!!!!! (C'mon Santa!)
 
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And at Disney they also set off the confetti cannons for the last runner, so its kind of cool to be last at Disney. But yes, to finish a marathon whether you are first or last is nothing to be ashamed of. There are A LOT of people who sign up with the intention of getting swept just to get the medal and say they did it.

Which is why I'm not sure why rD still calls them finisher medals ;)

I agree completely with this. I don't know a single person that really had a "good" first marathon experience during the race. No matter how bad it gets mentally crossing that line makes it worth it. Maybe not right away but in retrospect. Even my friend that runs in the low 2:30's had a terrible first marathon experience. Mentally preparing for that inevitability is as important (IMO) as getting in the miles.

I loved my first marathon. I got to run with some of my training buddies, had our coaches pop up for encouragement along the way, and never hit the wall. Y second one is the one I didn't really enjoy all that much.

QOTD: Do most people base their finish time off of the chip time when they cross the finish line or what their GPS watch says when they hit 3.1, 6.2, 13.1 or 26.2 miles?

Chip time. Always chip time. Unless you're running the tangents perfectly, your watch will never match the mile markers on the road.
 

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