Ran my 2nd 12 miler today - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Venkman · 08-25-2007, 05:45 PM

Last week was my first, or rather it was a ten miler with a two mile trudge at the end. It was a seriously brutal, hellish nightmare. My legs just gave out, I was worried I wouldn't even make it home.

This week was much better because I got serious about my run-day nutrition. Where as last week I ate a couple of hours before and downed a quart of water during, this week I got smart about refueling my muscles.

I ate two bagels and two bananas an hour beforehand, half a Clif Bar 15 minutes before running and during the run I downed the rest of the bar a few bites here and there, and adding Gatorade to my hydration plan.

It went soooo much better. My lungs felt great and my legs probably had another 4 miles left in them. Not bad for a guy who started running a little over three months ago without having run at all in two years and having never run more than two miles.

However...

The St. George Marathon is six weeks away and I should've had a couple of 15 milers under my belt by now but I missed three weeks of training due to knee problems and a nasty summer cold. My schedule as it was left little margin for error so I'm slightly nervous about the whole thing.

The knees are feeling good now and the plan is to run a 15, 18, and a 21 miler the next three weeks for my long runs before I taper off. If the 21 miler doesn't kill me, I figure I should be able to complete the marathon. After last week's "run" I gave myself Lloyd Christmas style odds, now I'd say I'm over 50/50.

I gotta step up the nutritional aspects now. Heavy on the pastas and whole grains, completely eliminate soda and sugary snacks as well as my twice weekly Taco Bell stop.

Even if I don't make my goal this year, I'm guaranteed a spot next year and since I've found I actually enjoy running, my marathon goal will be reached.

Any advice you veteran runners can give me is appreciated.

Archaea · 08-25-2007, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venkman

Last week was my first, or rather it was a ten miler with a two mile trudge at the end. It was a seriously brutal, hellish nightmare. My legs just gave out, I was worried I wouldn't even make it home.

This week was much better because I got serious about my run-day nutrition. Where as last week I ate a couple of hours before and downed a quart of water during, this week I got smart about refueling my muscles.

I ate two bagels and two bananas an hour beforehand, half a Clif Bar 15 minutes before running and during the run I downed the rest of the bar a few bites here and there, and adding Gatorade to my hydration plan.

It went soooo much better. My lungs felt great and my legs probably had another 4 miles left in them. Not bad for a guy who started running a little over three months ago without having run at all in two years and having never run more than two miles.

However...

The St. George Marathon is six weeks away and I should've had a couple of 15 milers under my belt by now but I missed three weeks of training due to knee problems and a nasty summer cold. My schedule as it was left little margin for error so I'm slightly nervous about the whole thing.

The knees are feeling good now and the plan is to run a 15, 18, and a 21 miler the next three weeks for my long runs before I taper off. If the 21 miler doesn't kill me, I figure I should be able to complete the marathon. After last week's "run" I gave myself Lloyd Christmas style odds, now I'd say I'm over 50/50.

I gotta step up the nutritional aspects now. Heavy on the pastas and whole grains, completely eliminate soda and sugary snacks as well as my twice weekly Taco Bell stop.

Even if I don't make my goal this year, I'm guaranteed a spot next year and since I've found I actually enjoy running, my marathon goal will be reached.

Any advice you veteran runners can give me is appreciated.

Are you just running out of energy?

Eat carbs before you run and protein after running. It's mostly a mind thing. You can do 12 , you can do 26.

Venkman · 08-25-2007, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archaea

Are you just running out of energy?

Yeah. My legs just basically stopped working. I just sorta shuffled home the last couple of miles. This week was alot better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archaea

Eat carbs before you run and protein after running. It's mostly a mind thing. You can do 12 , you can do 26.

So do you think I should try to get some longer 18-20 mile runs in, or should I just focus on improving my 12-13 mile runs?

Runner Coug · 08-25-2007, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venkman

So do you think I should try to get some longer 18-20 mile runs in, or should I just focus on improving my 12-13 mile runs?

I don't want to speak for Archaea, but I don't think he meant to only work on the 12-13 mile runs. What he's saying is that a lot of being able to complete a marathon is being at peace with running that far. Most people simply can't wrap their mind around it. Once you realize that you can do it and it won't kill you, half the battle is won.

I think you're pretty close to on target with your training, though I would feel a little more comfortable with you having done two 20 milers instead of one when the marathon rolls around. I just don't know if you have enough time for that and still have time for tapering. At this point, with your longest run being 12 miles, I would say stay with your plan.

Good luck!

Archaea · 08-25-2007, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venkman

Yeah. My legs just basically stopped working. I just sorta shuffled home the last couple of miles. This week was alot better.

So do you think I should try to get some longer 18-20 mile runs in, or should I just focus on improving my 12-13 mile runs?

You should up your mileage. I did my first marathon off a twenty-two miler, but I would not have wanted to do one after only a twelve.

If you want to run at five, you should rise at two, eat some carbs, and then get ready to run. Practice with electrolyte drink and then bring shot blocks, better than gel as they are not messy like gel.

26 is really not that long. It sounds long but a person could train to run 30 or 40 easily.

cougjunkie · 08-25-2007, 10:27 PM

A good friend of mine (bulletproof on CB) ran the hobble creek 1/2 marathon today. I actually just talked to him, he is about 6'2 210lbs but pretty muscular, hardly a runners body, and he trained his ass off. Everytime i called him he was to busy. He had never ran close to this distance before and he completed it in 1:54. I thought that was pretty impressive.

Runner Coug · 08-25-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cougjunkie

A good friend of mine (bulletproof on CB) ran the hobble creek 1/2 marathon today. I actually just talked to him, he is about 6'2 210lbs but pretty muscular, hardly a runners body, and he trained his ass off. Everytime i called him he was to busy. He had never ran close to this distance before and he completed it in 1:54. I thought that was pretty impressive.

SWEET! We had chatted through boardmail a bit about his race today. That's great that he did so well.

bluegoose · 08-25-2007, 11:23 PM

My wife is doing her first marathon the week before St. George, 9/29 at Lake Tahoe. She just did 18 this morning, will do about 10 next week, 20 on 9/8 and then taper off for the final 2 weeks. She felt great today, and I'm sure will do fine at 26.2.

As for nutrition, for longer runs it seems like I recall that you should be replenishing carbs at a rate of about 60% per hour of what you are burning them. So if you are burning roughly 800 kcals/hr, plan on taking in 400-500 cals every hour. Thats a ton, btw. Shot blocks go down very easily, much easier than any bar I've eaten. Cut them in half and they will practically melt in you mouth (not in your hand). Gu is not bad either, but some people with texture issues struggle with it.

Venkman · 08-25-2007, 11:42 PM

Thanks for the advice everybody. I'm feeling better about my chances already.

Solon · 08-26-2007, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venkman

Thanks for the advice everybody. I'm feeling better about my chances already.

You'll finish. It's just a matter of how long it takes. Just have fun.

08-25-2007, 05:45 PM	#1
Venkman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: South Jordan, UT Posts: 1,799	Ran my 2nd 12 miler today Last week was my first, or rather it was a ten miler with a two mile trudge at the end. It was a seriously brutal, hellish nightmare. My legs just gave out, I was worried I wouldn't even make it home. This week was much better because I got serious about my run-day nutrition. Where as last week I ate a couple of hours before and downed a quart of water during, this week I got smart about refueling my muscles. I ate two bagels and two bananas an hour beforehand, half a Clif Bar 15 minutes before running and during the run I downed the rest of the bar a few bites here and there, and adding Gatorade to my hydration plan. It went soooo much better. My lungs felt great and my legs probably had another 4 miles left in them. Not bad for a guy who started running a little over three months ago without having run at all in two years and having never run more than two miles. However... The St. George Marathon is six weeks away and I should've had a couple of 15 milers under my belt by now but I missed three weeks of training due to knee problems and a nasty summer cold. My schedule as it was left little margin for error so I'm slightly nervous about the whole thing. The knees are feeling good now and the plan is to run a 15, 18, and a 21 miler the next three weeks for my long runs before I taper off. If the 21 miler doesn't kill me, I figure I should be able to complete the marathon. After last week's "run" I gave myself Lloyd Christmas style odds, now I'd say I'm over 50/50. I gotta step up the nutritional aspects now. Heavy on the pastas and whole grains, completely eliminate soda and sugary snacks as well as my twice weekly Taco Bell stop. Even if I don't make my goal this year, I'm guaranteed a spot next year and since I've found I actually enjoy running, my marathon goal will be reached. Any advice you veteran runners can give me is appreciated. Last edited by Venkman; 08-25-2007 at 06:00 PM.

08-25-2007, 10:27 PM	#6
cougjunkie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 5,741	A good friend of mine (bulletproof on CB) ran the hobble creek 1/2 marathon today. I actually just talked to him, he is about 6'2 210lbs but pretty muscular, hardly a runners body, and he trained his ass off. Everytime i called him he was to busy. He had never ran close to this distance before and he completed it in 1:54. I thought that was pretty impressive. __________________ LINCECUM!

08-25-2007, 11:23 PM	#8
bluegoose Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,919	My wife is doing her first marathon the week before St. George, 9/29 at Lake Tahoe. She just did 18 this morning, will do about 10 next week, 20 on 9/8 and then taper off for the final 2 weeks. She felt great today, and I'm sure will do fine at 26.2. As for nutrition, for longer runs it seems like I recall that you should be replenishing carbs at a rate of about 60% per hour of what you are burning them. So if you are burning roughly 800 kcals/hr, plan on taking in 400-500 cals every hour. Thats a ton, btw. Shot blocks go down very easily, much easier than any bar I've eaten. Cut them in half and they will practically melt in you mouth (not in your hand). Gu is not bad either, but some people with texture issues struggle with it.

08-25-2007, 11:42 PM	#9
Venkman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: South Jordan, UT Posts: 1,799	Thanks for the advice everybody. I'm feeling better about my chances already.