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Runner's Forum: Finished my first marathon!

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorFree MemberAPDuncan27
    • CommentTimeNov 26th 2007 edited
     
    APDuncan27

    Yesterday I finished the Seattle Marathon in 3:37:52.  It was every bit as challenging and rewarding as I thought it would be.  The course was fantastic, you start right under the space needle, and have views of the puget sound throughout the course.  It was mostly flat, but someone decided to put a very steep hill at mile 20, I yelled at the hill before I ran up it.

    My first goal was to finish the race, and my secondary goal was to finish in 3:30:00 or less.  I went ahead of the 3:30 pace group for the first 7 miles, then they caught up with me.  I was able to stay with the group until about the 14th mile, but I felt like I was close to maxing out most of the time.  The last six miles were rough, each mile felt like it took a half an hour, and my body was screaming at me to stop, but I just told myself to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

    It felt incredible crossing the finish line, followed by complete exhaustion.  Today I can barely walk but I don't care, I'm extremely happy that I was able to finish the race with a decent time.  On mile 18 I decided I am going to run another marathon in the spring.  Probably the Napa Valley, hope to see some of you there!

  2.  
    changingground
    AP- Sounds like a great experience. Congratulations! I had a similarly good time with my half marathon in October, though I'm pretty sure I could have pushed it harder. I'm training for the Colorado Marathon in April, and am heartend by your great result. Did you follow a specific plan in preparing for your run? Any pointers?
    • CommentAuthorFree Memberdan.keeler
    • CommentTimeNov 27th 2007
     
    dan.keeler
    Congrats on your first marathon!!! I am in the process of training for my first (Chicago, 2008) It's a little daunting right now, especially with winter coming on so quick here in Michigan. Good luck in Napa.
    • CommentAuthorFree MemberAPDuncan27
    • CommentTimeNov 27th 2007
     
    APDuncan27

    changingground -

    I followed the Boston Atheletic Associations rookie training program, I didn't follow it to a T, but came pretty close.  Here's the link:

    http://www.bostonmarathon.org/BostonMarathon/MarathonTraining.asp

    I did my long run 3 weeks before the marathon, I wanted to make it 21 miles but it only ended up being 18 due to digestive issues.  I found that the reason I had the digestive issues is because I was not fueling during long runs.  Once I started using GU the problems went away completely. 

    The best piece of advice I can give you is this:  Don't slack off after your long run.  After mine I took several days off due to personal reasons, this cost me significantly.  I ran a half marathon in October in 1:39:40 and felt like I could have run faster, I ran the first half of my marathon in 1:44:20 and I felt winded.  It is pretty easy to fall out of shape fast if you slack off.

    The other advice I would have is listen to your body, when you are feeling good, feel free to push it a little harder, if you are feeling winded don't be afraid to slow up a bit.  In 3+ hours you will have many ups and downs and you have to adjust accordingly.  No matter what, keep moving!!!

    And last of all, get as many high fives as you can from the fans, I found that each one gave me a little boost.

     -Duncan

  5.  
    the_rainmaker

    Congrats Duncan, and well done on a great time. I completed my first marthon in Dublin this year, and it is an amazing experience, the sense of achievement you feel is amazing. If I could have bottled that feeling, I could have become a millionaire. I felt myself just wanting to re-live that sense of elation. I definitely want to do another, and of course improve my time!!

     

     

     

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberAPDuncan27
    • CommentTimeNov 27th 2007
     
    APDuncan27

    Thanks rainmaker,

    I was planning on going to Scotland next year for the Open Championship and to learn more about my heritage, are there any marathon's I should look into in the area, I was planning on visiting Dublin while I'm around.

    - Duncan

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberkkorobov
    • CommentTimeDec 2nd 2007
     
    kkorobov
    Congratulations!  I also recommend the Marine Corps Marathon, in October.  It is incredibly inspiring.  This last year, I saw a father kissing his son's dog tags as a crossed the finish line.  I still can't think about that without tearing up!  Oh, and it's a mostly flat course
    • CommentAuthorFree Memberdoitforme
    • CommentTimeDec 3rd 2007
     
    doitforme

    Well done....My goal is the big one the marathon...but after just finishing my first ever 5k I have a long way to go...still have about 3 stone of weight (42 lbs) and a hell of a lot of training....well done to you and I hope you complete your next challange and keep going!!

    Laughing

    • CommentAuthorFree Membermdwebneck
    • CommentTimeDec 3rd 2007
     
    mdwebneck

    WOW CONGRATULATIONS !!!

     

    That is a fantastic accomplishment, KUDOS TO YOU
     

  10.  
    APDuncan27
    Keep it up doitforme, if you stick with it you will get there eventually.  Less than three years ago the longest I had ever run was 2 miles.
    • CommentAuthorFree Memberthreeta
    • CommentTimeDec 3rd 2007
     
    threeta
    cool writeup duncan and well done.  brings back memories of my first (and last) marathon in rotarua, New Zealand) in 1996.  i've moved onto cycling now, and have done a few cycling "marathons" along the way - like the K2 around the Coromandel in New Zealand - see http://arcevents.co.nz.  Keep up the running, catch ya latter,  Duncan
  12.  
    APDuncan27

    If anyone cares to look there are some pictures of me on site below, you can also go to seattlemarathon.org to see other pics of the event.  Some are good, some are less than flattering and others are downright hilarious! 

    http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=18198&BIB=592

    And if you look in the main gallery you will see a lady with a sign on her back that says "17th marathon in 2 years!  17 States!"  I was lucky enough to be sitting next to her at the carbo load dinner.  Before her very first marathon at the pasta feed she decided she was going to do one marathon in each state!  Pretty incredible that she was able to decide that before she even ran one marathon, and then to be this far into it!

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