SunTrust Richmond Marathon - Nov 11, 2006
Proofs from the marathon photographers... I did what I set out to do: I had fun and I finished the race injury-free. Observations: I thought my "weak links" were my Achille's Tendon which is prone to irritation and my lower back which felt unstable on my longer training runs. I stretched my calves a lot in the weeks before the race and this helped a lot. Both of these felt great the whole time. I had 1 power bar, 18 oz of powerade and 18 oz of water per hour. I got these amounts from the powerbar website Hydration Calculator. I walked through each aid station. I stretched my legs and back each hour. I felt good until mile 18 and then at 19.5 my legs just wouldn't go. I probably could have forced myself, but it was important to me to finish injury-free. I didn't feel hot, or tired or hungry. My whole body felt good except my legs. None of the carbs I consumed seemed to help my legs after mile 20. After mile 20, I tried to increase my walking pace by using my arms and I realized what the vaseline at mile 18 was for (memo for next marathon: put body glide under arms...). After the race, the main observations were my legs were gone and stomach felt full. I could barely walk but everything else felt pretty good. I took motrin and a took a nap and felt pretty good that evening. The next day the toes on my right foot were sore (maybe from the heel pad?) and my legs were sore for two days. Next time, I'll try a more formal training program and have both a 20 and 26 mile training run done by 4 weeks before the race. Take sunscreen. Take my own powerbars (3) and powergels (2) -- didn't like the cliff shots gels they gave away. Also try out eating half a power bar each half hour and drink less fluid (only when thirsty). No coffee at the starting line. Most important: don't stop running after the 15 mile mark. It would have been easier (but mentally harder) to keep running than trying to get the legs going again after they cramped up. If I had stopped walking during the last part, I probably would not have finished... Tips: Take: Hotel and marathon confirmation Before race (lay everything out the night before) Put starting weight on bib http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_(sport)#Water_consumption_dangers Sharpie marker for bib (phone numbers and drug allergies) Fanny Pack: Walk at water stops Some good tips: Hints from a brochure for "Super-Fours",
i.e. those running over 4 hours in the Marathon. It was subtitled:
"A Short Guide to the Care and Support of Four-Hour Marathoners,
The Physically Distressed and Mentally Distracted Sub-Fours and The
First Time Marathoner-Who Only Wants To Finish".
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