First Marathon, Too! (Read 561 times)

Wow Marcus, very well done! Congrats!!! You used the FIRST training plan, right? Any retrospective comments about it now that you've completed your marathon?

Wow, amazing race!! Great job! A 3:19 is nothing to sneeze it

You used the FIRST training plan, right? Any retrospective comments about it now that you've completed your marathon?

Thanks to all for the kind comments and congrats on your own races. We're all a bunch of studs and studettes, I think. In the end, I used the FIRST concept: 3 runs + 2 cross-training days per week. The tempo and interval workouts were often a bit too challenging for me, though, so I often subsctituted them for workouts in Fitzgerald's new Brain Training book. Thoughts: I never got hurt during the entire program. A few times, I had to tone down a workout if I wasn't recovered, but I never took a goose-egg. I think that's because I was only running 3 days a week (the other 2 days, I cycled). I think that's the best thing I can say about FIRST. I spent a high percentage of time going fast (for me) and didn't mess myself up. I got a lot faster during the training -- with 2 half-marathon PR's and 1 5k PR - I think that was because of the intensity of the workouts. However, NONE of this prevented the wall, which blew my doors off at the 22 mile mark... I'll be spending the next few weeks thinking about that. More than likely, I'll move more to Fitzgerald's Brain Training program, which only has 1 day of cross training, and 1 more run. I'm thinking a little more running would've helped (but also think my body benefitted from NOT running so much). However, if my body can handle it, I'll continue to try and handle the long run pacing from the FIRST program. I think it's important to train to your strengths, and that long run was my strength. The tempos on the FIRST plan were - by far - my weakness. All of that being said, it helps to be "into" cross training. Triathlon taught me two things: I'm a miserable biker and b. Biking makes me a better runner. So I learned to stay out of triathlons but use the training to be a better runner. One more thing: today's course was very flat, except some stupid hills in miles 18 and 19, which is not a fun place to put hills. Next year, I'm driving up-state for the Steamtown Marathon.

WTG Marcus! That's awesome!

Fantastic, fast race. You should give talks to other diabetics and let them know ehat can be done.