I just completed my first marathon last Sunday, and what an experience it was!
I have run 3 half marathons previously, and ran a 14 mile long run a month prior. I missed scheduled long run after that, which ultimately came back to haunt me.
The experience itself was fantastic. The weather was perfect, started out in the upper 50's. Running past pier 39 and fishermans wharf was fun.
Going up the hills before the Golden Gate Bridge wasn't too bad, and the Bridge itself was really cool. I was loving the breeze, although I didn't already run 4 miles it might have been chilly. But at this point in the run, it felt fabulous.
Then we had some magnificent views along the coast prior to turning through GG Park. I was reminded of the Bay to Breakers my son and I ran a few months earlier. But my absolute favorite part of the run was when the half marathons runners branched off to their finish and the full marathoners went down our own route. it was absolutely beautiful, serene, and peaceful. Up to this point I was being pretty conservative with my pace, way under my typical pace, with my heart rate being a conservative 160-165.
I was hoping for a negative split, taking it easy on the hills in the first half, then running a comfortable pace the 2nd half. My goal was a 5:30 marathon, and my half was at 2:30, so I felt I was a little ahead of my goal and I just need to keep a comfortable pace, 13/min should do it.
Well, between the halfway point and mile 15 I felt wonderful, in the zone. The buffalo in the park was surreal to run past. Then can mile 15, and it all started falling apart.
MILE 15
After mile 15 I started feeling my upper leg muscles feeling a slight twitch, getting stronger with each step. I stopped and stretched a bit, no longer wondering why other runners were off to the side stretching throughout the run.
So I started running again, then I really felt them start to cramp up.
It started in my quads first, on the left side. A twinge of a tightening, and then I started taking a mental inventory of the feedback my body was giving me. I slowed down a bit, did some stretching, walked a bit, then tried to run again. Then my left leg started the same cramping within a half mile. I thought the worst that can happen is I can do a walk-run routine, perhaps a minute of walking and 5 of running. Well, my calfs started camping up. I had to take more and more breaks. around mile 17 I was pretty much doing 1 minute of running out of 5 minutes of walking. Turns out the last 10 miles averaging 18 minute miles, while the first 14 I was averaging about 12 minute miles.
I ended at 6:11 for the marathon. Way below my 5:30 goal.
LESSONS LEARNED
I learned a lot from my first marathon.
- Stretching. I spend very little time stretching, partly because since I usually start my runs slowly, I figured I can stretch while running. Doing more research I found that not little stretching or not consistent stretching can have an impact on cramping. My Achilles especially needs to be not ignored, more on this below.
- Training. Not having run over a half marathon distance to me probably had the biggest impact on my body not being able to make it past 15 miles. I felt so good at 14 miles, and I had a misconception that as long as my heart rate is not excessive, I can run forever. Well, not so. My legs have never been worked this hard, and while my time has improved greatly from my past 3 half marathons, the marathon is a whole other beast. New territory. And my body didn't like it. My excuse? 8 weeks prior the the run, I started noticing my Achilles was sore. Not bad, and mostly not noticeable, but very sore when I slightly squeezed the area with my hand. About 4 weeks prior to my run my long run was at 14 miles, which I did at a great pace, even though I was taking it easy. But my Achilles was hurting more the next day, and after research, found it this was something that can get much worse and I shouldn't ignore. So I took it easier on my long runs. My next run was 5 miles instead of 17, partly because my kids were riding their bikes on my run, and my daughter got a flat tire. With only a 4 hour window before other commitments, I had to settle with 5. The following week I had scheduled to run 20 miles, my last long run before tapering, and did 7 miles. At this point, I was giving up on my 4:30 hr hour goal, and instead setting for a 5:30 hr goal. Again, I figured if I just do a nice easy 13 minute pace for the entire run, I should do fine.
- Commitment. I hating the idea of waking up in the morning to do my runs, figured I'll make time later in the day or evening. MANY runs were cancelled do to not finding the time, and finding excuses such as travel or family. I having the training plans, and I just need to keep them and make the time.
So, I have since signed up for the CIM in Sacremento this December, will finish recovering properly by not running for at least a week, and then get back to work. What will be different this time around? Proper Stretching, Proper Training, and Commitment. Having this run occur during the Olympics and watching how much commitment the athletes have has encouraged me, as well as having close friends who have the drive and commitment it takes to not only do their first marathon in their 40s and 50s, but are now having great marathons every few months.
My goal? Sub-5 hours. Check back for progress reports.
