Registered for my first marathon today...

[qbu]

Today, I registered for my first marathon. It is in October. I have 6 months to finish my training for what I am sure will be a life changing experience.

Any advice for a first time marathoner?

[leeloo]

No advice, just admiration! I'm sure it will be quite the adventure

[steady]

Congrats and good luck!

[sillykimmie]

What a great goal. Good luck with your training!

[ab1ht]

Relax and have fun!

Which marathon? Are you doing this on your own or as part of a team/fund-raiser?

[creseis]

good luck!

[Pony47]

Congrats on taking the bold step! It will be so gratifying! Crossing the finish line will be one of your ultimate achievements. I've done one and it's a great accomplishment, so kudos and good luck!

[zipp2play]

Congrats and enjoy! Carbloading is a load of CRAP! Just eat as you normally do for training runs!

[skuma]

very cool.im just starting to do the c25k program but my goal is a marathon for my 40 bday..i got 4 years to train!!! any advice for a new runner??

[sugarless4life]

Train hard; allow yourself adequate rest/recovery; and fuel yourself on lots of fat !

Following a training plan like John Bingham's "Marathoning for Mortals" is a good way to go.

Good luck and welcome to the "I DID IT" Club Extraordinaire! There's nothing quite like crossing that marathon finish line! I've done 3 since turning 50!

Betty

[Shimmer]

Good for you!! Congrats on your new goal!

[batlou]

Awesome and good luck. Keep us posted on your progress.

[oriana]

So cool to see your posts Sugarfree. I am 47 and a marathon runner too. I just qualified for the Boston with a 3:46 time last Jan. It was my 8th marathon. I too have done several halves. I am new to Atkins but I do add some regular ice cream at times after a 14 mile run. I try to eat high fat not high protein. I still am leary and nervous about all of this. I was a fruitarian before this and would gain weight on raw fruit and salad all day after runnig 10 miles. I was soooo confused. I just hope this is healthy. I am 5'4" and 110 but want to be 100 my best running weight. Can you help with any tips..

[BitsyMay]

That's awesome; good for you! I've run several half marathons, but have yet to move up to a full. I'm doing a 30K in Sept which is about 18.5 miles so if I can do that and not hate it I will probably try a full.

[Sharon]

Congratulations and stick to your training plan. I've done 4 marathons and 5 Portland to the Coast where one does about 23 miles on non-lighted 2 lane roads (just under 24 hours). Both races are intersting. In the marathon, just don't go out too fast. That's easy to happen as you get excited. Most marathons have pace setters and you might like to join that group. I've never done a marathon in a group like Team in Training (which I don't think really train people enough). I've always been alone but one finds people along the way to talk to. My first marathon I could see the finish line 1/2 mile away and I told the guy next to me that I couldn't finish. He talked me through the finish line. He was like a drill sgt. saying listen to me - you're going to finish this! My husband has always popped up 3 or 4 times on the side of the course. I never know when he's going to show up but it's so wonderful to hear his voice. Just finish the first one and the next ones are so much easier. Please believe me on that.

Our daughter just qualified for Boston so we'll all be back there in April watching her.

[svenskamae]

That's wonderful. You and every one else who posted about doing marathons and other endurance sports are so inspiring.

I'm hoping to start doing some running next summer, when--I hope--I'll feel more comfortable running after losing more weight. (For now, I just walk a lot.) Keep us posted on how things are going for you.

[oriana]

How about some of the marathon runners post what they eat training and for marathons and after, too! I am a marathoner but new to Atkins? Does anyone cheat after a marathon?

[flatferenghi]

carb loading is fine, if you are loading those carbs into the incinerator. Best of luck to you. I have marathon on Sunday...Movies featuring Claude Reins on the Turner network all day. Love & Profits: FLATFERENGHI

[maria40nc]

Here is my advice...

Don't finish last
Don't vomit
and HAVE FUN!

And be prepared to feel like your body is about to crack apart when you finish. But just like childbirth, the reward is worth the pain!

[Brandiva]

Finding a good training plan and doing your best to stick to it is the best advice I can give. I eat mainly plant based/low carb but will usually up my carbs the day before a long run and allow myself to eat whatever I want after a long run of 10 miles or more, usually a juicy hamburger! I will also be completing a marathon in October, in Detroit. Hoping to improve my time from last year! Good luck to you!

[BitsyMay]

Originally Posted by oriana

How about some of the marathon runners post what they eat training and for marathons and after, too! I am a marathoner but new to Atkins? Does anyone cheat after a marathon?

I haven't done a full marathon, but have done plenty of halfs. I would think after running 26.2 miles I'd probably eat a pizza so yeah, I'd cheat!

I don't cheat after a half, but I take my calories up to about 2200 for the day.

As for what I eat before and after my races; the day before I'll eat a whole grain bagel w/peanut butter for lunch. Then I'll add a small sweat potato with supper. That's the extent of my carb loading. I get the carb in with the bagel, but try to stablize the effect of it by having it with a fat so that's why I have it with peanut butter. For the potato I add some butter to it. It has always worked well for me. For breakfast on the day of the race I will eat oatmeal with raisins and almonds 2 hrs prior to the race start. As soon as I cross the finish line I down a banana and some peanut butter.

I've never been a fan of the pasta dinners you see at a lot of these races. First of all, the pasta dinners are being cooked by a stranger so you have no idea what's in the sauce and how it might effect your tummy. Not good! And, at that point, it's really too late to get a good benefit from the added carbs. Much better to have a higher carb lunch instead of supper. But, notice I said higher and not high. Just my opinion.

[Brandiva]

Qbu you also need to consider your nutrition during the race and practice it well before the big day. Will you be taking energy gels? Gatorade? My go to energy gel is chocolate #9. It has two ingredients: Agave nectar and cocoa. I love it because it is considered to be low on the glycemic index and was initially made for athletes with diabetes. Here is a photo of it:

This year I have also been using sport beans. Not low carb/low GI but I like their effect.

[maria40nc]

Originally Posted by Brandiva

Qbu you also need to consider your nutrition during the race and practice it well before the big day. Will you be taking energy gels? Gatorade? My go to energy gel is chocolate #9. It has two ingredients: Agave nectar and cocoa. I love it because it is considered to be low on the glycemic index and was initially made for athletes with diabetes. Here is a photo of it:

This year I have also been using sport beans. Not low carb/low GI but I like their effect.

AWESOME! I just ordered a box. Thank you for sharing.

[Brandiva]

You're welcome, Maria! By the way, I am always in awe of people who have completed a full Ironman. Congrats! Are you on dailymile?

[Brendajm]

Awesome! I have done 5 Half marathons,, I never really felt the need to train for a full one. My dh has done several and my son even did one when he was stationed in San Diego..Good luck!!

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by maria40nc

Here is my advice...

Don't finish last
Don't vomit
and HAVE FUN!

And be prepared to feel like your body is about to crack apart when you finish. But just like childbirth, the reward is worth the pain!

I disagaree with you.
Don't finish last - who cares as long as you finish

Don't vomit - I've seen people do that in marathons and still finish.

HAVE FUN - I agree with that one.

And be prepared to feel like your body is about to crack apart when you finish. - The first one is the hardest. My second one and others - I dance through the finish line.

But just like Childbirth, the reward is worth the pain!! - It's a fabulous experience to do one and finish. Not many people in the world have done them.

[suzanna1]

I have run a few marathons and 50k races. Beyond the fabulous advice given here so far, I highly recommend a quick ice bath for your legs once you get up to the 18, 20, 22 mile runs (depending on where your program maxes out). I get in the tub with just enough cold water to cover my calves and have my husband drop a bag of ice in around me. I sit for as long as I can stand it. For me, it makes a huge difference in the amount of soreness I experience the next day and my recovery time overall.

Enjoy the journey & the race. If you put in the training needed, the race will be so much fun and you will feel so proud of your accomplishment at the finish!

[mom22boys]

Good for you! Stretch stretch stretch as much as you can before the run. Remember to eat and drink throughout the run. Enjoy your amazing accomplishment

[zombiegoat2000]

have fun!

[sugarless4life]

I have done 3 marathons. They are hard. And hard on the body.

Prepare well; have a solid (minimum 20 miles) base established before you even attempt it. Fuel with FAT mostly. Stay well hydrated, but not overly so. I recommend Powerade Zero if you run outdoors in the heat.

Invest in good shoes and consider an orthotic. 26.2 miles is ALOT of friction on the feet. Before the event, slather your feet with vaseline, then put your socks on. Yeah, you read that right. You'll thank me later. Consider a good cushioned running sock (available at Sports stores) .. AVOID COTTON, and get the seamless ones to eliminate the possibility of blisters.

After its over, plan to take at least a week off running, more if you need to. Your body will need lots of recovery.

Betty