I had a sudden urge to try out for the 2005 L.A. Marathon and need great advice on how to prepare - diet, exercise routine, and etc.
If there are great sites for marathon runner, please inform me. Thanks.

Great Idea, Marathon running brings out the best in everyone.

One question, how far do you run now on a given day? Training is very different for every runner but always keep training. Subscribe to runners world, these people know everything about marathons including when, where, and how to train. Diet is a huge part of training, lots of carbs, carbs fuel runners and help you push just that extra little bit.

there is alot of training methods out there...oddly the new york marathon website and the boston website recommend a training schedule for almost every age and ability. Those websites should still be up and running with the info still available.

I trained for the white rock marathon here in Dallas and here is how I trained all the way up to about a month before....

Month 1
Week 1: 35 miles
Week 2: 45 miles
Week 3: 25 miles
Week 4: 50 miles

Month 2
1: 50 miles
2: 40 miles
3: 20 miles
4: 40 miles

Month 3 (Repeat month 1)
Month 4

1: 60 miles
2: 70 miles
3: 70 miles
4: 80 miles

Month 5, Only run in mornings or when the marathon will take place, just light jogs, little intensity with sprints. Just forcus to stay fresh and work on pace.

Month 6: Continue month 5 with light cardio untill three weeks before the race. Run every other day with one day each week going "all out" trying to simulate marathon conditions. Halt all running two or three days before the race. Lots of sleep, pasta, peanut butter is great, carb up! Also two weeks before race break in a new favorite pair of running shoes for the race.

Hope this will give you at least one perspective on training. First couple months you have to hit the road and go. I would run first thing in the morning and right before bed. During the peak month (4) I would run early in the morning, then start my evening run earlier and double what I would normally run....7 or 8 miles or so. UUGGG!

Also check out the right column: http://www.exrx.net/Aerobic.html

Thanks for your post nate1! :tu:
I will be doing my online research this weekend and will register for the marathon tonight.
I am in my early 20s and fairly fit (working out) but have not really do any extensive running. I have 8 months and that "seems" like enough time to get in shape.

My Goal: To complete the marathon! That is all. There is no time that I want to achieve but we'll see when I time myself during the extensive training.
If you have more tips and advice, please let me know! Thanks and have a great weekend! :cool:

Great Idea, Marathon running brings out the best in everyone.

One question, how far do you run now on a given day? Training is very different for every runner but always keep training. Subscribe to runners world, these people know everything about marathons including when, where, and how to train. Diet is a huge part of training, lots of carbs, carbs fuel runners and help you push just that extra little bit.

there is alot of training methods out there...oddly the new york marathon website and the boston website recommend a training schedule for almost every age and ability. Those websites should still be up and running with the info still available.

I trained for the white rock marathon here in Dallas and here is how I trained all the way up to about a month before....

Month 1
Week 1: 35 miles
Week 2: 45 miles
Week 3: 25 miles
Week 4: 50 miles

Month 2
1: 50 miles
2: 40 miles
3: 20 miles
4: 40 miles

Month 3 (Repeat month 1)
Month 4

1: 60 miles
2: 70 miles
3: 70 miles
4: 80 miles

Month 5, Only run in mornings or when the marathon will take place, just light jogs, little intensity with sprints. Just forcus to stay fresh and work on pace.

Month 6: Continue month 5 with light cardio untill three weeks before the race. Run every other day with one day each week going "all out" trying to simulate marathon conditions. Halt all running two or three days before the race. Lots of sleep, pasta, peanut butter is great, carb up! Also two weeks before race break in a new favorite pair of running shoes for the race.

Hope this will give you at least one perspective on training. First couple months you have to hit the road and go. I would run first thing in the morning and right before bed. During the peak month (4) I would run early in the morning, then start my evening run earlier and double what I would normally run....7 or 8 miles or so. UUGGG!
:tu:

Yea, just do it. Marathons are kinda fun, the real serious guys get to the front of the pack and actually race, but I have ran a few where I have carried on conversations most of the time. Really relaxed. There is nothing better than getting the certificate that says you have completed the marathon. Someday I want to run the New York Marathon, how awesome would it be to finish that a beat a kenyan!

Just pace yourself when training. If you feel like you've overtrained, then take a day or two off and get lots of sleep. Also start a multi-vitamin ritual and just take some.

good luck

Also check out the right column: http://www.exrx.net/Aerobic.html
Thanks for the link.

http://www.doitregistration.com/templates/la/2001/chip.gif
Is this worth $35? Anyone bought one? Finished registering.

I've thought about doing one, just to say that I have. 8 months is enough time to train for it. I found a lot of programs on the net that had 6 month training plans set in place, so 8 you can definitely do it.

More questions:

1) What type of a running shoes should I look for? Or can I visit Footaction/Footlocker and buy any $50 cross-training shoes?
Some Saucony shoes goes over $100 for a pair and that seems too much for my budget.


2) Any advice on how to prepare a new diet for cross-training?

Also check out the right column: http://www.exrx.net/Aerobic.html

I just ordered two cycling books from Amazon because you posted this link to marathon training. Aren't snowballs wonderful.... :lol:

Thanks.

right now im runnin 4 miles w/o stoppin :tu: ...


my goals 5 then the 10k :gl:

If you can run 4 miles.. then you already got the 5k down

I wear Nike shox turbo right now....they are more terrain based but for all weather and roads. New Balance makes great long distance running shoes, remember invest in a good pair, it will save you pain later.

I am going to pick up some vitamins.
What type do you really RECOMMEND for the soon-to-be-marathon runners? No clue what vitamins are needed to sustain long running. Thanks in advance.

I'm running the NYC marathon this year

I've done a couple of 20k before so this is going to be my first marathon

run a lot and get good shoes- this is the only advice I can give :tu:

good luck

I started doing morning runs and I need some important advice:

Do I need to drink a cup (or two) of water before I go out?
And do I need to get a light carb breakfast before I go out and run?

Anything else I should do besides stretching my legs?? Thanks in advance.

Some quick tips. I did the london Marathon this year with just under 3 months preperation and never more that 25 miles in any week. I wasn't an active runner before but had a high aerobic fitness from Ice Hockey and cardio.

Shoes: Go to a specialist running store with knowledgable staff. Get them to examine your gait and running style. Bring an old pair of trainers for them too examine. Have them reccomend a few shoes. Try them all on teh pick the one that feels the best. Most running shops will alow you to take teh shoes away and try them indoors on a threadmill once or twice and then return them if there no suitable. The most expensive shoe isn't alway teh best option. My New Balance were relatively cheap but great to run in. Also whatever you do don't buy new shoes a few weeks before the marathon. You will encounter blisters and a whole plethora of other foot problems.

Stretching: Warmup and mobilise the joints before a run. Cool down and do a 10 - 15 minute full body stretch afterwards focusing on the Quads, Hamstrings, hip flexors, TFL and the calf muscles.

Distance: Build up slowly. Do only lone long run a week. When the long runs get up to the 2 hours plus mark take 10 days or 2 weeks between. Check some of the links above for specific programs.

Injuries: Build your mileage slowly, add extra rest, strech, get massages and see a physio, work on your running style ( avoid pronation, supination, work on where foot strikes etc). All of this will reducce teh chance of injury. If you do get an injury rest it until your ready to return. Keep your CV fitness up by using cardio equipment that doen't cause pain.

Strength Training: Continue to do this. Reduce the volume as you approach teh event. Drop legs work in the last few weeks. I lost no strength or size doing teh Marathon.

Diet: For short morning runs eat what your body can tolerate, maybe some fruit, juice or oats. For longer runs make sure you have a good meal 1.5 - 2 hours beforehand. For runs over 30 minutes carry water with you. For runs over an hour carry sport drink.

As it's your first marathon don't obcess with minor details. Do some spped training but remember the main achievement will be finishing. Don't wory about carbo loading or soecial diets or supplements.

Best of luck and have fun.

Ger

Injuries: Build your mileage slowly, add extra rest, strech, get massages and see a physio, work on your running style ( avoid pronation, supination, work on where foot strikes etc). All of this will reducce teh chance of injury. If you do get an injury rest it until your ready to return. Keep your CV fitness up by using cardio equipment that doen't cause pain.
Ger

I was just building up nicely, running 8 miles a night, then developed a pattalar malalignment, hurts like hell after 2 miles, been off for weeks trying to build my quads up and to get back to it... my physio said 2 weeks but it has been more like a month...

don't drop the strength training or over run, will spare you the pain later on...

I was just building up nicely, running 8 miles a night, then developed a pattalar malalignment, hurts like hell after 2 miles, been off for weeks trying to build my quads up and to get back to it... my physio said 2 weeks but it has been more like a month...

don't drop the strength training or over run, will spare you the pain later on...

I had this same condition a couple years back. There were several things that lead to the condition.

1. I was wearing the wrong kind of shoes.
2. I was running on pavement.
3. My hamstrings were extremely tight.
4. My IT band was also extremely tight.

I went to physical therapy and here's what I did.

1. Got the right kind of shoes.
2. I now run 90% on trails.
3. The therapist stretched the hell of me. I'm now more flexible then I've ever been.

I run on my neighborhood blocks so it is 95% aspalt (whatever streets are made of).
Should this be a problem?


Also, what vitamins and nutrition supplements do you recommend taking? I am currently taking Once-A-Day Men's vitamin.

I run on my neighborhood blocks so it is 95% aspalt (whatever streets are made of).
Should this be a problem?


Also, what vitamins and nutrition supplements do you recommend taking? I am currently taking Once-A-Day Men's vitamin.

Different running surfaces "impact" every runner differently. So running on asphalt may be no problem for you but sucks for me. Just the way it goes.

Not sure about the vitamins.

Is it safe to drink a can of Red Bull (or other carbonated drinks like Monster) before you go out and run?


How about during the marathon?

All of this Marathon talk has inspired me to sign up for the Boulder Backroads marathon. I just signed up on Active.com. Now I'm stoked!

Here's a link to the site if you want to check it out: http://www.boulderbackroads.com/

Good luck AMR!

More question: What is the time limit to finish the marathon? If there is none, what if a "walker" decides to walk her/his way to the finish line, which might take 8 hours. Does the walker get her/his medal and certification of completion?

I had this same condition a couple years back. There were several things that lead to the condition.

1. I was wearing the wrong kind of shoes.
2. I was running on pavement.
3. My hamstrings were extremely tight.
4. My IT band was also extremely tight.

I went to physical therapy and here's what I did.

1. Got the right kind of shoes.
2. I now run 90% on trails.
3. The therapist stretched the hell of me. I'm now more flexible then I've ever been.

Just wanted to say thanks for the above information, I am now back on the running and have been building quads and streching the hell out of myself...

that IT band it seems was the main culprit, the lack of stretching was not allowing my patellar to travel properly and therefore causing swelling from addtional friciton...

:tu:

More question: What is the time limit to finish the marathon? If there is none, what if a "walker" decides to walk her/his way to the finish line, which might take 8 hours. Does the walker get her/his medal and certification of completion?
Found out there is no time limit. :tucool:

Is it safe to drink a can of Red Bull (or other carbonated drinks like Monster) before you go out and run?


How about during the marathon?


try to avoid energy drinks... theyre loaded w/ tons of cafeine and what it does, is that it dehydrates you super quick...

also they got tons of side efects...

i used to drink 2 cans of AMP each day...

since i found out what they do... i havent had one for like 6 months


heres a nice link for some more info

http://www.athleticadvisor.com/Weight_Room/Energy_drinks.htm

more info as well

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&q=energy+drinks+side+effects

Just wanted to say thanks for the above information, I am now back on the running and have been building quads and streching the hell out of myself...

that IT band it seems was the main culprit, the lack of stretching was not allowing my patellar to travel properly and therefore causing swelling from addtional friciton...

:tu:

Just saw your post. Glad I could help.
:tu:

Oh, and I'm running a marathon this weekend. :eek: