What I learned training for and finishing my first marathon.

I am still working on a full race report but wanted to share this post.

In no particular order.

• I couldn’t have done the training if not for a very supportive wife.
• I couldn’t have done the training if not for a great running partner (Lou).
• The half marathon may be the perfect running distance.
• I will do more marathons and get better at it.
• Don’t forget to put vaseline on your nipples. Ouch.
• Running a marathon at 6 feet tall 255 pounds is not ideal.
• Especially when I went from 330 pounds to 217 pounds over the last few years.
• Marathon training alone will not cause weight loss.
• The plan that got me to lose the weight in the first place still holds true – Diet AND Exercise. Calories in vs. Calories out. It is that simple.
• The half marathon may be the perfect running distance.
• Avoiding hill training is NOT a good idea.
• Avoiding speed training is NOT a good idea.
• Walking about 6 miles with the family the day before a marathon is NOT a good idea.
• Don’t try anything new on race day. I have been told/read this over 100 times and I didn’t listen.
• I never felt like I wouldn’t finish the race.
• I never had thoughts it would be my last marathon. Even after crossing the finish line.
• The half marathon may be the perfect running distance.
• Thinking I didn’t need to take in electrolytes was a bad idea.
• I thought I handled the mental aspect OK. But there is plenty of room for improvement.
• HTFU.
• It was a great experience running this race with Lou.
• Lou could have ran under 5 hours but stuck with me the whole way.
• I look forward to training with and running with him in many more races.
• If I can do this so can YOU.
• It’s not easy but it is worth the sacrifice.
• I have great supportive friends and family.
• And I thought of you all throughout the day.
• The half marathon may be the perfect running distance.
• Having my name on my shirt was great.
• Marine Corps Marathon is a great marathon. I highly recommend it.
• Follow your marathon training plan as best you can.
• Regardless of what time you finish, as long as you finish you are a marathoner in my mind.
• My GPS had the course at 26.6 miles and Lou's GPS had 26.75 miles.
• Lou did make more pit stops to the woods then I did.
• Did I mention that the half marathon may be the perfect running distance?
• I have muscle pains in my legs today.
• It hurts SO good.

The 20 miler Run/Bike/Run version

I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward. Thomas A. Edison



So yesterdays 20 miler didn't go as planned. Lou and I meet at our normal spot at our normal time. What I didn't do so normal is what I think did me in at about mile 10. As I was driving to meet Lou I stopped at Dunkin Donuts and got 2 plain bagels and proceeded to devour them in about 5 minutes. The run was starting just 10 minutes later. We started out fine, the first 6 miles went as planned, then the miles started slowing. Slow would have been fine but then around mile 10 I was starting to bonk (I assume it was a bonk - never happened).

Our long runs have been we run about 12 miles and end up at my house to refuel. Then head back to our cars which are parked about 6.5 miles from my house. Yesterdays plan was to be at my house at 13.5 miles so we could refuel and just head back to the cars (no loops to make sure we get the miles in). But I told Lou I was not feeling good so maybe we should get to my house earlier and see how I feel for the rest of the run. Told Lou to go ahead and we would meet at my house. He got to my house with 11.2 miles done and I was at 10.8 done.

At this point I knew if I continued with the run it would be a run walk for me. Now I wouldn't mind but Lou just got a transfer and is now doing MCM with me so I didn't think it was fair to him. So I decided at that point I was going to just jump on my mountain bike and ride with him until he finished. We did this for the next 3-4 miles. Now I start to feel better and I can see he is starting to slow and the expression on his face told me he was in trouble. At this point we are on the bike path that goes through my town Williamstown NJ. So I decide I was going to drop the bike in the woods (hope that it was still there when I came back for it later). Found a spot, dropped the bike, and started running again with Lou. I felt great at this point but he was hurting. Lou had some oral surgery on Thursday so his diet and hydration was not the best the few days leading up to the run.

So for the next 5-6 miles we did some run/walking to get this run over with. Bottom line we didn't have a successful 20 miler. The reason I am not too worried is we had a great 19 miler two weeks ago. So the plan calls for 12 next weekend, 8 miles the next weekend and then the MCM. But I am either going to attempt 20 again this Saturday with Lou (not sure he wants to do it), or jump into the LBI 18 miler on Sunday without Lou.

So I guess I have officially un-retired from blogging.