Hello from a fellow marathon runner! I'm new here--noticed there really wasn't any threads on the front page about my favorite sport, and was happy to see other runners here. I've finished 2 marathons, training for my third (Twin Cities--next Sunday, actually). I've run races in the mile-10K range for 10 years, and the marathon is fairly new to me, but I love its challenge.
Iscariot--congrats on finishing your first marathon--that first one is such an amazing feeling, even if your body is in a lot of pain from exhaustion, especially those late stages, finishing what can sound so unfathomable, so extreme, is exhilerating. Not to mention I find running a great way to connect with God.
You training for anything lately?
Agreed that the key is to get in those long runs. I've heard different from different people, but I feel comfortable getting my long run up to 22-23 miles--gives me a psychological boost too, as I know when running the marathon, I only have to go 3-4 miles more than I've run in training. Along with a long run every ~10 days or so (some people do one every week, some every other week), I try to get in a medium-long run of maybe 10-13 miles about halfway in between the long runs. Having this medium long run helps for you to have more of a base fitness--when you don't have enough of a base fitness, the long runs really take a lot out of you--you'll have more trouble recovering, and will be more likely to get injured.
For strength training, I try to lift, full-body, twice a week. I've found that since doing strength training, especially with my legs (I do mostly wall-sits, sometimes quad extensions, and hip flexor work), I haven't had problems with injuries anymore.
Best of luck with future training, and God Bless!
