Freescale Austin Marathon
1769
Member
1408 days
brittda posted 2 years ago.
18-20 miles is what most beginner marathon training plans use. There is some debate on whether you should taper 2 or 3 weeks. I have done both. I would not give up on the race yet. See how you feel in a few days. Maybe squeeze a longer run in mid week next week if possible, if not you could even do the 20 next weekend as long as you keep to the LSD theory and dont try to kill yourself being speedy gonzales :)
1012
Member
1205 days
PJT posted 2 years ago.
I don't have a strong view on skipping the 20-mile run versus shortening the taper to 2 weeks. You may want to consider if your running has otherwise been going well and if you'll gain any additional confidence from doing 20.
If you have been keeping up on your training up until now, I'd give the marathon a shot regardless of whether or not you do that 20-miler in the next week. Just get plenty of rest & fluids for now and resume training when you feel able. Also, like brittda says, go slow on the long stuff.
The unlikely worst case scenario is that you don't finish the race, but you can take some comfort knowing that you at least got to the starting line and went down fighting. In the best case, you'll know that you overcame a little extra adversity on the way to finishing your first marathon.
Let us know how you do.
13
Member
1119 days
sandig posted 2 years ago.
I am not sure the correct answer to your question but I can tell you a little about the course. I lived in Austin for years and I ran the race last year. It is very flat and has a very gradual downhill slope from mid course to the end. (And it is a lot of fun :-)
Good luck, hope you feel better.
Sandi
190
Member
1063 days
jmruns430 posted 2 years ago.
I'm going to give you my advice having done marathons on boths sides of this. My most recent marathon, I had a really bad first 20, and for the second one I was sick. I ran the 20 anyways, and felt mentally much better having run it (even though I probably shouldn't have) and I made sure and took my taper seriously so that I was fully recovered from the run and being sick - I did happen to run my best race ever, but I think that was training smarter and tapering smart. I have also skipped a 20 in training due more to ITband iritation. Mentally I was a disaster during my taper, and proabably didn't taper as much as I should have, but I got through the race just fine.
I would say go with your gut. If you're feeling great in a week and want to get a 20 in, go for it, but make sure and take it easy during the run and after. A 2 week taper is fine as long as you take it as that - eat smart, sleep well and don't push yourself. If you're not feeling fully better, don't do the run; or if you start it and start feeling bad, cut it short. You'll be fine in your race if you don't get too caught up over the fact that you haven't done a 20, and your body will probably be better rested for it as well. And unless you're still feeling pretty bad through race week, you shouldn't let this stop you from running it. Good luck!
9
Member
1206 days
jackblack posted 2 years ago.
Thanks for the great advice and support! I appreciate it. It seems I've come down with a touch of the flu, but after reading the replies I am still optomistic about my chances of running the marathon in a couple of weeks. My family thinks I'm crazy, but they should know that by now seeing as I'm a triathlete. Thanks!
9
Member
1206 days
jackblack posted 2 years ago.
I appreciate all the guidance. Unfortunately my illness took too much of a toll on me. I wasn't able to do anything at all for 2 weeks; I missed a number of days of work and remained in bed about 4 days straight. I missed the marathon. A big dissapointment, but it certainly makes me value the times I have now when I am well. On a positive note, I finished my first week of training for the tri season and feel great. I'm doing my first olympic distance this year. Thanks again for all the support!
1012
Member
1205 days
PJT posted 2 years ago.
I'm sorry to hear that the illness knocked you out of the race. It sounds like you've rebounded with a positive attitude and a concrete goal, which are both important things. Train hard & smart, and best of luck on your first Oly.
180
Member
1322 days
trigirl97 posted 2 years ago.
Sorry to hear you missed the marathon but from the way it turned out, that might not have been a bad thing. If you're not used to running in ice and 28-degree temps, it would have been a cold day!
FYI, there's a spring marathon here in Dallas on April 3. I'll be doing the half. You can find out more here:
http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1151034
Good luck!
"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go." ~T.S. Eliot
trigirl97.blogspot.com
3354
Member
1414 days
RV posted 2 years ago.
Sorry that you missed it - but by taking the rest you still have the remainder of the season. So, sign on up for the next goal!
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
9
Member
1206 days
jackblack posted 2 years ago.
This place is great. I can't thank you guys enough for the words of encouragement. Still going strong in my olympic tri training. I plan to do at least four triathlons this season, a lot for me. I plan on doing a marathon after my olympic tri so as not to endager my tri season. Thanks again.
After months of training for my first marathon I have come down with a bad cold; sore throat, aching head, etc. My longest run so far has been 18 miles and my 20 miler was to be done this weekend, but that's now out of the question. My taper was scheduled for the next few weeks with the marathon taking place on Feb 19th. Any advice as to what I should do now? Should I do a 20 miler as soon as I feel better or just taper as scheduled? Or should I not even do the marathon given the circumstances? Thanks in advance for the help. God I feel like crap! This is very dissapointing.