I run a 1:48 HM and had been training for a sub 4 marathon, 12 week block averaging 55km per week peaking at 70km. Longest three runs at 34, 32 and 30km. Did all my training with a goal marathon pace of 5:25 to be extra extra safe. Tapered fine, some hip issues but nothing major.

Where I think I failed: carb loading and sleep. I had an early flight to Gold Coast the day before the marathon and didn't get much sleep. Had an afternoon nap and thus couldn't sleep that night either. Final day of carb loading didn't go well; looking back think I may have gotten only 200g of carbs all day.

Woke up on race morning with some tummy trouble, but then I sat on the toilet for 30 minutes with no results so I'm unsure if it was just nerves. Thought I left early enough to get a warm up at the race start zone but the 5km journey took an hour due to packed trams. It was so packed that the moment you left the tram stop to walk to the start zone it was shoulder to shoulder and I couldn't get in a warm up.

Race started and right from the get go nothing felt right. My legs were heavy, as if I'd just done a 30km the day before. Stuck to a 5:40 pace and by the time the 21km mark came around my legs were screaming out in pain, I knew I couldn't maintain 5:40 for another 21kms and I didnt want to walk so I started slowing down. Didn't work. By the time I hit 33km I was plodding along at 6:30 and decided to walk/run the final 8kms. Final time 4:29 average pace of 6:23. I had 7 gels and 3 salt capsules.

I'm still trying to figure out what went wrong. Sometimes I go on my long runs on little sleep and it's fine. My phantom tummy trouble went on throughout the day, could it have affected my overall fatigue? Id spent 12 weeks and it blew up at the end.

Now I'm planning to run another marathon at my local route. But I'm unsure as to how much time I should wait until the attempt. I'll take a week off for my legs to heal then do a mini 3 week block and 1 week taper and try again. Is this unwise? I don't want to wait until next year 😭

Hi all. I’m training for a marathon in October, although I have been running for a very long time and this is a relatively new issue for me.

During my long runs, my feet have been super achey. Not sharp pain, not cramps … just… achey. Every other part of my body has been fine.

Last weekend I did some research which led me to believe that maybe the nylon plate in my Endorphin Speed 4s were the culprit. So for today’s long run I used my Altra Flow Experience 3. My feet got so achey that at mile 6 (out of 11 total) I stopped at home and changed my shoes to my ES4 again. Didn’t really help. I have New Balance Balos as well, which are a much more “cushy” shoe, but I am light (105 lbs) and I don’t compress the foam well enough while running which leads to ankle issues. Can’t win.

Just wondering if anyone else has had an experience like this and I’m open to any suggestions. I have been doing foot stretches and strengthening exercises but I only started that routine a couple of weeks ago. I’ve also been icing my feet and rolling them out. Thanks for any advice you can offer!

OK, so I'm way into my head right now and probably overthinking...also, huge caveat that nutrition is very individualized and different bodies react differently, sweat differently, have different needs...but generally speaking, my question is: Will relying on Tailwind mixed a little "heavy"/more concentrated throughout a ~4hour marathon set me up for disaster?

Longer version of the question...for training for and racing a full marathon am I risking disaster using just Tailwind for my carbs/salt/electrolytes when mixed with 16oz (500ml) water? The label calls for 20-24oz (590-710ml) water with each serving?

I'm targeting a 3:45 marathon. My thinking is aiming for 16oz (with full serving of Tailwind) every 5'ish miles.

This would give me:

• 67g carbs/hour (on the 'low' end of what's generally recommended) -
• 250g cabs for the whole race
• 80oz water for the whole race

Considerations:

• I'll probably want to supplement a source of carbs beyond Tailwind...candy, etc...here and there to get myself closer to 75g carbs/hour...seems doable?

QUESTION: How much am I running the risk of issues with hydration using the combo of Tailwind mixed with 16oz/500ml water? I know as you add carbs/sugar, it decreases how well the stomach is able to pull in water, right? The easiest solution to this is to sip plain water here and there at aid stations on occasion and during my training runs, right?

I know most folks run/train with gels, but I've taken to the ability to take in carbs steadily throughout my run as opposed to every _____ minutes taking a gel. I've tried a few different types of gels over the years but this route just seems better/preferable to me.

I absolutely plan on testing this concentration level, etc during training over the next few months but I was hoping to hear from folks who have run this road before to gain any insight or wisdom.

Thanks!

Not calling out a specific poster or redditer, but I have often seen disparaging remarks/ comments on those who run over 4hour marathons. I’ve run three 4:30 avg. marathons - never stopping (minor pausing at water stations). My last marathon, I trained my heart out for a 4:15 time, and ended up spraining my ankle 3 weeks before my marathon, so I ran and finished 4:30 again, which was the only way to finish healthy and safe. Also had no shade the entire back half of the race. I was cooked. Either way, I could have maybe run a 4:15 marathon if weather and the safety of my ankle wasn’t in play.

Am I “capable” of more. Sure! But I am quite satisfied with my current level and my enjoyment of the sport, and I like to believe that I still ran 26.2 miles 3 times, and that it wasn’t just about a time. When I run my next marathon, I want to be healthy and have perfect weather, and if thats the case I hope to run close to 4 hours. But I still need to run the race Im given for that day in time.

Thanks for coming to my rant!

Hey it's a marathon, kind of ironic if it's timed right? When's the last time, time signed your checks?!!

How was your week, how far in the block and when's the next race? This will be a good mega thread to keep encouraging/critiquing 6 hour crew throughout the year.

Whether its shifts of motivation, some nagging pains, we've all been there! Let's keep each other engaged!
Post your weekly miles, breakthroughs, or if you need help with pace/fitness identification, questions here!

*new individual posts that's posted Sundays re: How to finish, etc deleted/strongly recommended to post here!

I have a run scheduled today and I would really rather not skip it. The diarrhea came in kind of suddenly but I feel ok now. Any thoughts? I searched for similar posts but most of them were about diarrhea after running lol

**edit to answer some questions**

1. I do have some history of running though I mainly was a thrower in high school. But I did some running in our training and did a few other sports. Running isn’t really new to me just the distance is.
2. The heat here has definitely impacted it. I am running a lot less because of it. On a typical day without a heat wave I am still kind of hitting a wall at the two hour mark.
3. I am working on checking some vitamin and lab levels to see if that could impact me. My family has a history of some deficiencies

.
4. Always electrolytes every day. I’m a very salty sweater.
5. I am in a deficit though because of this I have increased my deficit and protein intake a lot within the past two weeks.

Hello! I’m currently training for my first marathon and am having horrible me luck fueling. I don’t even know how to explain my issue. My legs or chest down hurt and aren’t tired, but I feel like insanely tired and weak at like miles 6-8. I’ve always been known for being extremely hydrated so I know that’s not the issue. I’m really struggling with this and it’s so upsetting. I feel like I could do more but I something in my body tells me not to or I’ll pass out.
Thank you!

After feedback from an earlier post I purchased a pair of Lululemon half tights yesterday. Took them out for a long run this morning in 80’ with a 75’ dew point.

They were excellent, except my shoes were squishy wet from all the sweat. It’s better than wet shorts chafing my legs, but any solutions for this? Compression sleeves? Body Glide around the ankles?

Hey, folks

I’m trying to find a good pair of running shorts and I’m realizing there are way more options than I expected. Some look great online, but then the reviews mention chafing, bad liners, tiny pockets, or the waistband riding up halfway through a run.

I mostly run a few times a week, usually 3 to 6 miles, so I don’t need anything super elite. I just want shorts that are comfortable, lightweight, breathable, and don’t feel annoying after the first mile. A decent phone pocket would be nice too, but I’d rather have comfort over a bunch of extra features.

For people who run regularly, what running shorts have actually held up for you? Do you prefer lined or unlined, 5 inch or 7 inch, split shorts or regular ones? Any pairs you bought and regretted because they looked good but felt awful on actual runs?

Random question that I was curious about...

My usual training run is a 1 mile loop in my neighborhood. For my long runs I just run this a bunch of times. Ror example, this morning I just ran the loop 14 times for my long run. Often there are other people walking this loop as well. Whenever I see someone I will smile and say "good morning" but I since it's a loop I will inevitably see them multiple more times (especially if they are going the opposite way) and I feel weird waving each time. What basically do now is just keep my eyes forward and kind of ignore them. It's kind of like driving next to someone you know and you keep getting stopped at all the red lights next to them. It's just a silly thing, but curious if other runners deal with this differently. I used to literally kind of smile and wave EVERY time I passed them, but then it just gets super repetitive and awkward ha ha.

I've been running for about 15 years with many breaks for mild injuries. (I've learned I have loose joints) I did a half a few years ago and wasn't as prepared as I should have been. It was all up and then all done hill.

Now I'm training for a mostly flat marathon for the first time. I've been really working on my heart rate and gaining mileage more comfortably. I ran at max HR for basically all my training previous to the half I did a while back. I've learned a lot and my cardio health is improving. I'm just worried I'm not getting enough miles in since I'm working HR only.

Week 9 and I'm doing about 14ish miles a week. I would love to hear your thoughts. 42F, ehlders danlos so I do a lot of PT to support my running.

I ran my first marathon today. It was a solo. Havnt found any local marathons near me for several months.

I didnt start running with the intention of completing a full but as I got to 15 I said screw it, lets do this today. I hit the wall around mile 22. Slowed down substantially. Finished 4:45.

I know i was undertrained and I anticipated feeling like shit physically, what I didnt expect was to feel like an emotional wreck. Crying in the bathtub. (For context im a grown man with kids. Ive never felt like this before. Im the one thats supposed to be wiping tears)

I feel zero sence of accomplishment and feel like im a fraud. And that this was all for nothing, and all the training up to this point was stupid and a waste of time. Im left wondering why I wanted to do this.

Hello, I recently ran a marathon by myself just over a month ago. I managed to run it in 4 hours and 20 minutes however was unprepared in hindsight.

Cardio wise I was very much fine and probably could of gone quicker, my training consisted of doing large amounts of different forms of cardio such as hillwalking, running, swimming etc, however my joints most certainly felt it. Apart from 3 half marathons across the 3 months prior I didn't really stack up the longer runs. I also was using £10 flee market running shoes.

I am running a marathon with my dad at the end of August. I plan on running at his pace so don't imagine it will be much quicker than 6 hours. With this considered cardio fitness shouldn't be an issue, however how would I prevent it being quite as sore? I plan on getting propper running shoes which will hopefuly help my case. Would strengthening my legs in the gym provide good results alone? Or is the only way simply to increase training mileage? I thought this would be the best place to ask

Thanks in advance,

Emlyn