r/Marathon_Training • u/Weak_Ninja_6952 • 1d ago
Success! First Marathon (41F) - 3:42
Wasn’t sure what to expect in my first marathon. I did some training in my 20s but never did a race bc they always scared me. This year I decided it’s now or never.
Training block went great until the taper and it felt like the wheels were falling off - Achilles started acting up, hamstring got angry, etc. One week before the race I thought the jig was up and I’d have to DNS. WRONG.
Had a great time out there - crowds were crazy - and got to dig deep in the final stretch. What a privilege to get to move our bodies like this. Filled with gratitude.
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u/Ehuehueguilty 1d ago
LFG! Currently in taper for NYC and having some knee problems - good to know you made it through! Congrats!
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u/Illustrious_Egg_2711 1d ago
That’s the way to do it. To be able on your first marathon to execute a strategy that perfectly is impressive. A lot to be proud of.
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u/Weak_Ninja_6952 1d ago
THANK YOU! This is one of the areas where I think age/experience comes in handy for sure
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u/Illustrious_Egg_2711 1d ago
I’d agree with you but completely ignored my first raced marathon plan at 45. So clearly some of are getting wiser with age and some still approaching it like I would have 20 years ago. I did better with the second.
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u/Squand 1d ago
What a great negative split. That 7:51 is ⚡
I just read a book on training and it talked about how tapers always make you feel the wheels are falling off. And you've got to trust the process.
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u/Weak_Ninja_6952 1d ago
I told my teenaged son I was doing mile 20-25 for him (saved the final mile for me), so knew he’d be watching my times and had to impress him 😂
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u/cloudblush444 1d ago
DAYUMMM BITCH U FLEW i’m 22 and hoping i can get to that speed but in a 5k. i just started last year inconsistently but now this month i’m more consistent.
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u/Weak_Ninja_6952 1d ago
😂😂😂 thank you!! I got a ‘mom, that was insane’ from my 16yo son, so that felt good!
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u/Crewtang 1d ago
Did you play hs sports? I as a non athlete never understood people just training one year of running and ripping times like this. Im in year 5 and still cant break 4. 4:05, 4:02, and just yesterday at mcm, 4:02 again lolol
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u/Weak_Ninja_6952 1d ago
I did not play sports in HS. But! I have always run recreationally - ran my first 10k when I was 5 (not kidding) with my dad. My dad worked nights and running was our time together. Did some longer distance training in my 20s but never ran the actual race bc I was scared. Prob completed two full training blocks though. Then kids and all that..,but now…I’m back!
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u/Weak_Ninja_6952 1d ago
Wait I missed the last bit that you were at MCM too!! Congrats - what a gorgeous day!
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u/Crewtang 1d ago
It was a beautiful day in our capital. How blessed we are to have legs that can run
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u/NovelTree9910 1d ago
Congrats, that's a great time with super consistent pace. I'm a bit younger than you, planning my first next year but I don't think I'll get under 4:00.
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u/unsungpf 17h ago
Awesome work, and what a great finish time. Any suprises on the day of the race or things you learned that you wish you knew beforehand?
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u/Weak_Ninja_6952 16h ago
I really wanted to enjoy the race - that was my first priority. Rather than getting bogged down on course time v watch time and tracking splits with eagle eyes, I wrote some numbers on my arm so I could track progress at two spots. 10 mile marker [target time range] and then 20 mile marker [target time range]. Figured if I wasn’t within range at mile 10, no worries just have fun. And if I was anywhere in the range at mile 10 and then 20…let ‘er rip and have some fun that way.
This helped me take some pressure off and not get freaked out when I felt sort of crumby or had doubt. I didn’t have to be a slave to the watch.
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u/Weak_Ninja_6952 16h ago
^^ I am a chronic over thinker and it’s prevented me from racing for the past two decades. This was my strategy for overcoming that and happy to say it worked for me!
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u/unsungpf 16h ago
I suffer with the same affliction and probably look at my watch like every 10 seconds while running ha ha. Your way sounds freeing.
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u/Juiceman23 1d ago
Hell yeah, I’m 42m and this pacing is exactly what I’m shooting for. Did you have a training program you used?
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u/Weak_Ninja_6952 1d ago
Nah but I did 5days/week - 3 easy / 1 workout / 1 long run (sometimes with a workout baked in). Did one 18 and two 20 milers.
For me I think doing pace work in those long LONG runs was the big help. It gave me confidence that I can recover while running. For me I think that made the difference bc so much if it is mental
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u/Weak_Ninja_6952 1d ago
What race are you doing?
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u/Juiceman23 1d ago
I’ll be doing the Go St. Louis early next year and will begin training for that after my HM next weekend
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u/Adequate_Intern 1d ago
Whoa, going to do more?
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u/Weak_Ninja_6952 1d ago
Yea! May focus on half’s and some shorter distances this spring and then another full in the fall. I had such a great time training!
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u/Adequate_Intern 1d ago
That’s awesome, been debating doing my first. Might have just convinced me!
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u/Weak_Ninja_6952 1d ago
Dooooo itttt - such a great experience. I was a lame-ass tearing up throughout the race thinking how amazing it is that we GET TO do this.
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u/OptimalHurry6840 1d ago
Congrats! Looks like perfect pacing.