Marathon Training - help

[MRSchultz]

Hello out there to this wonderfully educated crowd:

I signed up for a Marathon Training Club in my hometown. I'm VERY excited to get started, but due to the "COLD" weather we get here in Minnesota, the Club won't get toghether and start until around March or so. My question to all of you is this: Which tapes of Cathe's can I use to get me ready for this journey that I've set on? I am running whenever I get a chance, but I know that of all the tapes I have Cathe will get me ready for sure.

Anybody run one? Any suggestions? Tips? I'm interested in any response.

I'm so excited that I've actually made this commitment, I was desperately in need of a goal and this is a great one to strive for.

Thanks, have a great Thanksgiving!

Marcia

 

[Aquajock]

Hello, Marcia a.k.a. Fellow Minnesotan! Annette Q. Aquajock from Plymouth, here!

Congrats on going for the Marathon! IMHO, I think you would be served well by doing the MIC hi/lo segment at least once per week, to keep you acclimated to the higher impact forces of running on the feet, calves and . . . well, everything. If you don't have MIC but do have the CTX series, cobble together the hi/lo segments from that as well. I do think it would also be a good idea to keep your cardio mixed impact, among step, kickbox and hi/lo so that you don't burn out your joints prior to training.

I also think it would be a good idea to do Leaner Legs at least once a week, and/or any other Cathe strengthening workout that incorporates calf strengthening as well as quad, ham and glute strengthening, again because of running's higher impact forces.

And perhaps Interval Max as well, to kick up your cardiovascular capabilities.

Keep in mind, however, that I'm an Un-Runner, so I'm just spitballing this stuff.

Congrats again, and good luck!

Annette Q. Aquajock

 

[activegirl]

Hi Marcia!

I ran my first marathon in October, and am now in training for my second. First, let me start by saying that running a marthon is a great experience. You are right, it is a great goal to work towards, and one that is very achievable.

You asked for some tips, so I will share a little bit of what I learned while training for my marathon, but keep in mind that you might have a somewhat different experience. First, in my opinion running a marthon is only about 30% physcial and 70% a mental challenge. During my training I was amazed at all the little mental tricks I had to play on myself to finish some of those long runs. I think it is great that you are training with a group. I ran and trained with my sister-in-law, and sometimes the encouragement of your fellow runners may be the only thing that keeps you going.

You asked about Cathe tapes that would help. I am a big fan of crosstraining, so I really think you can mix it up to get plenty of variety. While we were training my sister and I were doing the Tank Top Rotation. We would lift our weights in the morning, and then do our cardio in the evenings on weight days. While I was training, I did all sorts of activities including spinning, hiking, swimming (this is actually supposed to help you run faster), sprints at the high school track, walking, cathe videos, kickboxing, etc. Our typical rotation looked something like this:

Monday: PS Upper Body Total AM/ 30 Minute Run PM
Tuesday: Leaner Legs/ CTX Kickboxing
Wednesday: CTX Biceps/Shoulders/Triceps/ 60 minutes varied cardio
Thursday: 60 Minutes varied cardio
Friday: MIS Total
Saturday: Long Run (anywhere from 8-22 miles!)

Sometimes we would squeeze in a second run, but often my ankles and knees couldn't handle more than two runs a week. The most important thing to remember is to listen to your body. Make sure to take the time to recover from any type of training injury. If you need to take some time off, do it! Good luck on you marathon. I am sure you will do great! Keep us posted.

 

[Aquajock]

RE: Another slightly soggy suggestion

Hey, Marcia! I know from instructing aqua classes previously over at the St. Louis Park Northwest Athletic Club, which has a Club Run program, that a lot of Club Run members would aqua-jog in the deep end of the pool as a cross-training method. Zero impace, and good for those days when you want a mid-range cardio workout to intersperse with your heavier, weight-bearing training days. The smart aqua joggers would do it as a habit, rather than wait to be injured!

Annette Q. Aquajock

 

[pfive]

Hi Marcia!

Although I am not preparing for a marathon, half marathon is what I'm aiming for this spring hopefully, I will add this idea for training. Do you have a stairstepper? I noticed when I started preparing to run short races that my stepper helped me a lot. Most evenings whenI didn't feel like "doing" a tape I would just hop on the stepper, turn on the TV and go! You can do intervals on the stepper too. Those really helped to boost my endurance. So once I started running seriously again I noticed that my legs were never tired, I could go on and on, it was always the rain or cold steering me back to the car.

I would suggest the more intense cardio tapes to help improve lung capacity; but tapes or equipment more geared towards the lower body for increasing endurance and strength in the legs. I recently picked up a copy of Leaner Legs for this reason. I'm glad to see that Annette recommends it for leg training.

A bike! An indoor bike should be fairly helpful too (I would think). On most ocassions when I go to the Y, I may do a warm-up on one of the bikes but I'd rather get right to the treadmill to do hill workouts. I don't like to sit for very long, so that may be why the bike doesn't interest me or that burn that comes right away from all that pedaling. ;-)

I'm going to keep up with this thread. I need all the tips I can get! Good luck in your training and with the marathon!

Angie

 

[MadnNatsmom]

wow! I can't believe you only ran once a week? And actually finished the marathon? Just goes to show you that everyone is different.

Marcia,

How long have you been running and what is your weekly base miles?

I am currently in my 5th week of training for the Los Angeles Marathon in March 2003. I am running 3X per week (short distances like 3-5 miles, the longest midweek run will be 10 miles) plus the long run. My longest has been 9 miles so far.

Before starting your actual training, you may want to build your weekly base mileage to 20-25 miles.

Although doing Cathe tapes is great, the only way to condition your running muscles is by RUNNING. There really is no substitute. (I know you don't want to give up Cathe, even temporarily!)

This is the information that I have gathered about marathon training:

Cross-training is strongly recommended, especially with weights and ESPECIALLY the upper body. Marathoners' upper bodies get tired after a while and slouching/stooping leads to poor running form, throwing the rest of your biomechanics out of whack.

BUT, I was told not to use heavy weights. Instead, concentrate on low weight, high reps. We are trying to develop our ENDURANCE muscles as opposed to our POWER muscles. Lifting heavy would be counterproductive to our goals.

I've also heard that a marathon tests you psychologically. I've also heard that the last 6 miles is like running another 20, but that's another story.

Good luck and keep us posted on your training!


"Pain is weakness leaving the body."

 

[momincharge]

Funny I was just thinking about asking this same question. My brothers have talked me into running 2 marathons with them next year. I think it is just so they will have someone to laugh at!!
I am shooting for running 3 days a week ( the days my daughter has soccer practice and I am at the track anyway). And am crosstrainig with 3days of Pilates, 2-3 days of lifting and 1-2 days of other cardio on weight days. Will see how it goes! How about suggestions for shoes with some stability but good cushioning?? Good to be back here after sooo long! :-jumpy

 

[naughtoj]

Annette..

My joints would fall apart if I did your suggestion. Have some mercy girlfriend!!!!

I am actually running more now and feeling it, impact wise. BUT, it is not as bad as I thought. Sometimes Circuit Max can make me feel even worse in the joints. That one is always a killer for me as far as impact. More so than IMAX.

Maybe when I lose a few fat pounds I can try your rotation. I am counting on the impact not being so bothersome when I lighten my weight.....

Janice