Any runners on the board?

[ghost of miles]

My two younger brothers are talking about running in an Indianapolis mini-marathon come next May and have invited me to join them. I run sporadically, about 3-4 times a week, generally two miles a day. Is 5 months enough time to get in shape for a 13-mile marathon? Just curious to know if anybody else here runs & what their advice might be regarding training, etc.

[Peter Johnson]

Ghots, 5 months should be fine for a half. I wouldn't recommend it for a full, particularly if you've not done distance runs in the past, but training for the 1/2 can put you well on the road to running a full. In fact, many runners doing a long training period for a full will schedule it so they can do a half at the midpoint in their training.

Check out this website for a lot of great information and a training schedule that you use by backing out from the date of your race. The key is slow, steady preparation.

I've done a few marathons, most recently the Philadelphia marathon November 23. PM me if you have specific questions.

It's super rewarding to train for a long run--good luck and, above all, enjoy yourself!

[jacman]

i ran alot in the past, quit and got fat, lost weight and now i run again!

to answer your question, it's going to be a matter of increasing your millage and days running, plus listening to your body.

take your resting pulse rate every morning before getting out of bed. write that number down. if you notice your pulse rate increasing by about 10 beats, take the next day or so off (until the rate retuns to normal). an increase in heart rate indicates overtraining and will lead to injury, and also slow your progress.

i usually run 3 days on 1 day off. i run one long run per week.

i doubt if i'll ever race again, but i enjoy running.

BTW-the link brother Johnson posted is a great site.

Edited December 13, 2003 by jacman

[street singer]

Hey ghost,

Don't have any advice for you in regards to running, since it's only a recently acquired endeavor of mine. I've been training the past few months for the Houston Fire Dept.'s physical ability test which included a 1-1/2 mile run in 13:07. There are certainly people who would look at that and scoff...especially you marathoners! However, for someone like myself who's never been much of a distance runner, getting to the point where I could do that has been a struggle. I took my test yesterday and passed. Finished the 1-1/2 mile run in 12:41.

If I get the job, I'll need to get my time under 11:30 in order to pass what they call "phase tests" which are periodic physical ability tests. So...I'm here looking for advice like yourself. (And, ofcourse, any kind words of encouragement certainly wouldn't hurt, either!)

"One foot in front of the other" has become somewhat of a personal mantra for me lately...

[Peter Johnson]

I took my test yesterday and passed. Finished the 1-1/2 mile run in 12:41.

Congrats, street singer! No way would I scoff at your time. I used to not be able to run a mile without getting a splitting sideache. Physical accomplishments are all relative, and shaving 30 seconds off your required time is definitely something to be proud of!

[rachel]

Hey Ghost~ Do it!! I've run "The Mini" several times (back when they thought having 10,000 participants was huge...) I started out as a 3 mile recreational jogger and trained just as Clementine and jacman have suggested (building up my long runs, 3 days on, 1 day off etc) and did well. Didn't win any medals or anything but I finished (back then we finished on the Track--exhilarating). Watch out for those banked curves on the Speedway Track; they're killers!

Having a bout w/cancer and subsequent surgery has prevented me from running as exercise, but I fondly remember those years that I actually *did it*. It will prove to be one of the defining moments of your life.

Edited December 13, 2003 by rachel

[ghost of miles]

Thanks for all the feedback & advice, fellow Organissimos. I'm leaning towards doing it... And Rachel, didn't realize there was another Indy native on the board besides sheldonm! I grew up on the east side, in the Irvington area. My best wishes during your continuing recovery.

[rachel]

Hi Ghost~ Thanks for the kind thoughts. I've been in remission for 7 years, so I'm doing well. I just have to ride a bike or walk instead of running these days. I've been in Indy since 1987 and live near Eagle Creek. Let us know how your training progresses; it's nice to experience The Mini vicariously.

I'm also thinking that our "Jazz Kitchen" could use a dose of Organissimo, the band.

[Ed S]

GoM

My wife started walking in spring of 2002. By summer she was power walking. By the end of summer, she switched to running and was doing 2-3 miles about 3 times a week.

Then she decided to run in the annual Turkey Trot - a 5 mile run on Thanksgiving Day.

She gradually increased her distance and ended up completing the 5 mile run in her first official "race"

She then took some time off and around January 2003, she and a couple of friends committed to running the Covered Bridges Half Marathon" in Vermont the first week of June 2003. Basically, in the same time frame you're talking about, she trained and gradually increased her distance and was able to complete the run. She's 42 years old, if that adds any context.

[street singer]

I took my test yesterday and passed. Finished the 1-1/2 mile run in 12:41.

Congrats, street singer! No way would I scoff at your time. I used to not be able to run a mile without getting a splitting sideache. Physical accomplishments are all relative, and shaving 30 seconds off your required time is definitely something to be proud of!

Thanks Peter!

Yeah, as you said, physical accomplishments are indeed all relative. That's something we should all keep in mind... It's so easy to get discouraged by comparing your time/distance to that of someone else. As long as your progessing beyond your personal best, you're going in the right direction.

Go for it, ghost!

[Jazzmoose]

i ran alot in the past, quit and got fat, lost weight and now i run again!

That's me except for the "lost weight and running again" part. But I'm working on it. I'm only down 10 pounds so far, but I feel like I'm on my way. And when I get down to the level that I feel I'm not going to destroy my knees, I hope to start running again. I never ran seriously (as in actually racing), but just for the joy of running. There's something about being out there alone, feeling like you're about to drop and then breaking through that barrier...

As far as "comparing times", I've always felt that if you're competing with anyone other than yourself, you're really missing the point.