Runner Insight

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When I decided to start training to run a full marathon in early 2007, making sure I had enough rest days built into my running schedule was an important consideration for any marathon training schedule that I looked at.  When I wasn’t training to run the marathon, I would just take off days when I felt like it: mostly if I was over tired, or I just didn’t feel up to it mentally.  But I knew training for such a big event as a marathon would take a lot out of me, and I wanted to make sure I didn’t injure myself by over training.  

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that you must run everyday, or at least do some sort of cross training on your rest days.  But it’s really important to just rest sometimes, and that means doing as little as possible.   

I knew I was putting my body through quite a workout during the week, and mentally I relished my day of rest!  My problem was finding the right day to rest.  With the marathon training program that I chose, I scheduled my long runs for Tuesday and a shorter long run on Thursday. So I took Fridays off as my rest day.  I would do a very short recovery run on Wednesday after my long run on Tuesday.    As I look back on it now, I can see that it wasn’t a very good running schedule for me, as it was originally designed for the long run to take place on a Sunday with the shorter long run 4 day later, not two days later like I was doing with my revised marathon training schedule. 

Since training for my first marathon, I have found a better running schedule: one that I may put into use here soon.  This more ideal marathon training schedule I found, is called “The Marathon Method Essential Guide to Training for Your First Marathon” by Joe Donovan, and I like the fact that most of the runs are short, no more then 6 miles not including a weekly long run that eventually ends up at its longest at 20 miles. The marathon training schedule I used to train for my first marathon had the longest run at 23 miles. 

Now that I have done some more reading and studying, I have discovered that many marathon training programs recommend not going over 20 miles as your longest run.  This new marathon training program that I found makes more sense to me.  It’s all about the long runs, and after all that is the goal: to run 26.2 miles all at once.  And the other runs are keeping you loose and getting you stronger for that all important long run during the week.  I’ve heard it said that the marathon is just a bunch of 6 mile runs mashed together. So it may be helpful if you can think of it as little bite size chunks when you’re running the marathon.  

So with shorter marathon training runs during the week, one good rest day will do a world of good, giving your body the much needed recovery time.  You will be amazed how well you will feel the following day when you head out the door for your next training run!

How ‘bout it?

Vision Runner

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Spirit of the Marathon –

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How ’bout it?
-Vision Runner

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For the most part, I have my mp3 player with me on my runs.  It really depends upon my mood what I end up listening to.  If I want a fast upbeat run, I will grab my player that I have loaded with high energy songs, such as Shakira or Enigma to get kicked into high gear…or at least as high a gear as I can manage with my visual limits.  But if I’m out for a slow pace, casual kind of run, I’ll bring along a good book, maybe a Patricia Cornwell, John Grisham or Anita Shreve that I have downloaded onto my mp3 player. 

There are times, of course, when I prefer to go without: to just run with my thoughts enveloped in the sounds around me, especially when I’m on a back road, or a trail away from traffic noise.

Years ago I would routinely go without music because my tape player was too bulky and heavy to carry.  But since now they make small compact mp3 players that hold a lot of music and an entire book, I listen to stuff more often.

When it came to races though, I had always chosen not to use my mp3 player, even during the two half-marathons I ran.  I noticed that other half-marathon runners were using them, but I knew I wanted to revel in the full race experience: the cheering of the crowd, the connection with the energy of all the other half-marathon runners.

But as my marathon training schedule was proceeding according to plan and the marathon drawing near, I found myself putting together a marathon music playlist.  I guess I hadn’t quite made up my mind yet. 

All of my long marathon training runs had been done with my friend Vickie riding her bike along side me, so we had great conversation to hold my interest. Vickie would not be with me as I ran the marathon, so I was torn: what should I do? Should I take along my music? Or not?

So with a marathon playlist of high energy songs and a book by Nevada Barr, a recently-discovered author I really liked, loaded onto my mp3 player, I placed it in the pile with my other marathon race day things.

In bigger marathons they will often discourage the use of electronic devices such as mp3 player simply because there is so much going on, and the marathon runners need to be conscious of their surroundings. But I knew there were going to be places along the Missoula Marathon route that would be far between the cheering crowds and fellow runners.

As I climbed into the van on race day, and headed out to the starting line of the Missoula Marathon, I had my MP3 player with me.  But I decided once we arrived at the staging area that I wanted to experience the full 26.2 mile marathon in all its glory, so I didn’t bring my marathon music with me.

I am really glad I made that choice.  The raw energy from the starting line crowd in the quiet early morning, infused with the sounds of hundreds of running shoes hitting the road at the start of the marathon was exhilarating.  And as all the marathon runners thinned out, I enjoyed hearing the high powered agricultural sprinklers in the distant fields clicking away, and a lone meadowlark singing a song to cheer me along. 

Had I been listening to my mp3 player, I would have missed out on an unexpected visit from T at the 8 mile mark of my marathon.  We had planned that she would meet up with me at the 16 mile mark unless I called her on my cell phone to request assistance prior to that.  So to my great delight I heard her yelling my name, telling me my time and how well I was doing after about 8 miles.  It spurred me on, with an additional lifting of my spirits, tickled at the surprise personal support.

So for me, my decision not to use an mp3 player during the marathon was a good one.  From the encouragement of the marathon volunteers, to the clapping and cheers and “Nice job – You’re doing great!” support from people lining the streets, to the sounds and sporadic conversation with the other runners, I would have missed out on the energy and a palpable but indescribable connection with the entire event. I’m glad I didn’t choose to block it all out. That feeling will be a special part of my first marathon, etched into my memory to relive and enjoy for the rest of my life.

How ‘bout it?

-Vision Runner