The Inaugural Singer Island Half Marathon April 27th, 2013 – Riviera Beach, FL Forward: “Too Often Does Not… BUT this time DID!” After a dismal half marathon in St. Pete in February where I suffered a debilitating and show-stopping side stitch in the last 5k, I was excited at the thought of yet [...]
Lining up just before starting gun goes off is a moment of extreme tension. Months of training and focus have brought you to the precipice of race day. In a few minutes, your body and mind will be put to the test. You are ready to go, but there’s just one problem: every fiber in your being is ready to race, but you actually need to be thinking about pace. On the surface it’s just one letter, yet knowing the difference between the two can make — or break — your race experience.
The challenge of running and racing a marathon is a singular pursuit. Before you even start, you know that you’ll have highs and lows, obstacles to overcome, and inevitable suffering — followed by euphoria — on race day. With all of this ahead of you, it makes sense to pick the right marathon. No 26.2 miles is the same, and not all races are created equal. Some are big, others are small. Some are epic tests, others are (literally) a “walk” in the park. Finding the right race that syncs with your goals, abilities, and geographical location can go a long way towards ensuring you are able to run to your potential.
The Wall is defined as that period in a marathon when things transition from being pretty hard to being really, really hard. It is the point where your body and mind are simultaneously tested. It’s the perfect intersection of fatigue and diminished mental faculties. Or as you most likely remember it, it’s the exact point where all your pre-race plans went out the window.
Here are some tips on how you can mitigate the effects of the heat on your overall day, straight from what I have learned racing in the lava fields of Hawaii for the Ironman World Championships.
Join Coach Patrick McCrann for two brand new race-specific webinars. Information and registration instructions are below; seats are limited and you are racing in about a week (!) so don’t miss out. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Marathon Race Execution Webinar: Boston Marathon Edition Join Coach Patrick from Marathon Nation for this race preparation webinar. Patrick is a [...]
The Boston Marathon is the holy grail for many marathon runners. The unique qualification system and stringent timing standards mean that only a small percentage of the marathoning population is eligible to participate. Unless you are a charity runner, your only option is to spend years getting fitter and faster…and then having the perfect race to qualify.
With the marathon training season in full swing, and the Boston Marathon right around the corner, marathon race day energy is in the air. We’ve all had good races and bad races, but sometimes it’s hard to cut through the noise to find out exactly what set you up for that one-of-a-kind race. There are [...]
photo credit: teddyb Good luck to everyone racing the Philadelphia Marathon this weekend. I went 3:07 there in 2004 for my first Boston Qualification, and remember a few key things about the race that may/may not help you out. Here’s what I can recall: The first half is slower than second, so if you are [...]
Please Note: 40 spots already taken as of 12 noon Friday! Coach Patrick from Marathon Nation is prepared to give a one-hour presentation on preparing to have Your Best Marathon at the Marine Corps Marathon in just over a week! The only catch is he needs to know you want to hear what he has [...]
The Marine Corps Marathon is the fall highlight for thousands of runners every year. The timing is perfect for conditions, the course is predominantly flat and the on-course motivation is quite high. Despite this, thousands of runners fail to meet their pre-race goals…and we want to fix that!
This weekend marks the 2010 edition of the Chicago Marathon, the unofficial start of the fall marathon classics. Chicago is one of the more popular US events with close to 45,000 athletes participating each year. Whether you are looking to finish or have your hopes pinned on a qualifying time for Boston, getting the inside scoop on the course will ensure you are able to race to your potential. Let’s get started!
There’s just racing, there’s racing with a plan, and then there’s being able to adapt what you’ve got to meet where you’re at. In terms of experience level, know that anyone can register and show up on time for the start of an event. Few will actually have a plan based on their training, as you do by this point. But what really separates the elite crowd from everybody else is their ability to adapt.
There comes a time when you are so close to your race that there’s seemingly nothing else to do. You can’t train anymore and your taper is done. The race outfit is picked and your are glued to the local weather forecast. With less than 24 hours to go, you might feel like it’s time to hand the race over to Fate…but you shouldn’t!
This was to be my first “real” race back post the bike crash of May 2011, when I broke my hip. I had qualified in 2009 with a 2:59:42, so my dream goal here this weekend was to go sub-3. At the end of the day, I fell short by about a minute but I am super pumped with my performance. Thanks to everyone for your support…if you want more details, read on!
With the Boston Marathon mere days away, there are few things left to remember (including the sneakers above!). As you get ready to face the journey from Hopkinton to downtown Boston, you have undoubtedly spent time planning out how you will pace your day.
© 2013 Marathon Training Schedule | Marathon Nation. All Rights Reserved.
Designed by 
