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.
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!
Every once in a while, we get feedback from runners who are using our unique training and racing approach to meet their marathon goals. Here’s a great note from Amy, who used our race execution guide (available here for free) to have a successful first race. Congrats Amy and thanks for sharing!!!!
Please be so kind and let me tell how to organize my marathon training. I am 59 years old. My normal marathon time is 4:00 hrs. I have paid too much attention to mileage and am suffering from overtraining.
As exciting as marathon race day can be, it doesn’t have to be such a giant roll of the dice. After all you’re not just hoping for a PR, you want to run the whole race. While every marathon runner starts with high hopes on race day, not everyone is able to realize their goals. This is due, in part to poor race execution, but also to a fundamental training flaw: very few marathoners spend training time at their goal marathon pace!
Another great question about marathon pacing! When I first wrote the pacing guidance for the marathon and half marathon distance into spreadsheets, I was very tempted to do just as you say. Over the last few years of coaching marathon runners, I have learned over time, both personally and in coaching other folks, that the final “kick” miles are very individual.
The minute you cross the marathon finish line, you are most likely consumed with a mixture of emotion and relief. You did it! After months of training, you put together a solid race and made it all the way to the marathon finish line. Even as you catch your breath, there’s one consistent and nagging thought that hits almost every finisher: Could I have been faster with more speed work?
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