So, I decided a couple years ago that I wanted to run a marathon. I've mentioned it here and there but never got my ass into gear and actually trained for one. Well my friends, that is about to change. Being from Oklahoma and experiencing the OKC bombing and everything that happened afterwards, I've always had a desire in my heart to make the OKC Memorial Marathon my first marathon. April will be the 15th anniversary of the bombing and the 10th annual Memorial Marathon and I figured what better time than now!! When I told Giller what I was planning and asked if he wanted to join me, Giller, being the bad ass he is, said yes. So, the Gillers are training for their first marathon to be run on April 25!!

That being said, I know this is not going to be some easy stroll in the park. If any of you have run a marathon or are training for one share your advice! Shoe advice, injury prevention, whatever. I've done some research and have a training schedule set from now to April and have read up on everything but if anyone has any pointers, I'd love to hear!

Also, if anyone wants to run or find out more about it, you can go here!

You rock my socks off.

I'd recommend socks for your marathon (but that's all I've got).

Maybe if Crawdad and I get a wild hair come April, we can watch you cross the finish line or something. We'll be the ones drinking a beer to toast your marathon-running success.

I like the way you think, my friend.

*shudder*

Ya. I've run a few. Just click on the search button on the left side of this screen under your login name and search for Cantrip under Posted By and Marathon in the posts section.

Signed up for another one in December with less than 10 weeks for training. Not the smartest thing to do, but I'll run 16 miles tomorrow and that should be my longest run.

Advice:
1. Never run in new shoes. I did that 10 years ago and lost five toe nails. I ran a long run last weekend in slightly new shoes and may lose one soon. Don't do what I do.

2. Get properly fitting running shoes. Go to a specialty running shoe store and get fitted for running shoes. The people at these types of stores, as opposed to say Big 5 or Sports Authority, know what they are talking about. A poor fitting shoe equals lost toe nails.

3. Socks. Get proper running socks. Balega socks are made in South Africa and have no seams. Seams create friction and make you lose toe nails. Amazon.com has them or you can get them at specialty running stores.

4. Corn Starch Baby Powder. Moisture is the enemy. If your feet are moist, you will get blisters. That is why you never want to get your shoes wet during a marathon. You need baby powder that is pure corn starch, not talc. Put your bare foot on the toilet seat with toes hanging over the bowl. Squeeze a good amount of powder on top of your toes so you leave a small pile. Then carefully pull your socks over the pile so the powder stays near your toe area. This will suck up moister for long runs. Don't bother with this on runs shorter than 8 miles. What about if it rains? Powder will get wet and be useless, but remember, moisture is the enemy. Lather your toes and feet in Vaseline. That keeps moisture out when it rains.

5. Train with a running group. Don't train with Team in Training (purple jerseys) unless you like rasing funds for cancer. I ran with the group that was sponsored by the LA Marathon. Your marathon will have one. That is your best option because they have great lectures at the end. The trick is the slow, longer and longer runs on the weekends. They will have aid stations for your long training runs. You will learn more stuff from their experience than you can find out on your own.

6. Hal Higdon has a website that has good training schedules. Halhigdon.com.

7. Make a checklist for your long runs. I have a routine I do for long runs and for marathons. It doesn't change. I set my stuff out the night before and that helps me get out the door early in the morning.

8. Running Belt. I use an Amphipod from Amphipod.com. I carry my phone, keys and 4 water bottles. 3 on shorter runs with one filled with water and Gatorade powder. I also carry GU, which is a gel packet for energy.

9. Always train on your long runs like it's a marathon. The system that I use is run a mile (under 10 min) then walk at each mile marker for 30 seconds drinking 2 gulps of water. On miles 3, 8, 13, 18, and 23 I gulp Gatorade. At miles 5, 10, 15, 20 and sometimes 24 I have a gel pack. If my run is less than any of these, I still follow the plan so it's automatic on game day.

10. Wear a hat. I wear one by Adams that has a skirt in the back with a pocket that I fill with ice at the first aid stations if it's hot on marathon day.

11. Glide. There's some stuff called Glide that you get at running or biking stores that you'll want to put on for the long runs and on marathon day. Keeps your skin from chaffing.

12. Sunblock. Even if it is cloudy, you can still get sunburned. Chapstick also makes lip sunblock sticks.

13. Eat well the night before a long run and eat well immediately after a long run as this aids in recovery. I just had chicken pasta at Romano's Macaroni Grill for my long run tomorrow. I'll go to the local Denny's after the run as they don't care that I look like I just came from a long run. On marathon day I have my crew provide me with a pizza at the finish line.

14. Watchout for "runner's runs" which can afflict novice runners running long distances for the first time if they're out of shape. Blood is needed by the legs thinking it's an emergency situation requiring flight. So it pulls blood from less critical systems, like the digestive system. If food is not being processed, the body just dumps it. And if you ever get this, you'll know in a hurry because you'll have to take a dump like now baby. Happened to me once and luckily I was near the local college. I dumped for 10 minutes in the only bathroom I found open, which happened to share a wall with the college president's office. Poor guy had to put up with all that. It's not a problem for most so don't worry.

I do think the most important thing you can do is join a marathon training group. I'm sure the marathon you're running has one, and if not, go to your local specialty running shoe store and ask. Or, there's also the internets.

Good luck and remember, no sex before the marathon. Why? Because women weaken knees. Didn't you watch Rocky I?

Holy crap does Cantrip ever have this down to a science. After all that I have to also enforce you must use proper footwear, if you don't take proper care of your feet you will pay for it quite badly, so make sure you have the footwear you need in order to avoid injury. Since this will be your first marathon I suggest you should also go check out a foot specialist to check if your feet are properly balanced. It took me over 10 years of running to realize I suffered from pretty bad shin splints due to my feet not being properly balanced, so anytime I ran on pavement or any hard surface long enough I'd start to feel very sharp pain.

Go to the gym or workout at home. Running a marathon doesn't mean you only need to work on your stamina. Working out to help build some muscle will help out. If your a smoker try to cut down as much as possible or try to gain the willpower to quit completely, smoking does more damage then good when your trying to get healthy.

Know your limit, never push yourself harder then what you can physically do, when you first start training to run keep it simple. Walk abit first before you start running, then simply switch back and forth every 5-10 minutes. As you progress through your training try to run longer and slowly minimize the time you take for walking.

Probly most important of all is always and I can't stress this enough, ALWAYS before starting any kind of physical activity take a good 10 minutes of stretching your body to avoid injury, before and after your training/workout. If you don't stretch you may end up pulling a muscle and trust me, you don't want that. Pulling a muscle is very painfull so the best way to avoid it is to try and stretch properly.

Ah yes one other thing, while your running try to breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. When you start breathing heavily that should be your que to start taking it abit slower before you can start up again.

Hydration during running is also important, gatorade, powerade or any similar energy drink not only helps keep you hydrated but also boosts your energy abit. Try to avoid redbull since your not trying to stay up late, the heavy sugar would most likely eat up more energy then it can replace.

Don't train everyday, the body needs rest from physical activity as well, you got just over 5-6 months so this should give you plenty of time for your marathon.

Wow, thank you Cantrip and Splinter! Great information!!

Cantrip, great pointers, advice, and info! Strange question but does the GU have a taste to it? It kinda creeps me out but I know it's important. I'm going to look for a running group for us to join although we may have to head up to OKC for some Saturday runs because I'm thinking there won't be one in our town, unfortunately. Hopefully I am wrong! I'll be checking out those things you recommended for sure, especially the socks! Lord knows I do NOT want to lose any toenails... I can't imagine what my pedicurist would be saying about me when I go get my monthly pedicures! :) Seriously though, thank you so much! You clearly have a lot of experience and we may be asking for more pointers as we get further into training!

Splinter, thank you! No worries, neither of us are smokers, so that's a good thing! I'm not used to separating my cardio and strength training but I'm planning on changing my schedule to running on M, W, Th, Sat and strength training on Tues and Fri and take Sunday completely off. My main focus will be my running days, though. And yes, yes, yes to stretching! Sometimes I get in a hurry and rush through it but P90X helped reinforce my need to do it before and after exercise. It makes me feel better anyways!

To both of you, yes to the shoes. We live in a town that lacks specialty stores but we are going out of town this weekend and will definitely be hitting a specialty shoe store. With my schedule focusing on Sunday as my rest day do you think it's going to screw me up when the marathon gets here and it's on a Sunday? That current schedule just works well with my life, so I don't want to change it if necessary. What do you all think?

Ahh_crap, your post made me think of Andy during the Fun Run episode on The Office. Do you watch it? It made me laugh. Not about your situation, though. That sounds really shitty. Sorry. :/

Oh and Cantrip, I hope you're kidding about the no sex thing cause that won't happen. ;)