Comments on: Marine Corps Marathon – 3:20:12

By: Craig

Craig — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 11:24:34 +0000

Well I’m running the MCM for the first time 2010.
I’m slow and always have been even as a kid, so I’m with Rob. I plan to BQ when I’m 90…only 40 years to go, can’t wait!! ?
Its been four.5 years of serious running for me. I ran an Ultra by accident with 2 drinking buddies as a guide …we got lost and ran for about 7 hours, maybe 30 miles. I ran that off an 8 mile long run base! Was only planning to do 12 miles…I thought I was dead when at mile 12 they said it was 12 miles back to my truck…but the bottom line is I think less is really more if you are slow and older…I did 20 this weekend and 15 the prior week, but I’m shooting to beat a 5:30 PR…a 11 min mile is about my pace…how you guys do that 7 stuff, I’ll never know that

but I love running long…so much so I skip all those short runs during the week! : )…and actually do better, probably need more time to recouperate during the week being 50.1 years young.

Just wanted to chime in and let the runners out there who are just starting out not to worry about being slow, I’ll be right there with you!

And I hope you get your BQ in Andy and then smoke the B!!.

- oh yah I pre-fuel, refuel more often and carry my own water bottle with extra electrolites…

I know what you mean about feeling bloated and have gone the other way too, but you have to nail the hydration and fuel for the HAT 50…OR BONK, so do some extreeme experimenting on your long runs and also my ultra running friend John Straub, who has ran 100S told me that you only need to run half the distance you race…the recoup time can make you stronger more so then running longer and run yourself into the ground and break down..or get injured or sick, so sleep in when you need it/when your body feels it, your “mind” may not.

By: Rob Rice

Rob Rice — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:08:04 +0000

Great race report. Sorry about the missed BQ, but coming from a guy who will only BQ if I live to be 90, I was very impressed with the race and the time. The Brook’s VIP porta potty report was hilarious. Keep on posting.
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By: andy

andy — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:52:43 +0000

@Peter Larson
Peter – Thanks. I’m definitely not going to skip any water stations at a marathon anymore, even if it’s just for small sips of water/electrolyte drink. My next fueling strategy will make this one look laughable.

By: andy

andy — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:50:27 +0000

@Thomas
Thomas – I just would like to finish a marathon strong. I was in a bad, ugly state at the end of this one. If you haven’t already seen it, take a look at my duck-walk bonk in the MCM finish videos at the 3:20:31 mark: http://bit.ly/1ZYyeA

Very embarrassing!

By: andy

andy — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:45:59 +0000

@thepixelsuite
Todd – Thanks. Glad you liked the detail. About the GU, I can only get them down with fluid, unfortunately. And, I don’t carry fluids when I run the marathon. So, I have to plan them around certain water stations (mileage-based). Yeah, time-based GU intake would be nice, if only I could not gag on them without water.

But, I need more than in-race GUs for my next race. I need some more calories before the gun goes off.

By: Peter Larson

Peter Larson — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:59:57 +0000

Andy – Great report, and very detailed. Having run two marathons in the past 4 weeks, I can tell you that a big difference between the two for me was hydration. Although my time in Manchester was slower than Hartford by 3 minutes, it was a much tougher course, and I enjoyed the race a lot more. I had a major mental breakdown in Hartford, which never really happened in Manchester, and I think hydration played a big role in that. I took fluids at every water stop in Manchester, and at mile 20 took in about 16oz of water which was handed to me by a student of mine as I passed through my campus. Although my legs gave out at mile 23.5 or so, I attribute that more to fatigue than fueling/hydration.

You should still be very proud of how you did – I’d kill for a 3:20. Marathons are always a learning experience, and sounds like you have plenty of new knowledge to apply to the next one!

By: Thomas

Thomas — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:23:20 +0000

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. I would love to run a 3:20 marathon. Great effort Andy!

By: thepixelsuite

thepixelsuite — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:49:37 +0000

What a terrific race report. So much great information and evocative detail, I almost felt like I was right there with you. No BQ this time perhaps, but you know you ran a terrific race at a pace a lot of folks would kill for, and I know you’ll be back out there once your foot heels up.

One GU strategy that’s worked for me is to take them in at certain times, not at certain mileage points. I tend to slow down a little the longer I run, so, if I waited to GU up at a mileage point, those fuel stops may stretch out farther and farther over time.