Following is my race report from Indianapolis Marathon Oct. 20 (my first). I am going to attempt the aerobic base building detailed on this thread. It makes sense to me. Just wanted to say hello and thanks for the info!!

Race report...

YEEEAAAHHHH! What a beautiful, perfect day for a run. Weather: 50-60 degrees, pleasant breeze, sunshine, beautiful fall foilage. I would not change a single thing about the enviornment.

Lining up, I was plain giddy. So much excited energy surging through every part of me. My husband was laughing at my childlike glee. I met Courtney at the start line, while impatiently awaiting the announcer to hush and let us run. She was running the half, but had run her first marathon the year before, same course. She is the same age as me, and like all of us over-zealous female runners, she too had hoped to qualify for Boston at her first marathon. Her piece of advice for me; don't spend all your cash up front. Well, I failed to heed her warning. I was so rested from tapering, and thrilled beyond belief to finally be at the starting line, that at the sound of the gun I was a wind up toy in contact with a surface at last. I was at the half way point by 1:40, well on my way to Boston by my calculations.

Then it happened, the dreaded, legendary wall. When? Maybe mile 16, when it occurred to me that I still had over 10 miles remaining, and my quads were in denial of this fact. By mile 18, I decided I would walk and I was about to stop, when a spectator informed me she was following her husband and inadvertently me as well. She told me I was an inspiration and I knew then that I had to keep running. I did not walk once the entire 26.2 miles, not even at water stations, which is a new feat for me.
I did take my ipod, which I had considered not doing, and I am grateful that I did (thank you Cheri). There were times when I felt I was running by myself, the participants seeming few and far between.
Miles 20-25 were particularly difficult and my pace dropped immensely. I was doing 7 min miles for some time in the beginning, and 9:30 by the end. This large discrepancy tells me my aerobic base needs work (new obsession in the works - MAF maffetone training). I ran so fast to start, that my body could not keep up with the lactic acid load I created, hence the uncooperative leg musculature later on. I know it wasn't an issue of lacking carbo load. I ate more pasta over the past week then in my entire life! I was diligent about staying hydrated as well.
25 to the finish was easier b/c of the mental relief of that came with knowing there was just one more mile. And the tears came with a vengence. I thought I had dodged them. That I was just one of those runners who didn't cry during the race. Nope. I had done it. A goal I never thought I would reach. I now belonged to a tiny segment of the population who have run 26.2 consecutive miles. I thought of the wonderful people who have come into my life as a direct result of my training. I thought of getting to talk to Cheri for the first time the day before the race. Just as I suspected, she is a sweetheart! Of John and I sharing this experience together, and how far he has come in the past 6 months. Of getting to know myself mentally and physically beyond my imagination. Of Mary waiting to greet me at the finish. Of John Blais, warrior poet completing an iron man in the face of ALS. Of Lara's kind soul and encouragement. Of old dreams released and new ones realized. I crossed that longed for finish line, tears streaming, smiling from the inside out, aching in places I had never physically sensed, thanking God for life. Mary and I waited. Then came John. I was equally excited for his finish. A marathon after 1.5 years of running!! I jumped back in and ran across behind him because I could wait no longer to kiss his salt streaked face and thank him for the multitude of ways in which he enhances my life.
3 hours 44 minutes and 38 seconds! Just 4 minutes from Boston. No problem. Something tells me this is the first of many.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Johnnie:
Following is my race report from Indianapolis Marathon Oct. 20 (my first). I am going to attempt the aerobic base building detailed on this thread. It makes sense to me. Just wanted to say hello and thanks for the info!!

Race report...

YEEEAAAHHHH! What a beautiful, perfect day for a run. Weather: 50-60 degrees, pleasant breeze, sunshine, beautiful fall foilage. I would not change a single thing about the enviornment.

Lining up, I was plain giddy. So much excited energy surging through every part of me. My husband was laughing at my childlike glee. I met Courtney at the start line, while impatiently awaiting the announcer to hush and let us run. She was running the half, but had run her first marathon the year before, same course. She is the same age as me, and like all of us over-zealous female runners, she too had hoped to qualify for Boston at her first marathon. Her piece of advice for me; don't spend all your cash up front. Well, I failed to heed her warning. I was so rested from tapering, and thrilled beyond belief to finally be at the starting line, that at the sound of the gun I was a wind up toy in contact with a surface at last. I was at the half way point by 1:40, well on my way to Boston by my calculations.

Then it happened, the dreaded, legendary wall. When? Maybe mile 16, when it occurred to me that I still had over 10 miles remaining, and my quads were in denial of this fact. By mile 18, I decided I would walk and I was about to stop, when a spectator informed me she was following her husband and inadvertently me as well. She told me I was an inspiration and I knew then that I had to keep running. I did not walk once the entire 26.2 miles, not even at water stations, which is a new feat for me.
I did take my ipod, which I had considered not doing, and I am grateful that I did (thank you Cheri). There were times when I felt I was running by myself, the participants seeming few and far between.
Miles 20-25 were particularly difficult and my pace dropped immensely. I was doing 7 min miles for some time in the beginning, and 9:30 by the end. This large discrepancy tells me my aerobic base needs work (new obsession in the works - MAF maffetone training). I ran so fast to start, that my body could not keep up with the lactic acid load I created, hence the uncooperative leg musculature later on. I know it wasn't an issue of lacking carbo load. I ate more pasta over the past week then in my entire life! I was diligent about staying hydrated as well.
25 to the finish was easier b/c of the mental relief of that came with knowing there was just one more mile. And the tears came with a vengence. I thought I had dodged them. That I was just one of those runners who didn't cry during the race. Nope. I had done it. A goal I never thought I would reach. I now belonged to a tiny segment of the population who have run 26.2 consecutive miles. I thought of the wonderful people who have come into my life as a direct result of my training. I thought of getting to talk to Cheri for the first time the day before the race. Just as I suspected, she is a sweetheart! Of John and I sharing this experience together, and how far he has come in the past 6 months. Of getting to know myself mentally and physically beyond my imagination. Of Mary waiting to greet me at the finish. Of John Blais, warrior poet completing an iron man in the face of ALS. Of Lara's kind soul and encouragement. Of old dreams released and new ones realized. I crossed that longed for finish line, tears streaming, smiling from the inside out, aching in places I had never physically sensed, thanking God for life. Mary and I waited. Then came John. I was equally excited for his finish. A marathon after 1.5 years of running!! I jumped back in and ran across behind him because I could wait no longer to kiss his salt streaked face and thank him for the multitude of ways in which he enhances my life.
3 hours 44 minutes and 38 seconds! Just 4 minutes from Boston. No problem. Something tells me this is the first of many.<HR>

Congratulations on the run either way. I believe by building the aerobic base, you can avoid the wall. I did it for Detroit on Sunday (Oct 21); my report is a little earlier in here. Great training method. Glad you're taking this all as a big positive; and ready to move to the next phase.

On walking. I actually have inserted walks into my training. I've come to enjoy them, and it helps in developing slow twitch fibers.

--Jimmy

MAF log[/URL" target="_blank">
zzzzzzz[/URL" target="_blank">

http://This message has been edited by jjwaverly42 (edited Oct-23-2007).

quote:<HR>Originally posted by bluelake:
I started MAF training @ 20-25 mpw for about 12 weeks, then added in some races for speedwork. I initially didn't take the -10 beats for my BP medication (guess I was in denial.) I have gone back to aerobic basebuilding for a while, and increased to 30+ mpw but would like a way to measure my progress. Any suggestions on the MAF tests? Maffetone recommends you do them under the same conditions, but I run outdoors. I can't control the temp and humidity. I thought my race times would be a good indication of my progress, but haven't seen much improvement.

<HR>

I use my logbook to track progress. I note start and finish temp and dew point, distance, average and max HR, and HR at 1 mile splits. Prior to getting a Garmin I drove my running routes to find out the mile points. I've been doing this for the past 7 months, the most noticeable improvement has been in the ability to control my HR under all circumstances (uphill, downhill, heat, longer runs). Increased speed shows up after that.

------------------
stretch[/URL" target="_blank">

Glad you caught the problem before it dropped you, Dave. One of the plusses of a HRM. If you're getting worse and worse at the same HR, it indicates some kind of stress going on in the body. It can tell you when to back off, and in your case, it might be time fo a check-up. I'll remember your post if I ever see huge drops. Thanks for checking in (and not checking out!) and posting.

I wish you a long life of health and clear arteries from here on in.

Keep going!

--Jimmy

MAF log[/URL" target="_blank">
zzzzzzz[/URL" target="_blank">[/B][/QUOTE]