Never thought I would get to this point

I finished my longest training run Saturday. 20 miles!!! I am less than 3 weeks away from my first marathon! Never in a million years did I think I would be running 20 miles, much less running a marathon. Now I just have to make it through these next two weeks of tapering.

Are you sure it is 20?

Jerry, be nice to the new guy!

Way to go Jordan!  Just don't go out and chop down any trees or do any major home renovations between now and the race and you'll be good to go.

And remember, start SLOW, the race doesn't even really start until mile 20.

mul21 wrote:Jerry, be nice to the new guy!

Way to go Jordan!  Just don't go out and chop down any trees or do any major home renovations between now and the race and you'll be good to go.

And remember, start SLOW, the race doesn't even really start until mile 20.

Alright,good job Jordan. 

Tell you a funny story, I didn't have Garmin for my first two marathon and ran 18 as my 20.

I have marathon in 3 weeks too.

That is awesome Jordan - I remember my first 20 miler too!  Enjoy the ride - it is something that you will remember forever.  Do you have a goal for yourself?  What race are you running?

Jordan great job! Your post reminds me when I started running again in 2005. I remember going out weekend after weekend being excited that each long run was the furthest I have ever run. Then being amazed that I ran that far! Wait until you finish your first marathon.

If I was to give one piece of advise over the next 2 weeks is do the same workouts that you have done the whole training cycle. The only thing you need to do is lower the weekly mileage. Another words make sure you don't just run every run really slow, keep some intensity in your training. This will help keep your body fresh and you won't feel sluggish on race day. I generally call my taper (Peak Week). And as time goes on and you decide to run more marathons don't be afraid to adjust the number of weeks for taper. I currently only do a 6 to 10 day taper, I find for me that it helps keep me more fresh going into race day.

Anywho GREAT JOB and best of luck with taper and your first marathon!!! Look forward to reading about it!

Good work Jordan!!  You think the feeling of running 20 miles is awesome.  Wait until you cross that finish line on race day!!  As Jim stated don't do anything out of the ordinary during your taper that would jeopardize getting to the start line.  Enjoy the taper!!  Oh, and that anxious felling that you'll have from now until race day is just a part of the taper madness...

Fantastic!!!!  Taper time and you will have lots of questions, doubts, etc. - we all do, and I've run 40+.  Ask away!!!  What race are you running?  I'm sure you've told us, but I've forgotten.  Jerry is running White Rock and I'm running Tucson in 3 wks.

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:Fantastic!!!!  Taper time and you will have lots of questions, doubts, etc. - we all do, and I've run 40+.  Ask away!!!  What race are you running?  I'm sure you've told us, but I've forgotten.  Jerry is running White Rock and I'm running Tucson in 3 wks.

Michele, yes you are a runner but Jerry? I won't call him a runner : )

Schuey wrote:

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:Fantastic!!!!  Taper time and you will have lots of questions, doubts, etc. - we all do, and I've run 40+.  Ask away!!!  What race are you running?  I'm sure you've told us, but I've forgotten.  Jerry is running White Rock and I'm running Tucson in 3 wks.

Michele, yes you are a runner but Jerry? I won't call him a runner : )

True dat.

Great job, Jordan.  I never finished 20 miles for my 1st one, but I still finished my 1st marathon.

Enjoy the extra sleep!

I never ran a 20 before my first (I was a bandit) or even the first that I trained for, and well, there was no such thing as a running watch let alone a GPS watch.  This is exciting times, Jordan.

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:I never ran a 20 before my first (I was a bandit) or even the first that I trained for, and well, there was no such thing as a running watch let alone a GPS watch.  This is exciting times, Jordan.

Now looking back at it I didn't run a 20 before my first Chicago. Didn't have a a GPS watch, I think I used a timex watch for time and just went off the .50 mile markers on the lakefront. Man GPS watches have opened a lot of doors to run in different locations and have an idea of how far you ran!

I'm running the St. Jude in Memphis on Dec. 7. I'm excited to say the least! As for goals, my main goal is to just finish since this is my first. Second to that, I would like to finish in under 4 1/2 hours. Not a great time I know, but I've never done anything fast! All of my training runs have been on pace to finish right at the 4 1/2 hour mark so I really hope that I can accomplish that. I just hope that adrenaline will kick in and carry me to the end. I was BEAT after that 20 Saturday!

Y

Schuey wrote:

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:Fantastic!!!!  Taper time and you will have lots of questions, doubts, etc. - we all do, and I've run 40+.  Ask away!!!  What race are you running?  I'm sure you've told us, but I've forgotten.  Jerry is running White Rock and I'm running Tucson in 3 wks.

Michele, yes you are a runner but Jerry? I won't call him a runner : )

That's insulting. Tell me if I am not a runner, why I ran 20 today?!

And you Schuey, a hiker.

Jerry wrote:Y

Schuey wrote:

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:Fantastic!!!!  Taper time and you will have lots of questions, doubts, etc. - we all do, and I've run 40+.  Ask away!!!  What race are you running?  I'm sure you've told us, but I've forgotten.  Jerry is running White Rock and I'm running Tucson in 3 wks.

Michele, yes you are a runner but Jerry? I won't call him a runner : )

That's insulting. Tell me if I am not a runner, why I ran 20 today?!

And you Schuey, a hiker.

Can you tell that Jerry has Taper Madness early?   

Jordan S. wrote:I'm running the St. Jude in Memphis on Dec. 7. I'm excited to say the least! As for goals, my main goal is to just finish since this is my first. Second to that, I would like to finish in under 4 1/2 hours. Not a great time I know, but I've never done anything fast! All of my training runs have been on pace to finish right at the 4 1/2 hour mark so I really hope that I can accomplish that. I just hope that adrenaline will kick in and carry me to the end. I was BEAT after that 20 Saturday!

There are no "ungreat" times - just roll with what comes and don't sweat it.  Of course, people told me that after my first marathon and I went out too fast and then crashed and burned at mile 20.  Not the first or the last to do that I know!  Good advice about taper - take it easy but not too easy.  Drink plenty, protect against bleeding nipples (seriously), body glide in the right places, don't forget to smile for a picture, and be proud of what you've done so far.  It is a long day, just relax and take it all in. 

Looking forward to your report!

John Kilpatrick wrote:

Jordan S. wrote:I'm running the St. Jude in Memphis on Dec. 7. I'm excited to say the least! As for goals, my main goal is to just finish since this is my first. Second to that, I would like to finish in under 4 1/2 hours. Not a great time I know, but I've never done anything fast! All of my training runs have been on pace to finish right at the 4 1/2 hour mark so I really hope that I can accomplish that. I just hope that adrenaline will kick in and carry me to the end. I was BEAT after that 20 Saturday!

There are no "ungreat" times - just roll with what comes and don't sweat it.  Of course, people told me that after my first marathon and I went out too fast and then crashed and burned at mile 20.  Not the first or the last to do that I know!  Good advice about taper - take it easy but not too easy.  Drink plenty, protect against bleeding nipples (seriously), body glide in the right places, don't forget to smile for a picture, and be proud of what you've done so far.  It is a long day, just relax and take it all in. 

Looking forward to your report!

+1

Congrats on making it through training, Jordan! Time to embrace the lunacy that is taper madness, and have a wonderful first marathon.

One word of warning, however: These things are like potato chips. Once you've done one...

good luck.  nothing like your first one:D

Woot woot ! 20 is awesome just wait you are going to love 26.2 even more ! Take everything in ,enjoy all those fans, you deserve it you are a rock star on that day .Have something with your name printed on front it's nice to hear your name when you are getting a little tired.Don't forget race report

All the work is done, now it's time to go out and celebrate your achievement.  Relax.  The race is just the party at the end of your training plan.

Jordan S. wrote:I'm running the St. Jude in Memphis on Dec. 7. I'm excited to say the least! As for goals, my main goal is to just finish since this is my first. Second to that, I would like to finish in under 4 1/2 hours. Not a great time I know, but I've never done anything fast! All of my training runs have been on pace to finish right at the 4 1/2 hour mark so I really hope that I can accomplish that. I just hope that adrenaline will kick in and carry me to the end. I was BEAT after that 20 Saturday!

Memphis is a fun race. I ran it a few years ago and really enjoyed it. You will be fine, just be sure to take it easy, especially at the start. You might feel like you are going way to slow after getting rested up from the taper, but don't take that as a sign that you should go faster than planned!

Presuming you have a Garmin and will be spending the night before in Memphis, I would turn it on on Saturday night, so the satellites can capture your signal.  It might ask if you've moved hundreds of miles, since you last turned it on.  And you select yes.

If you're driving to Memphis on Sunday morning, turn it on as soon as you get in the county for the same reason.

Jerry wrote:Y

Schuey wrote:

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:Fantastic!!!!  Taper time and you will have lots of questions, doubts, etc. - we all do, and I've run 40+.  Ask away!!!  What race are you running?  I'm sure you've told us, but I've forgotten.  Jerry is running White Rock and I'm running Tucson in 3 wks.

Michele, yes you are a runner but Jerry? I won't call him a runner : )

That's insulting. Tell me if I am not a runner, why I ran 20 today?!

And you Schuey, a hiker.

HaHaHa Jerry! I'll make a deal with you meet you in Boston and then will see who the hiker is?