Post NYC Marathon Considerations
-Hating on myself: Never again do I want to finish a marathon in the dark . . . or be in Wave 4 for NYC Marathon. Since I really need to get my running life together, I have declared 2022, my rebuilding year. Maybe even a rebranding year, because the folks at BibRave rejected my ambassador application . . . again. While I am not sure that one can move up the ranks for NYC M’s wave placements by 2023’s marathon, I hope to be in a faster wave by the time NYC M 2024 comes around. Fingers crossed!
-Marathon training in general: While most marathon training plans typically have 20 – 22 miles as the longest run, I think that I need to up that limit to get over my marathon mental block. While training for NYC M, my longest run was about 16-17 miles; however, my body was a bit over running at Mile 18 during NYC M. I knew that I would finish the marathon, but it was going to be a struggle with a LOT of walking. FYI: I ran into this issue in previous marathons when I had at least one 20-mile long run under my belt.
-GI Issues: During this training season, my body has definitely gone through some changes besides packing on pandemic pounds aka COVID chunk. Actually, maybe the COVID chunk had a role in my GI issues this training cycle. Prior to this year, I never really had any GI issues when running over 10+ miles. During NYC M, I had to poop a couple of times after Mile 16, which I think ties in with the previous consideration that I made. Since I typically poop right after my long runs, my body was ready to poop once we entered Manhattan for the first time (Mile 16). I’m annoyed with myself for forgetting to incorporate taking Immodium AD during a few of my long training runs. This pooping issue also happened during Madrid’s Half Marathon, but I thought this was an exception because of 1) handing out and boozing till 3 am the night before the race and 2) throwing off my body’s clock with international travel. I do not think that I had any GI issues while running Va Beach’s Half Marathon, which was one month before Madrid’s.
-Checking bags: I’ve always been team bag check because I like to change right after finishing a marathon.
Also, I’ve always seen myself as an independent runner who does not like to burden other folks with carrying around my post-race crap. After this marathon, I asked myself: do I really need to check a bag for future NYC Marathons. Honestly, if I want to have a smoke after finishing the marathon, I’ll just simply shell out $16 for a pack. For this year’s NYC M, all finishers received a post-race poncho, and it was really all I needed after finishing. Normally, NYC M runners have to decide between receiving a poncho or checking a bag. For any of my “old school” NYC M runners out there, remember the drama that NYRR caused when they were going to do away with bag check and just have the post-race poncho? Now, it seems the majority of folks prefer the poncho over checking a bag.
-Going forward with marathon training: As some might know, I’ve registered for Rock n Roll’s New Orleans Marathon, which is scheduled for Feb. 6, 2022.
To be honest, I have no idea where to start for training. For instance, should I focus on endurance or on speed? From my understanding (which could be completely off base), runners should primarily focus on one or the other. Because I completed a marathon over the weekend, I guess that I have the endurance. However, I do not feel I’m where I need to be in my endurance fitness. I honestly have no idea where to start. For example, which distance should I start my long runs? Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Bragging rights: Normally, I’ll wear my medal only the Monday after the marathon. Since NYC M was gone for two years, I wonder if it’s ok to wear my medal for the next two weeks. 😉
Shucks, there was one other consideration that I wanted to bring up, but I’ve forgotten it.
Just my luck: My “fun” marathon shirt arrived two days after NYC M. I guess that I will have something fun to wear for NYC M 2022. I should modify the shirt to reflect how I typically commute to the Staten Island Ferry on marathon Sunday. To keep it real, I was all set to take the train to the ferry, but there were some subway delays, and I did not want to risk missing my ferry.
Run There, Drink That 
Hm, I’d recover, keep the longer runs to maintain my endurance, but add some speedwork runs in once a week and keep up with the climbing / other muscle stuff. I’m with you on the long runs – I like to get to at least 22 and preferably twice. I’m looking at Reykjavik in 2023 but really need to build up everything again (eeps).
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ohhh I’d love to visit Reykjavik . . . prob not for a half or full marathon though.
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Enjoy your recovery!
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Thanks. I think that I’m about 85% back. Although I did not run, I made it through a Shaunt T HIIT workout.
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Definitely have some longer runs before NOLA – at least 20 milers (though I’m not a marathoner, so you do what you think is best).
I loved running New Orleans – the course support, the start line, the old historic districts, it was great! You’ve got plenty of time to figure it all out.
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A trip to New Orleans is long over due. I attended college in New Olreans, but I have not visited the city since graduating in 2002.
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I would still make the long runs a key component of training and try to get up to a 20 miler before the race. Depending on how you’re feeling/recovering I would say start your long run at 13-15 miles and see how that goes. I don’t know if you ever used Hal Higdon’s training plans but I found they worked well for training for my first marathon. I used the beginner one to plot out my weekly runs and because I already had a good long run base used the long runs from the first intermediate plan. Maybe look at those and create something that works for you?
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Yes, I used Hal Higons as an outline for the upcoming marathon. We’ll see how it goes; I belive that my 1st long run is 15 miles.
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Ah, good ol Immodium pre-race. Never start a race without it, at least that’s my motto for my finicky stomach. I even keep some in my running vest in case I forget and need it.
I would definitely focus on endurance over speed for New Orleans. At least you won’t have to contend with the heat for your long training runs. And it sounds like you need to figure out what it would take to work up to 20 miles and have time to taper before the race. Good luck with your training!
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Thanks for the tips!!!
For my NYC M training, I had two 20 mile runs that I did not complete (unfortunately). For the 1st 20 mi long run, I was feeling an injury coming on around mile 15. For the 2nd attempt, my scheduling was all messed up so I think I got in 16 miles. I teach a gen bio class on Saturdays and Sundays, and there was not enough time to finish up the last four miles and prepare for class. Since I knew that I was not going to get any PBs in NYC M, I opted do my training plan’s two week taper rather than trying to squeeze in a 20 miler before marathon Sunday.
From folks’ comments and my general reading, it seems like endurance is the way to go for the next few months. Since I already have a recent marathon under my belt, I do not think that I need to build up to 15+ mile long runs. I can always see where I am after New Olreans Marathon (Feb) and readjust if necessary.
During this training cycle, I definitely plan test out taking Immodium before and (maybe) during a few long runs.
Let’s see how this goes. 🙂
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