MIRIAM AND DAVE'S FIRST
MARATHON EXPERIENCE WEBPAGE
This website was created during a 5 week "HTML Basics for Building a Web Page" San Dieguito Adult Education Class.
The topic of this web site is to document the experience of Training for a "First Time" Marathon. Yep, I completed the San Diego Marathon on
January 18, 1998 after participating in a 26 week Marathon Training Program with the San Diego Fit running group. At the sign-up the end
of July 1997 I could hardly complete a jog of 1 mile, but after the 26 week training program I was able to finish a marathon. The program
was great. The coaches taught us the basics of running, diet, hydration with weekly seminars held on Saturdays. It was a chance to meet other
"first-time" marathoners. Highly recommend that anyone contemplating running a marathon join with the San Diego Fit Running Club. See the link
below to their homepage.
I WILL CONTINUE TO ADD TEXT. Quick Links to key areas of this website:
ITEMS NEEDED TO TRAIN FOR A MARATHON (This is an unordered list; can also set the type of unordered list by coding UL type = DISC or CIRCLE or SQUARE)
Good Running shoes
Recommended Stores (Highly recommend shopping at running stores. I have found sales people to be more knowledgeable about running and can evaluate your running style and will recommend many types of shoes for you to try on.)
Moving Shoes
RoadRunner
Cool Running Shorts and Shirt or Tank Top that absorbs sweat
Fanny Pack or Waste pack to hold a water bottle, food items, keys, copy of your drivers license for identification in case you get hit by a car or faint on a long run.
Water Bottle
Liquid Types:
Gatorade
Powerade
Gukinaid
Flat coke(for the sugar)
Food for energy especially on long runs
Food Types:
Cliff Bars and Gels
Power Bar and Gels
Sportman Walkman Radio Great for Long Runs(make sure its sport type I broke 2 non-sport type cassette players)
Runnerst hat
TRAINING TERMINOLOGY. (This is the start of an ordered list. Use the OL TYPE command I,i,A,a)
Short Runs
Long Runs
Sprinting
Fartlek
RUNNING PARTNER (TOPIC coded with DT)
One day at work I was discussing the training team that I joined and Dave came out to run one
Saturday. It makes a difference to run with a partner. We shared the pain, triumph, running the long
run of 21 miles in rainy, cold weather. WE motivated each other on the runs and encouraged each
other and ran during lunch hour.
MARATHON DAY (TOPIC #2 coded with DT)
Well after 26 weeks of training marathon weekend was upon us. The Saturday before the marathon
was a sports Expo at the Carlsbad mall. In addition to picking up the goody bag, bib and t-shirt
there were running vendor booths. I ended up purchasing a running hat, Cliff bars and gels.
Sunday day of the marathon got up early to be at the start. Folks who would be finishing the
marathon on 4+hours would start at 630am. I did'nt see Dave at the starting line...way too many
people. It was a cool morning and I had a good start, I didn't want to go out too fast. Going
down Carlsbad Blvd along the coast at appx 735, the NEWs 8 helicopter was overhead and the lead
car for the "Elite" marathoners were flying by me. It was awesome to see them pass me with such
speed and so wide stance. Dave and I caught up to each other at mile 6 or 7. We ran together for
a short distance and then he took off. There was plenty of water and gatorade and the sun started
to shine and get hot. The most gruelling point was going up Lego Land Drive. The longest stretch
was from Price Club, down past the Coaster station to Poinseitta. Finally, mile 18, at the point
of La Costa Blvd for the return stretch to the finish line and the best view running on the coast.
Up the distance I caught a glimpse of Dave, probably around mile 20. By this time I was in a painful
walk. I'd try to jog to catch up with him. Finally at about mile 23 or 24 I did catch up with
him and we were able to run together to the finish line.
With training, dedication, commitment you can do it to. What an experience.
Several weeks after the marathon, there was a SD Fit Party. It was great to listen to the
stories and far differently to see the people in regular clothing than on those weekends
in running gear.
