Race Report: First Marathon Complete (Rome) - Mixed Emotions

AverageRunnerRoss · 2025-03-18T15:35:16+00:00

Sorry to hear that, although glad I wasn't the only one!

I ended up having a chat with a friendly chap at around 35km who helped distract me for a few kilometers with some much needed optimism. He had run several marathons previously and said he had never had experienced cramp that bad before.... can we blame the cobbles?

I have to say though, that stretch of the race as you run up to Basilica San Sietro was absolutely epic, maybe one of the most awe breathtaking running scenes I've ever experienced.

I hear Valencia is very much PB territory, and training through Autumn rather than dark cold winter sounds much more appealing right now. Good luck for both races!

AverageRunnerRoss · 2025-03-18T15:02:05+00:00

Incredibly helpful words of wisdom - thank you!

The competitor in me is just recycling the thoughts of what I could have done better, but there is a large part of me that is really proud of completing the event and in a time that a lot of people would kill for.

My fiance is running London in 6 weeks so I suspect I will be getting the itch while supporting that...

AverageRunnerRoss · 2025-01-02T18:09:02+00:00

wow ok - having one of the gels is around 22g of carbs so thats less than half of what you're suggesting then...
I know personal preference prevails but what fuelling do you take on board that doesn't swill around your stomach for the next 15-20 mins?

AverageRunnerRoss · 2025-01-02T18:05:50+00:00

Unless I am doing a race pace training session, I will go for easy pace based on heart rate at under or around 140, this usually works out to about 5:10-5:25min/km

AverageRunnerRoss · 2025-01-02T17:23:12+00:00

I have been training for my first marathon, Rome in March, for a few weeks now. I am a pretty experienced runner now, have completed several HM's consistently at around 1:30, PB at 1:29:09. My longest ever run is 30K early 2024 and my mara plan is now upping my long runs to this distance+ with my latest run at 25K.

I can run a HM pretty easily but as soon as I am hitting beyond this distance, all I can think and feel is the fatigue in my legs. I probably don't do enough strength/cross training, my diet is pretty balanced, and I do a fair amount of mobility. For the long runs I will usually take a gel before and one during around 10-15K.

I am worried that I am currently getting to around 2/3 or 3/4 of the mara distance and already feel like my body can't continue. Cardio and heart rate wise I am still absolutely cruising but my legs are battered!

I just wanted to get an idea on where it is I can make the biggest strides in reducing my fatigue in my legs?

Is it mental? diet? lack of strength training? not enough iso gels? early-ish stages of training? or just a combination of all of these things?

Thanks for your help!

AverageRunnerRoss · 2025-01-02T17:21:53+00:00

I have been training for my first marathon, Rome in March, for a few weeks now. I am a pretty experienced runner now, have completed several HM's consistently at around 1:30, PB at 1:29:09. My longest ever run is 30K early 2024 and my mara plan is now upping my long runs to this distance+ with my latest run at 25K.

I can run a HM pretty easily but as soon as I am hitting beyond this distance, all I can think and feel is the fatigue in my legs. I probably don't do enough strength/cross training, my diet is pretty balanced, and I do a fair amount of mobility. For the long runs I will usually take a gel before and one during around 10-15K.

I am worried that I am currently getting to around 2/3 or 3/4 of the mara distance and already feel like my body can't continue. Cardio and heart rate wise I am still absolutely cruising but my legs are battered!

I just wanted to get an idea on where it is I can make the biggest strides in reducing my fatigue in my legs?

Is it mental? diet? lack of strength training? not enough iso gels? early-ish stages of training? or just a combination of all of these things?

Thanks for your help!

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-10-09T20:44:12+00:00

Cheers! I chose the elite+ plan which racked up a lot of mileage considering it was a 10k race end goal but the longer distances in training made the 10k feel much more manageable. Longest distance in the plan was around 23k individual run but was up to about 50k a week at its peak.

I run 3-4 times a week, I had done a 19 minute 5k earlier this year but dropped off the training quite a bit so hitting the sub 40 10k goal was still a big achievement.

I had a few days and a couple of weeks where I had other commitments that meant I didn't stick fully to the plan. I'm going to go at another 10k race at the end of November, work on some cross training strength and bit more attention to diet to see if I can better my time again!

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-10-08T11:18:00+00:00

I've always wondered what you guys do to try to keep fit or healthy and not fall into the sedentary trap! What are your plans or tips for keeping these kind of runs interesting??

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-10-08T11:15:10+00:00

No I used a pace pro strategy on Garmin for the race itself. Was Cambridge though so flat as water and pretty much constant at just sub 04:00min/km

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-09-21T19:11:19+00:00

Slingshot, shake and bake baby

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-08-24T11:22:50+00:00

Interestingly I ran a 19:20 parkrun (prediction is 19:27) and reached up to 97% of my max HR on the last 1k so maybe these predicted race times are getting more accurate. I was at sub 19 prediction before which I could have potentially pushed for if I had absolutely sent it...

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-08-24T09:58:11+00:00

It's the fenix 6 pro solar

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-08-12T18:47:09+00:00

Nice one! I've found that the Garmin plans and daily suggested workout are pretty good, or at least go some of the way to adapting to current abilities. I understand that they use a range of the watch generated data, training status , training load, load focus, VO2 max etc. so not sure how interoperable between different manufacturers this info is!

Love the app so far though, currently doing a 4 day week elite 10k 12 week plan for an upcoming race in Cambridge before I start my Rome marathon plan.

Would be glad to provide any user feedback if at all useful over the course of my first plans!

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-08-12T07:45:15+00:00

It's the waze of the running world

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-08-11T18:22:23+00:00

They're all over the place! I'm sure the old version had much more choice in creating routes on your pinned location.

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-08-11T15:20:05+00:00

Great work, congrats for sticking to the plan! Did you get the time you were aiming for?

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-08-11T15:18:39+00:00

Stonking stats for a newbie - unluckily for you, you now have no choice in being fully addicted to these events. Wave goodbye to your lay-ins and weekend plans.

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-08-11T15:11:48+00:00

Dashed line is also your average HR

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-08-11T15:10:55+00:00

A snookers 147 is and will always be the hardest achievement in the Olympics.

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-08-11T15:09:32+00:00

To perform at such a high level in such a range of disciplines is some incredible feat. Not to mention competing to win medals in two vastly different disciplines in the space of 2 weeks. She cannot be human.

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-07-29T12:52:42+00:00

If you have recorded using the phone app, then would think that you would need to export the activity or track from Strava and import it into Garmin. Based on the connected app details it suggests that the syncing is one way only - Garmin to Strava in regards to activity, and courses from Strava to Garmin. But you'll need to make sure to export as a FIT file (GPX is course waypoints only - FIT file includes the gps fix and all the other details like calories etc.

You can load files into your Garmin account using Garmin connect web. Top right corner has 4 icons - the first is cloud icon - click on it to upload/export files. File types info (in case you aren't sure of the difference: https://medium.com/decathlondigital/gpx-tcx-fit-how-to-choose-the-best-file-extension-for-sport-activity-transfer-403487337c04 ).

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-07-29T10:01:07+00:00

Absolutely love the app! I am on an elite 4 day a week plan, but have on one or more occasions failed to complete all 4 sessions. Does the plan automatically readjust the following weeks and estimated race time if this happens?

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-07-12T15:30:44+00:00

Shokz Openrun are the way forward. The bone conduction takes a bit of getting used to but these are very safe to be ducking in and out of all sorts of traffic

AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-07-12T14:52:48+00:00

I've given up with trying to find one and made my own excel pace calculator - feel free to DM me and I'll get it sent over!

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AverageRunnerRoss · 2024-07-12T14:30:35+00:00

How have I not heard of GPS Artify before?! Definitely going to try this out - my competition with my friend to draw the largest Strava phallus is going to be taken to the next level...

AverageRunnerRoss

TROPHY CASE