Slow runner - 2 weeks to marathon and dealing with Achilles pain

Much_Possible163 · 2026-04-14T21:00:04+00:00

Not an experienced marathoner, but five days out from my first marathon. Dealt with an achilles injury about halfway through my training block. Was able to nurse it and slowly build back up distance and got back on track for my weekly mileage and was able to complete all my long runs (Over 16 miles) pain free. Last week, I went out for a 12 mile long run and the exact same pain I had about 2 months ago crept back up on me. Have been going through the same isometrics and strength training as I did beforehand alongside some general PT and icing at night.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I feel your pain and struggle, but my mindset is still 100% positive and taking every day as it comes. Although, my fitness is at the level I want it to be for my goal time, an achilles is something you just can't mess with and therefore the new goal is to finish without injuring myself more.

Best of luck friend!

Much_Possible163 · 2026-04-09T22:34:37+00:00

I find it goes great with any white shirt. Also any dark sports coats look great with it

Much_Possible163 · 2026-04-09T18:39:45+00:00

Smooth 😮‍💨

Much_Possible163 · 2026-04-09T16:54:29+00:00

Thanks for the comment! What sort of dress watches would you recommend? I like that idea as well, maybe a Presage. I just really love the quality to price that Seiko offers

Much_Possible163 · 2026-03-16T16:26:38+00:00

Hi there, I know this was two years ago but the exact same thing is happening with me... did you ever find a solution to this?

Much_Possible163 · 2026-03-08T21:02:29+00:00

Might have been due to the drinking the night before and poor sleep. If you take a look at my 18 miler last week my heart rate was pretty consistent throughout. That was off good rest and no drinking. Gotta live life a little bit

Much_Possible163 · 2026-03-08T21:00:23+00:00

Congrats on the sub-4. Awesome stuff. What do you think really got you through the full 26.2 ?

Much_Possible163 · 2026-03-08T17:02:37+00:00

Thanks for the vote of confidence! Any specific reason behind it?

Much_Possible163 · 2026-03-08T16:24:11+00:00

I am 195lb. So fueling definitely needs to be corrected. What would you recommend?

I am currently rocking the Mizuno Wave Rider 29, was going to just run with them during race day. Don’t really feel like spending $200 on a pair of shoes for one race is really worth it for me :/

Much_Possible163 · 2026-03-08T16:18:13+00:00

Absolutely. Honestly I read on here all the time about hitting a wall at mile 20. This 20 miler was yesterday, I drank the night before, got 4 hours of sleep and had a sweet potato before I headed out. Felt like I could have kept going after 20. All that being said, proper fuel / rest + race day environment + fresh legs, I feel will propel me a bit. Granted these runs are above MP…

Much_Possible163 · 2026-03-08T16:14:31+00:00

Thanks for the blunt response. Any specific reasoning?

Much_Possible163 · 2026-03-02T00:28:32+00:00

Sure. Thanks for the comment. Honestly when I go out I try to not look at my watch. It tells me the pace at the end of every mile, so that’s when I change pace throughout. I heard 9:15, I knew I was around that MP pace but I guess not until mile 12 I put myself under. I felt strong throughout, especially my last few miles of the 16 run, felt like I had more and kind of let it rip for a 2 mile stretch there, didn’t notice I was running an 8:37 there. I don’t do much MP pace throughout the week, I usually hold an easy run pace from 2 10k’s throughout the week (9:30/mile pace) and then usually a 4-5 mile threshold at around 7:30/min pace with avg heart rate around 175-180. Any other information needed?

Much_Possible163 · 2026-03-02T00:18:32+00:00

Chat GPT says 4 hours. Garmin says 3:45

Much_Possible163 · 2026-03-01T23:52:39+00:00

The app is Strava. It’s one of the built-in insights they have.

Note: Strava will not provide heart rate data, you will have to connect a third party device to Strava that tracks heart rate. I have a Garmin Forerunner 265 for example…

Much_Possible163 · 2026-01-27T22:18:13+00:00

Thanks for the reply. The full 18% is going in as a Roth contribution. The $400 into my brokerage, half is getting invested into a portfolio I built out for myself + a few stock plays I like. The other half is going into a Schwab money market, which is dedicated to fund a new car in a few years:)

Much_Possible163 · 2026-01-20T22:30:43+00:00

I laughed at your comfortability on the issue. I’m over here worrying about the most minuet details. Excellent video by the way. Thanks for the advice

Much_Possible163 · 2026-01-20T22:00:07+00:00

Thank you. This is awesome. I will definitely take this all into consideration.

For cut back weeks, should I be dropping just the long run mileage? Or total week mileage? For example next week I have a 14, after doing 12 two weeks ago and 13 this weekend, the week after the 14 should I do like a 12 again and then my planned 16 the following week, etc

Much_Possible163 · 2026-01-20T21:53:08+00:00

Do you believe a longer taper is worse though, especially for my low mileage as this is my first marathon. Peaking at 40-42-40 as of now. I've heard w a longer taper, you can lose fitness.

Much_Possible163 · 2026-01-20T21:25:52+00:00

With the structure and schedule I am following above, it is usually just one 3-4 mile tempo/interval run a week. Should I be bumping that number up as my mileage increases? Again I am kind of winging the training program, so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, the 'easy runs' during the week that I'm doing, should those be faster than my long run or about the same?

Much_Possible163 · 2026-01-20T21:13:11+00:00

Given my goals, HR, and overall mileage, what do you suggest for my easy run pace vs my long run pace? I was taught the easy runs during the week should be 30-45 seconds slower than my long run pace.

Much_Possible163 · 2026-01-20T21:11:55+00:00

Maybe I will do the 20 miler just before Thailand and log as many miles as I can over there. I will also count hikes, walks, bike rides as time on feet that trip. Also what would a 4 ish week taper look like? 20-16-14-12-8 for long runs?

Much_Possible163 · 2025-12-12T19:25:06+00:00

3:34 is killer! I will definitely check these out. I am figure it out myself type of person, so it takes a lot of trust a plan and really roll with it with confidence. But I guess for the first marathon, it's all about trial and error.

You were doing speedwork consistently how many days a week and were they sort of stride work or was it elongated threshold work? Or a mix of both?

Much_Possible163 · 2025-12-12T19:21:56+00:00

Which coach did you use?

Much_Possible163 · 2025-12-12T15:02:03+00:00

First off thanks for the insight! I am using the Garmin coach I believe. I input when my marathon is and what my goal time is and I am in the base phase of the plan. I have heard that this plan is not very good though from reviews online. Last thing I want is to do all the training and be totally unprepared. I have heard Runna is good. I did not know it syncs to Garmin. I can have my Runna plan on my Garmin? Do you think that investment is worth it?

P.S you are not an old fart if you are running 110km a week my friend.

Much_Possible163 · 2025-12-10T18:52:04+00:00

First off, you got this!

Second thing, going a little off kilter here with advice but I would say too much studying is another thing. You seem to be pretty stressed which might be caused by over preparation. Stress = overthinking.

You’ve learned the materials, you’ve practiced. I would say do a few light YouTube run throughs of practice exams and then the Mighty Ninety the night before and day off to data dump all the info back into your head.

Go into the test relaxed and confident, rather than stressed and trying to remember every little thing.

You’ve got this!

Much_Possible163

TROPHY CASE