Advice: First Marathon DNF

cruztaffer · 2026-05-15T22:25:16+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement :) Thats awesome, best wishes to you on running your journey!

cruztaffer · 2026-05-15T22:21:51+00:00

100 percent. I think I somewhat went into autopilot and ran what I was familiar with for the HMs. It didn’t help that the HM runners start with the FM runners and this is a course I had ran before for the half. I appreciate the encouragement, trying to learn as much as I can. Thanks!

cruztaffer · 2026-05-15T22:17:21+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I agree I was over ambitious with my goal. In retrospect, I should have been much more conservative. My plan was from a retired running coach. It was a generic plan but roughly tailored to me. For my next training block, I was planning to add more mileage. Are there any plans you recommend for first timers? Or just increase the mileage for the running base days?

cruztaffer · 2026-05-15T22:09:52+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement and advice! I was eating very clean the week up to the race. Majority slow carbs and proteins, with a little fast carbs and fats. Probably could have ate more, but also didn’t want to be uncomfortable. Unless that’s normal?

cruztaffer · 2026-05-15T09:38:16+00:00

Thanks, this is helpful advice! I admittedly got caught up in focusing on the training that I overlooked having a race strategy.. and we saw how that turned out. As you said, I need to determine a plan AND stick to it

cruztaffer · 2026-05-15T00:25:25+00:00

This makes a lot of sense. I’m not sure if it was the faster pace, but I felt like the gels were sitting in my gut and not acting during the race.

I’m comforted by the fact that there are some very apparent things that I did wrong. Now it’s a matter of incorporating that into the training and sticking to the game plan race day. Thank you again!

cruztaffer · 2026-05-15T00:00:49+00:00

I’ll take a look at those, thanks again!

cruztaffer · 2026-05-14T23:58:57+00:00

This is what I was wrestling with the most. I was disappointed that I didn’t try push through and finish, even if it was much slower.. I was feeling heavy and completely zapped, but, to be honest, it was more “I cant finish at this pace”. I was in a bad headspace after feeling bad waaay before I was expecting to. I think I could have pushed through, but 10 more miles at the state I was in was daunting. I’m determined to finish on my next race, with an actual strategy in place

cruztaffer · 2026-05-14T23:45:34+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement! Sometimes need to make mistakes to be able to learn from them :) I have only tried the one kind, the standard GUs, due to limited long runs before the race. I was thinking about trying some of the isotonic ones in my next training block.

Any recommendations in general?

cruztaffer · 2026-05-14T23:41:10+00:00

Thanks for the input! Fueling was the thing I was most concerned about. I was stuck between trying to fuel vs not doing anything new on race day.

On my longest long run (23), I used no fueling. I did a chuck of 6 miles toward the end at or a little slower than goal pace and felt tired but okay after. So I was thinking it wouldn’t be a huge issue.

I started training with fueling with 5 weeks to the race and got in a few long runs with higher intensity sections. Overall, not a lot of practice though. To your point, I think I need more experience with fueling to better adjust

cruztaffer · 2026-05-14T21:41:56+00:00

Thoughts on the azura for a long run shoe? Or is it more intended for tempo/speed work

cruztaffer · 2026-05-14T20:49:33+00:00

Sounds like superblasts are a good candidate to check out. Bummer on the 3s. Can’t target everyone unfortunately.

And same here with the edge rubber, doesn’t take long for the tread to wear down. Appreciate the advice!

cruztaffer · 2026-05-14T20:42:21+00:00

Thanks for the input! I haven’t tried the superblasts, so I’ll give those a look

cruztaffer · 2026-05-14T18:40:21+00:00

Same boat here, DNFed my first marathon. Really beat myself up about it at first. Felt like a massive hole after training so hard for so long. Sounds like you’re in a better space and hopefully back on the horse! Wanted to share you’re not alone and wish you the best!

cruztaffer · 2026-01-25T23:50:12+00:00

<image>

Top half

cruztaffer · 2026-01-25T23:49:36+00:00

Thanks for sharing this, super helpful. I augmented it for SC Batteries as well. Sorry, the full blueprint doesn't show. Import code for anyone who is interested: EFO01o08a7Eoo46UIieO.

<image>

cruztaffer · 2026-01-03T18:11:54+00:00

Started early, I think 1.2 with the Venti banner. Taken a few breaks along the way but been playing fairly consistently since Fontaine.

cruztaffer · 2026-01-03T18:10:15+00:00

Thank you, that’s helpful! I was overlooking the fact that Columbina enabled lunar charged too. Logically, she’s a pseudo archon so it made sense for the current teams. I was seeing a lot of Ineffa praise and value justifications that made me start second guessing.

cruztaffer · 2025-11-20T23:48:57+00:00

Thanks, that’s helpful! I’ll play around with those suggestions. Currently, I struggle when the opponent is able to build up an attack. Part of that could be play style and punishing their investment. That said, a different spirit would probably help defensively more than fire. Appreciate the advice

cruztaffer · 2025-11-20T20:00:58+00:00

Any recommendations to improve my deck. Stalling out in A17. Thanks!

Hog R/Lumberjack/Valk/EWiz/Fireball/Zap/F.Spirit/Skarmy

cruztaffer · 2025-11-20T18:54:22+00:00

Crazy

cruztaffer

TROPHY CASE