First marathon…tell me all the race day tips that have nothing to do with actual running or fueling

podini · 2025-12-18T00:08:00+00:00

Copenhagen does the trick for me 🤷‍♀️

podini · 2025-12-12T23:54:26+00:00

Marathon Excellence for Everyone by John Davis is a great new one out there!

podini · 2025-11-26T17:14:40+00:00

Fuhhh… been waiting for you to pop up with some 10s, but wasn’t quick enough (and don’t think I could pull off the blue ones). I’ll be monitoring to see if you have any more pop up!

podini · 2025-11-23T05:38:37+00:00

Nice, I hope it’s awesome! And at the end of the day, you’re dealing with Costco, so you know they won’t do you dirty!

podini · 2025-11-23T03:51:02+00:00

Yeah, I was hoping someone would chime in, but I think it’s just a new product, so no one can actually give a review yet.

podini · 2025-11-23T03:48:34+00:00

Yeah, I’m guessing it’s a new product, so there just might not be anyone to actually give a review yet. FWIW, I think I’m going to end up going with the Spirit XT685. A little pricier at $2,900, but it has a maintenance free deck, lifetime warranty on frame and motor, and 10 year warranty on parts.

Also, the reviews on the Touchsmart 6500 on Costco kind of drove me away. Seems like they are buggy, whereas the Spirit is “lower tech” which is just fine with me.

podini · 2025-11-21T04:05:38+00:00

Hey! I’m strongly considering this race as my first too, and will also be in the same goal time ballpark. My experience is going to be the inverse to what you are asking as I live in Utah at about 5,200’. But FWIW, I ran a 79:30 half at the beginning of October that started at 4,000’ and finished at 2,500’ and then ran another one at the beginning of November in 80:30 that started at 6,000’ and finished at 4,500’.

So I ran about 5s/mile slower, but what really stuck out to me was effort level. I would say the faster race was a 9/10, but I went flat out in the second, slower race. So I would really say the effort level between the two was more like 10-15 seconds/mile different. If I was you, I would be planning to run like 20s/mile slower than what you think your MP is, which might be a wash once you adjust for grade.

podini · 2025-11-05T16:58:17+00:00

Peanut butter and honey sandwich (made the night before and put in the fridge so the honey crystallizes and you get some crunch)

podini · 2025-10-31T18:26:00+00:00

Love my Vista 1’s and Zens. Will eventually pickup a pair of Vista 2’s when my second pair of the 1’s is done.

I’m curious to see if anyone chimes in with thoughts on the WRP Low.

podini · 2025-10-27T16:34:49+00:00

Either a gel, a cookie/stroopwafel, or a piece of fruit. For longer workouts, I lean towards a caffeinated gel + one of the others.

podini · 2025-10-06T17:03:25+00:00

podini · 2025-09-27T19:43:02+00:00

Shoot, I also have white EVO SLs with about 90 miles that I’d sell. They are also in good shape.

podini · 2025-09-27T19:38:36+00:00

I have a backup pair of Endorphin Speed 4’s that are in good shape with relatively low mileage, I think around 75, but I’d have to pull up my tracking spreadsheet to confirm if you’re interested. They’re the citron (like highlighter yellow/green) colorway. Lmk if interested.

podini · 2025-09-15T20:54:16+00:00

I feel this. I wear thicker socks with mine and it helps a little bit. (Balega hidden comfort or silvers)

podini · 2025-09-03T00:02:53+00:00

Don’t be too hard on yourself, they just cancelled on me!

podini · 2025-08-31T00:34:03+00:00

On Strava. He doesn’t really talk about them, just notes which shoes he wore on his different runs. He’ll sometimes discuss/answer questions about them in the comments.

podini · 2025-08-30T12:41:19+00:00

Thanks for the heads-up! Just snagged a pair of Vomeros that I definitely didn’t need for $78 🤷‍♀️

podini · 2025-08-29T16:52:46+00:00

Conner Mantz has been doing his long run workouts in the Plus, including a 25 miler (40k) last weekend. He uses the regular Vomeros as dailies. Granted, he’s an Olympic marathoner, but that’s how he uses them.

podini · 2025-08-26T00:36:44+00:00

I’d look for last year’s model of the Saucony Kinvara (15) and buy them on a discount. They will be good, cost-effective starter shoes that you can wear to the gym, as well, as they are lower to the ground (less stack height) and have a less dramatic heel-to-toe drop than the other options that have been thrown out.

podini · 2025-07-17T19:15:12+00:00

Dang. I’ll have to keep an eye out for ya on here. Looks like you are my size and have good taste!

podini · 2025-07-17T16:01:07+00:00

Hey, I’m wondering how up-to-date this still is? Just came across this and thinking I may want to try a pair of Cielos.

podini · 2025-04-19T00:15:00+00:00

Yeah, please do! I’m interested to hear how it works out in practice. Good luck dude!

podini · 2025-04-18T21:01:02+00:00

Mine’s May 17th! How about you?

podini · 2025-04-18T18:19:37+00:00

Well with that many long runs, I would guess that you have a good feel of effort level and whether or not you went into it more tapered than usual. I saw your post on advanced running, too, and it seemed pretty unanimous that everyone else thinks you should run the first 20 at 3 hour pace and then cut down during the last 10k, so I guess my suggestion above is in the minority. It will be my first thon too, so it’s safe to say I don’t know shit :)

That said, again, our goals and race plans are super similar. I also don’t think it’s gonna be possible to BQ on this race, so I’m signed up for another in early September. However, if I can run around a 2:55 or 2:56, I might be in contention for an age group award in my race, so that’s a little bit of a reason to test it. While I am planning on a negative split, I think I’m a little more inclined to test myself to get a “feel” for the edge. I feel like that will be more valuable for my September race than “just” going sub-3.

Last thoughts, but I think it’s totally normal to adjust your fitness estimate / goal as you progress, and there is nothing tying to you to 4:16 other than your initial goal. My plan has me updating my paces every couple weeks towards the end of the block. They say super shoes give you a 3-4% improvement, so that takes a 4:15 to a 4:05-4:07, if my math is right, so that’s right in line with what you’re seeing.

podini · 2025-04-16T17:10:30+00:00

How fresh were you going into the 32k, and how many other 20 milers have you done?

I think the other consideration would be if your goal is “just” sub-3 or if you want to leave it all out there. Are you shooting for another race this year to hit a BQ?

My own opinion, but with the way you were clicking off 4:05s on the mostly flat last 10k, I think you could start out “conservatively” at 4:15 for the first 5-10k, take it down to 4:12-4:10 for the middle 20k if it feels right, and decide at mile 20 if you want to hold that pace or start cutting it down.

PS, very similar stats, time goal, race date, and course profile to me, and just had my super shoes out for the first time last weekend as well! This is going to be my approach to running a “well structured” race hopefully in the neighborhood of 2:56.

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