My first marathon was the Flying Pig Marathon in May 2007.
I was a bit intimidated by the distance, but succumbed to peer pressure when a bunch of my friends were signing up. We all trained together using Galloway run/walk intervals, and it worked out perfectly for a first marathon. Our primary goal was to finish, and a secondary goal was to finish under 5:30. I finished in 5:25:56.
I had a great time, but it took me a few years to want to tackle that distance again. My second marathon was the Disney World Marathon in January 2010. But no, I couldn’t stop just with that. We did the Goofy Challenge!
Since we were running 39.3 miles in two days, we were in no hurry to run either the half or full marathon. We did the run/walk intervals again and it took a bit longer to cover 26.2 miles, 5:48:22.
I know that both of those are not bad times. I think the Galloway run/walk method is fantastic, and for some runners, that’s all they do.
But I’m not one of those runners. And I knew I had a faster marathon in me.
So even though I had completed the 26.2 miles more than once, I had a hard time calling myself a marathoner.
I think I can now.
Marine Corps Marathon – 10/31/2010
Chip -4:22:22 * 26.2 miles * 10:01/mile
Garmin – 4:22:27 * 26.55 miles * 9:53/mile
Wow- great job!! Congratulations. What an inspiration!
Thanks!
WOW. I’m absolutely beyond impressed!
Thanks! I knew I’d be faster, running without the walk intervals, but I wasn’t expecting it to be quite this fast!
wow…
spectacular job!
congratulations on a great marathon
Thank you!
Wow well done, thats over an hour PR! Amazing!
Thanks 🙂
I was hoping for 4:30 so I really outdid myself!
That is an incredible improvement! You must have really worked hard during this training period. Great Job! Very inspirational 🙂
Thanks! Training was good, but I also gained a lot of confidence in myself!
Congrats! I feel that a marathoner is a marathoner no matter how you tackle that distance. It’s such an accomplishment whether fast or slow or run or walk or run/walk.
Thanks!
I do agree it’s an accomplishment regardless, and anyone that completes the distance is a marathoner … I think I was just being hard on myself because I knew I could do better!
Congrats! My garmin also recorded an extra .3 miles. Odd, huh?
And I ran the whole thing, but my time was not nearly as exciting as yours… Maybe one day 🙂
Thanks! I never imagined I’d be able to maintain this pace for so long. Combination of faster short runs and good training mileage, I guess. My best 20-miler was at a 10:28 pace so I was really surprised!
It’s taken awhile but I’ve gradually been getting faster. Stick with it!
Oh, and you’ll pretty much always pick up extra distance in marathons. They measure using the shortest possible route a runner can take to make sure everyone covers the full 26.2!
Ah, yeah, I know that! I do try to always make the turn on the shortest distance, but it doesn’t help when you keep weaving around people!
Congrats again on the great time!
Wow wow wow! That’s a fantastic time! Go you!
I’m still in shock. Did I really do that?
And then I stand up. Ouch.
(Actually, not too bad. Sore quads are to be expected!)
Nice job! Way to go, Ms. Speedy Gonzales! That’s a great marathon time. My Garmin always records more distance than the actual race. I had clocked .2 more miles this past weekend at the MCM10K, but I think it was because I weaved around so many walkers.
Thanks 🙂
It’s not unusual to pick up some distance during a marathon, but that’s a lot for a 10K!
It is amazing how much you improved your time! So proud of you! What’s your next race going to be?
I can’t believe it 🙂 I think that run with you helped me gain a little confidence in my speed!
I actually have a 5-miler with my running club on Saturday. Not sure I’ll be ready to actually race rather than run easy, but it’s part of our series so I’ll be there!
Yay! That’s amazing! Congrats!!!! 🙂 🙂