Marthon medal reveal!

For anyone that is interested, the medals have been revealed!  It's birthday themed as the U of I is celebrating it's 150th anniversary. I'm totally excited about owning the marathon medal once I finish! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzZYeVcj8_s&feature=youtu.be

At this point, I have not ran since Sunday.  I was planning on going to the fun run tonight with my local running club, but my low back has been sore today, so I'm deciding to play it safe and give it another rest day.  I do plan on doing as many of the taper runs as possible over these past few weeks. In addition, I have a massage scheduled for both this weekend and for the day after the marathon to help with soreness/recovery.  

20 MILES!!!! YAHOO!!! TIME.TO.TAPER!!!

BIG NEWS!  I.RAN.20.MILES!!! 20.MILES!!  YAHOO!!! I can now start tapering, to make that FINAL push to be a marathoner!  I know that this wasn't originally in my plan, but I decided that I wanted some extra taper time, so I figured that if I can do 18 miles (as originally planned), I can push just a bit harder to do 20.  I now can do the taper runs over the next two weeks or so, and really give myself about another good week or two of rest/no running. I think this was a smart move on my end, as the extra time off will allow for me to push through those 26.2 miles on April 22.

I know you want the details, so here is the run down.  As a whole, this run was easier in spots, and way harder in others. Miles 10, 15, and 18 deserve an extra special finger from me.

So anyways, my 20 miler started out pretty much normal. I woke up about 2-3 hours before I planned to run, had my bowl of cereal, along with my cup of coffee.  However, the one concerning point was that my back was being a bit pesky with some muscle soreness.  Knowing that I was going to be attempting to run this distance, I went ahead and took some Aleve and rubbed on some arnica gel.  I decided to try out a new running tank top, along with a pair of shorts knowing that the weather was going to be a bit warmer today...good practice for if I end up running a warmer marathon.  I packed up all of my fuel, plus a few extra things (my ipod, some extra vaseline, and some some chapstick) into my flip belt, and then made my way to what is the starting line of the race.  I knew I had a BIG job ahead of me, and I totally had the thought of "OMG...I have to start here, and end THERE."  However, I knew that to get THERE (mile 20), I had to start by putting one foot in front of the other.  So, I just took a breath, and decided to go from there.

I started off the run what felt to be really slow, yet comfortable pace for me.  This went pretty well, and I took some walk breaks while crossing streets (with my watch still running), until I hit somewhere around mile 5.  For some reason, I started feeling kinda bloated and gassy, but in terms of that I really needed a burp, but it wouldn't quite happen.  I have no idea what caused this, but it was rather uncomfortable.  I'm thinking that I may have needed some actual water at that particular point, but that still has me baffled...maybe it was my GU gel or hydration mix....I don't know.  However, I am thinking...just to be ont he safe side...take something like Gas X for race day.  Eventually, the gass did go away somewhere around mile 6 or 7, thank goodness.

Also, at this point on the course, miles 5-7 are always tough on me.  I think it's the boring scenry, and I always hate that incline that happens just before mile 6, and there's another one or two around the water station.  I know that on race day, these miles will go on way faster with haveing a bunch of runners with me, but in training, it has always been mentally challenging for me.

Once I hit mile 8, the next two miles are on a path around a local park.. I know the paths VERY well, from running on them with our local running club for our "fun run" that happens each week now that the weather is warming up some, and the days are getting longer.  However, I was also realizing that I soon would be needing more water in my bottle, so I goto check the water fountain to see if it has been turned on yet....it has not...grrrr. At this point, I figured I would still be okay until I got back onto campus (mile 12 area), so I could refill then. So, off I went to continue on with my run around the park.

I get about 3/4 around the park, and for some dumb reason, I decided to try another water fountain. Nope. I don't know why I may have thought that one would have been turned on when the other one wasn't.  Oh well....back to the running.  I finish mile 9, then continue to onto mile 10.

Mile 10....this one was hard as it's just long mile.   For whatever reason, this mile always feels extra long with no end in sight, and it often feels kinda deserted...you might see a few people here and there, but that's about it.  Plus,there's one point, just over a small incline where you think you're at the end, but nope....you have an intersection plus another few blocks, just mess with your head. Around this point, I started sorta bargaining with myself....."Come on. Halfway! Keep it up!  Just two 5 milers left! Go slow these 5 miles, then faster for the last 5! Okay...you can grab water on campus, and continue to take your breaks, but let's try to go faster towards the end!" Ha. Yeah. Right. My legs weren't having it right then.  My legs were telling my brain, "Uh no..maybe faster the last mile or so, but no. We're going our speed. Take it or leave it." I finally get to the end of that mile, and turn on what I thought was the street that's mile 11. Well, as it turns out, I wasn't fully paying attention to which I street I turned onto, as I ended up turning a block sooner....whoops.  I was kinda wondering why I wasn't seeing as familiar territory for this mile, so I looked at a street sign as I was running by, and sure enough, I turned a block too soon.  Oh well....no big deal, I'll still end up where I will need to be...will just have to run the extra block to get back on track.

Mile 12....at this point, I'm starting to think, "Okay. Hit 13, then it's a 5 miler, then two more to grow on. You're almost half way there," However, knowing that I desperately was going to need water, I decided to make a stop on campus to get that taken care of.  Unfortunately, the first building I went to was closed for Spring Break.  Thankfully, another building about a block or so away was open, but it took me a few minutes to find a water fountain that didn't give out warm water.  I eventually found it, got my refill, a drink for myself, walked back outside, and restarted my watch.  I ended up being a bit off the course because of this stop, but at this point, I didn't really care, and knew that the distance was more or less the same had I gone straight on the race course.

Around this time, I could really start to feel when my body needed the energy.  Running past 13 miles still isn't easy for me, so I had to keep telling myself to keep going until I hit X intersection, then I could take a break, or whatever.  What is a bit nicer about this area is that there is more people around, so I don't feel as deserted, compared to mile 10. However, I knew that once I hit mile 15, I had a bigger challenge ahead of me to hit mile 16, which, at that particular point, was my longest distance I have ever ran.

Mile 15....like mile 10 feels very long, and since I have ran down this road so many times during training, I found it very boring.  Plus, I could feel the energy in my legs starting to drain, as I needed to refuel some.  However, I stuck with my plan on taking part of a GU (about 1/2 a package) every two miles, with hydration in between.  However, around this point was when I was also thinking, "Hey. Just a few more miles, and I'll be at 20. Once I get to 16, it will just be 2 to 18, then 2 more to 20. Right now, this SUCKS, but it's doable."  I think that's what kept me focused to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Mile 16....holy cow, that incline sucked, and I nearly turned on the wrong street again, but thankfully, caught myself in time, and just continued down the block. At this point, I'm also eternally thankful for streets where I can wait a few moments to cross because my fuel hasn't quite hit me yet, and legs are feeling it. I also learned a lesson with this mile...at this point, my feet are swelling quite a bit, so I may need to stop and loosen up my shoes some.  My toes felt fine, as I have the shoes laced to allow for extra room at the toe box, but the rest of my foot needed some extra room, so I may need to allow for that if I need it.

Mile 17...This mile actually went pretty well! I had a power cong come on, my fuel hit me just enough to have me run just a bit faster for about 1/2 mile. By this point, I know that 20 miles is definitely doable, which puts a little pep into my pace.

Mile 18.....this mile was hard as it's what I was suppose to go initially in my training plan.  This was my newest distance.  By this point my legs were getting really tired, even with taking half a GU gel at 16. I felt like I was back to runnig a pace that equals to a tortise trudging through mud.  However, I then perked up when I realized I was close to mile 19! I then started telling myself, "Just make it to 19, then it's ONE.MORE.MILE! You got this! You're already at 18.60 something...that's STILL a new distance for you. Come on! Keep going forward! You can take a break at the mile 19 intersection...take the very last of the GU packet, hydrate some, stretch, and then keep moving forward. 20 miles is TOTALLY doable!"

Mile 19....omg....ONE.MORE.MILE.  I was totally pep talking myself outloud through here..."You got this! LAST MILE. Come on! You're a bad@$$ for doing this.  Think about your buddy. You two are in this together.  Let's do it!"  At this point, I am tired, but have a bit more energy in my legs, because I KNOW I will hit that   20 mile mark.  Then, just at the right time, a power song that I have for my buddy and I on my ipod happens to come on (my music was on random to help me from getting bored music wise during the run).  I crank up the music some, and look at my watch....19.6 miles....I can totally make 20 miles before the song ends.  When the chorus comes on, I kick up the pace, and then see my watch turn to 19.75...omg...I'm totally doing this.  I keep jamming out to the song...watch turns to 19.90.....just one tenth of a mile to go.....still jam to the song.....then suddenly, my watch buzzes for me the last time. 20 MILES!!!! I DID IT!!!  I totally cheered outloud for what I just did!  Then....I start crying some.  I couldn't help it. I just could not believe it. I had just ran 20 miles for the first time ever, and I actually felt like I probably could have ran one more after that. This means that I will be ready for my first marathon on April 22!!!!

Looking back, I remember being so scared of these upper miles. However, I am SO PROUD that I am now on the downhill slide before this race. Am I still scared of those last 6 miles? Not nearly as much now, knowing that I just hit the 20 today.  I think that as long as I keep doing what I have been doing, especially with this last long run, I should be good to go with tackling those last 6. I may have to mentally break them up, like what I did with these last few miles today. We'll see what happens on race day itself.  Also, let's hope that we have good weather!  Today was also windy at times, so I was also battling some head wind throughout the run (do I get extra bad@$$ points for that), and that kills everyone's pace as you have to run with extra effort then.

As for after this run, I did get a few mental reminders about what I will need to do once I finish the race.  First of all, I will need to hydrate.  I found that my body sometimes craves just pure water during a run, so not only will I try to take some actual water throughout the aide stations, I will totally need water afterwards.  Second, stretch.....gentle stretching iis a must after this long distance race. I will definitely need to focus on my hamstrings and quad, and even my back.  However, I will also have to be very forgiving of myself as I usually have very good groin and hamstring flexibility (as in I can do straddle splits, and have my head touch the floor with knees out the side on a butterfly stretch).  My body will have just gotten done with a marathon, so it will need some time to regain it's full flexibility.  If possible, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a short massage done on the field to start working out the kinks.  Thirdly, keep walking as much as possible...at least until I get home.  The movement will help with bloodflow, and hopefully offset additional tiredness until I get home. Last of all, warmth.  Once my body gets done with running, esepcially in cooler weather, it gets cold VERY fast.  If we're expecting a cool weather marathon (say 50s or below), I will definitely need to make sure that I have warmer clothes in my bag to change into once I grab it.  Also, having a small towel in my bag may not be a bad idea in case I get wet from either sweat or rain.

 

Also, one last thing. If someone runs 20 miles and their hair still looks nice afterwards...they're not doing it right. :)  Happy Running!

Happy "Runversary!"

Yesterday, in 2013, I started my journey as a runner.  I've copied/pasted my Facebook status from that day, and if my current self could've talked to my past self, my current self would be saying, "Psssh. Yeah. Right. Come talk to me after you run your first 5k...."  LOL!

"Whoohoo! I had a very good day at the rink! Yay for a 6 revolution spin that was nicely controlled, and a salchow jump that I landed on one foot. I THIS close to being fully rotated with checked arms and a straighter entrance! It was so close to being fully rotated that I could taste it, and I felt very light in the air! I know it's far from perfect, but yay!!!!

Afterwards, I decided to do the first day of C25K at the indoor track, which I have an app for on my phone. At times, I was thinking, "geez, when is this going to end?" but I pushed myself to complete it, and it wasn't that bad! I have NO interest in doing an actual 5K, but I'm hoping this will push me to keep working on my endurance as that will help with my skating." :)

What a journey it has been since....now onto today's chapter: Set back week with a 12 miler.....

Today was my 12 miler, which is leaving me down to the last three weeks of my training! Ahhh!! Where did time go? I absolutely cannot believe that in 3 weeks, I will be hitting my 20 miler (or possibly a bit beyond), then will be considered "trained" for this marathon.  Yet, I still possibly can't know everything about running a marathon besides that I need to put one foot in front of the other a million times to make it to the finish.  I still want to be as prepared as possible for things to happen, but it's impossible to be fully prepared.  I will keep a few physical things on hand, just in case (a few waterproof bandaids, some extra fuel, extra portable sized thing of vaseline, a ziplock baggie or two for my ipod, just in case, and maybe a few other little things as I think of them).

At this point, a lot of stuff I'm experiencing thought wise is pure mental.  I CAN do 16 miles, so what's 2 more right? Then, once I hit 18...what's another two more after that?  Then, once I hit 20, and have my rest period, I can tack on another 6...okay, maybe 4, but two more to grow on, and cross a finish line...right? But yet, how on earth am I going to be able to continue forward if I'm dead tired by mile 20-22?  BTW, the few small inclines I will have at miles 24-25 (please don't laugh, I suck at hills as my area is flat as a pancake), are already getting a big finger from me.  I'm just gonna have to stare them down, and put one foot in front of the other. I might have to pause a bit to get my breath, and convince my legs to move, but I will tackle those by putting one foot in front of the other somehow.

So.....in terms of weekly runs, I've been really slacking there. I did run an almost 7 miler this week, but that's about it.  I'm hoping to pick up the weekly smaller distance runs a bit now that the ice arena is closed, as I now have more time to focus on finishing training for this marathon.  However, the mid distance runs of about 6-8 miles seems to be good for me. The shorter distances of 4-5 should be fine from this point onward.  I sometimes still don't run with a music or a watch....just kinda depends on what I feel like doing. I sometimes think I run better without the music, but other times, good tunes help me get my groove going, and make my run much more enjoyable.  Running without my watch is also nice at times, so that I don't focus on  my pace. I just run according to feel, and that's totally okay, too.

What I am also figuring out now is my "routine" before the long run.  I'm finishing that I'm liking to be up about 2-3 hours before the long run.  Keep in mind that I am an afternoon runner for my long runs, so this means I'm trying to be up around 9-10 a.m.  Yes, I know that's late for a lot of you early risers, but this is what works well for me.  I'm finding that having a bowl of cereal, with a cup of coffee, and a banana seems to work well....top off my energy levels, give my body some time to wake up, shower, stretch, and have the chance to use the bathroom before I take off.  Starting about two days beforehand, I am trying to drink an electrolyte drink both days, and trying to eat a mostly decent dinner. I'm also noticing that I seem to be eating a bit more before my long run days, so I'm trying to meet those demands...although I caved and polished off two boxes of Girl Scout cookies...

On  more serious note, I did have some (mostly) homemade pesto salad, and made up a quiche, both of which I ate last night.  Those seem to work pretty well for me, plus I finished off a glass of the GU hydration energy tab mix.  That seemed to hold me pretty well until I ate my late breakfast.

Knowing that I "only" had 12 miles, I decided to try and run it at a bit faster speed.  AS a whole, it went pretty well, and I finished in 2:04 something, averaging a 10:20 pace.   I did have a few miles in the upper 9s, which was really cool.  However, I learned two things on this run.  One, with using my GU hydration mix, I HAVE to make sure that I'm using the proper concentration.  I totally put in the whole package, which is meant for a 21oz bottle, into my 16 oz bottle. I am almost certain that this ended up being too much for me, as I battled some nausea, had to burp several times, and generallly felt a bit blah for a few miles..  I thought that the flavor tasted a bit stronger than before, but I didn't figure out why until after my run.  Once I finished my run, and added more water to my bottle, my body settled down.  My body needed straight up water, not that mix in order to sort things out.  So now, I know that I have to be careful with how much I put in there. Since my bottle is only 16 oz, I shouldn't need more than about 3/4 of the package.

The second thing I learned is that I have to stare down inclines before tackling them.  I was running the second half of the marathon course today, and mile 10 is equal mile 24 on the course.  I know that all of you hill runners will laugh at me for this, but there are three small inclines in that mile, and they freaking suck.  I hate them because I'm NOT done with my run, and I have to somehow have to summon the energy to get myself up and over those damn things.  Now, the hard part is that in the marathon, I will have been going for 24 miles at this point, so dang near the finish area, then get slammed in the face with those inclines.

So, what I did today was that I briefly stopped at the bottom of the first incline, took a quick breather/stretched, then stared down the incline, and did my best to tackle it like a boss. I was tired, and soooo looking forward to being done, but at the same time, this was SUPER good mental training for the race day itself.  I can only hope that race day will be in the 50s with sunshine and a gentle breeze.  I may be running in the rain and colder temperatures for all I know (I was in a t-shirt and capris), and yet, I'm going to get over those inclines.  So, my game plan for there, if needed, is to do exactly what I did today....slow down/stop, take breather, quick stretch, and power through.  Hopefully, there will be people around (and maybe some funny signs) to help me push past this point, because after that, I'm down to the last mile, and home free.

Also, on positive note, I FINALLY  have a marathon training shirt!  Yippee!!  This shirt is honestly a bit of a morale booster as I run by people, knowing that I'm training for this event.  I'm actually already thinking of wearing this on race day (along with my black capris) if it will be a warmer weather race.  I wish I could somehow change the word "Training" to "Running" the Illinois Marathon on race day itself, as it won't be exactly like wearing the marathon shirt before actually running the full race, but it would be a nice touch.  But yeah, I am training for this marathon, and now have the shirt to prove it. :)

Another mile closer to the big 2-0

I'm now back into the full swing of marathon training, now that I'm healed from my back spasm.  I still may adjust my middle of the week mileage some, to avoid wearing myself out, but after this Friday, my ice rink will be closing for approximately 6 months, so that will actually help with my training in terms of additional rest days (although I will certainly miss not being on the ice nearly as much).  In addition, I've calmed down quite a bit in terms of my freak out about having enough time to train.  I actually got to talk with two experienced marathoners at a get together last week with my local running club, and they both said that as long as I have a two week taper after my 20 miler, I will be good to go for doing the full.  So now, I'm feeling much better about completing this training as lonng as I get up to the 20 miles.

In terms of training this week, only ran a total of three times (4 miles and 5 miles) , knowing that I needed energy for the exhibition skate that I was in, and for my 16 miler that was coming up.  The show was a bit rough performance wise (although I loved my dress, and got a lot of compliments on my skating and dress in general), but I'm probably my own worst critic there.  I decided to drown my sorrows with a large gryo and a basket of fries afterwards, which probably wasn't the best pre-run fuel.  However, it was dang delicious.  I got in my carbs, some protein, a bit of veggies, and salt through, right?  I also slept a ton once I got home. I feel asleep around 9 p.m. (gosh, I feel old), and woke up at 5 a.m., had the rest of my electrolyte drink mix, and fell back asleep until about 10.  I finally decided to get up, and eventually made some french toast and had some coffee a bit later.  I was planning on getting out the door by 2 p.m., but it wasn't until a bit later than that, and I didn't start running until about a hour later, as I decided to run the 1/2 marathon course, onto a bit of the full marathon course.  Plus, my body decided it needed the bathroom again before the run, so I figured I might as well make a pit stop before starting...note to self....make sure I use the bathroom at least twice before starting the race. I may have to use the bathroom once I get up, before I leave, then try to go twice near the starting area...just to be safe.

So for this run, it was in the upper 30s/low 40s with a gentle breeze. I was initially thinking that I would be cold, but once I got moving, I warmed up fairly quickly.  I also tried the GU Lemon Tea hydration mix this time, and found that I really liked it! I think that this will be my "go to" hydration for the race. I found that I did well with just sipping on it every so often, and I love that I can buy it at my local running store, so that makes things easier on my end.  I may check around for some deals online, but at least it's good to know that my running store carries it in case I need it at last(ish) minute. The hydration mix is also simple to make. You just add it to your water, and give it a quick mix at home, or can even shake it up some if you're out on the run.  It is meant for a 21 oz bottle, but you can divide it up if you have smaller bottles. I have a 16oz hand held, so I used probably 1/2 to 3/4 of the package, which seemed to work well. The extra powder can just be put into a ziplock bag for later use.

Knowing that I'm hitting higher miles, I am allowing myself some walk breaks, right around where water/aide stops will be, along with major intersections, so I know that my time is not totally accurate, as I do pause my watch, particularly for the intersections. I also did make two pit stops, as I'm still sorting out the hydration factor.  I figured it was better safe than sorry as it's much easier to run when your "internal plumming" is on empty. However, I am REALLY hoping that I will not need the restroom during the run. I know that there will be portapotties, just in case, but I don't want to spend time in line waiting for one. So hopefully, everything will be said and done before the race.  In terms of fueling itself for the race, I was able to take sips of the hydration mix in between taking my GU gels. It seemed that I started needing fuel starting about mile 4, and felt the need to sorta "top up" every two miles or so. Using about 1/3 of a GU package seemed to work well with me, alternating with sips of the hydration mix.  I know it sounds like a lot, but I could feel when my body was needing the fuel, and that seemed to help keep things evened out.  It may change some on actual race day, depending on the weather or whatnot, but that is my game plan for right now.

In terms of my pacing, I found that my splits were sorta all over the place, but I did notice one good thing.  My ending pace was faster than my starting pace.  I noticed that my first few miles were slower...probably just to work out the kinks and fear of going too fast, then my middle miles were more of my "cruising speed" for this race, with my ending miles being harder, trying to simulate running the last mile or so of the race to the finish line.  With doing the actual half/full marathon route, I was able to run through the area where the two races split a bit before mile 13. In my mind I was telling myself "Okay, on race day, you will just have to mentally push through here. Your body will know what to do. You will just have to push through here mentally.  Just keep putting one foot in front of the other."  This is because I am already predicting this may be a rough spot, especialy if I am a bit tired, as I will be able to hear the stadium with everyone from the half marathon heading towards that line. I know that a half marathon is no easy feat, but I'm gonna have to push through hard there to keep my focus, and remind myself that that next time I see the stadium, that will be FOR.ME.and that I.WILL.FINISH.THE.RACE.  Hopefully, there will also be other runners around me to help me push through as well. Those of us in the marathon will be pushing through that spot together, and my hope is that we will have each other's backs right then.

One other note that I noticed today on this long run was that I actually do run really well without music.  Today, it was just me, my hydration/fuel, and my watch to keep track of my miles. I didn't worry about pace either. I went with what felt comfortable.  At this point, I don't know if I will have my ipod on me for the race, but it's good to know that I can actually run well without it.  I may have it with me, in case times get tough, and I need some "power songs" or whatever, but i definitely am planning on not having it on when I go to the finish line. I want to solely focus on hauling butt across that line and not have something funky happen with my ipod at the last moment in that process.

So now, next week's long run is "only" 12 miles. I cannot believe that in just a few short weeks, I will be hitting 20 miles, and will theoretically be fully trained for the marathon!ack!

So what do I do now?

I know that it's been a while since I've last posted, and there is a reason for that. My training has been thrown off-course  with a back muscle spasm.  I think I got it from doing too much without enough rest, and probably without the best fuel/nutrition, as I don't follow a diet.  The back spasm caused me to not do anything physical (beyond what I could handle for work), for over a week, and I just got back into running a few days ago. Unfortunately, this isn't my first rodeo with back spasms either. I seem to get them about once a year, so I'm thinking about getting a massage done once a month or so as a way to help prevent future spasms.

For my first time back to running, I literally only did about a mile, and although it was good for me to get back out there, I don't think my back was healed enough to really allow for me to return to running, and my legs seemed to have forgotten what it's like to run. That part was really discouraging as I had been working so hard for this marathon up until the injury.

I want to get back into running and training for this marathon, but I'm now feeling immense pressure about being prepared for it in time. Now, I'm really concerned about not allowing a few weeks rest to really taper for the marathon, or even hitting the 20 miles at this point.  Yet, I don't want to risk injuring myself.  I'm also preparing for two performances (one for skating, and one for music) these next two weeks, and that is taking away training time, too.  Plus, I still don't have my hydration figured out. I thought I had ordered some hydration stuff that I was going to try, but, from the looks of it, I never placed the order, and I had a freebie shipping coupon code as well. :(  So that has me concerned as I've ony been training with water or water with electrolytes in it.  I have tried Nuun again, but that is off my list for hydration as I can't take the carbonation. I can drink it at home, but even then, it's not my favorite.

So what do I do now?  My long runs are suppose to be 16,12,18,14,20, 12,8?  I can chop off the last two long runs, and replace that with a taper. Knowing that I have already done 15 miles, what I'm thinking is starting off this week with repeating the week for the 16 miles for my shorter runs (4-8-4), and doingI the 16 miler next Sunday. I might take out the set back week long run of 12, and push ahead to 18, and continue from there to the 20.  If I take out that 12 mile run, that would give me about a 3 week taper. However, if I keep that 12 mile run, I would only have a two week taper. Would two weeks be enough of a taper to run this marathon?  That is my BIG question.  Keep in mind that I will not be skating (much) after March 17, as my rink is closing for rennovations.  That will help with building in extra rest time and such throughout the week.  I'm also planning on not exercising at all (beyond my normal walking for errands and such), the week of the Marathon to allow for extra rest. Does this sound doable? What has your experience been with allowing for tapering?

With that in mind, I think one of the biggest things I have learned with this training is how much time training for a marathon really requires.  One thing for sure is that this is not a race meant for a beginner runner. Even though I have been running for a few years now, something like this makes me feel like a newbie runner to a certain extent. I've been watching videos about running a marathon, and have gained knowledge about running through my past half marathon training experiences, and running as a whole, but this has proven to be a game changer.  Running 26.2 miles for the first time is no joke. Training for this distance takes A LOT of time, and I've been trying to do this in combination with skating and gymnastics, plus band one night a week (my main background is in music).  Plus, I work full time during the week.  I know that early on, I realized that I started training a bit late, as my program is a 30 week program. I am trying to do it so that I have some time to fully taper at the end. However, what I'm realizing is that there really needs to be additional weeks built in to allow for extra time in case something comes up.  Although my back injury was fairly minor, that took additional time away from my training.  I've also been terrible about really allowing for full rest days from training because I haven't really allowed for it in my schedule. I think this was a major factor leading up to my injury as I was pushing myself too much.

That being said, my question is how much extra time should be built into a training schedule? My rough guess at this point is at least 3-4 weeks, plus the taper weeks at the end.  You just never know what might come up, or if you just need a temporary break from training. I do wonder if I would perform better with having a long run every other week, rather than pushing forward a few weeks, then having a set back week.  Something like this makes me wonder on how seasoned marathoners figure out what training plan works for them. Like, how many marathon plans have they tried before they found or created one that works for them? What were some of the pluses and minuses of those particular plans?   What were some of their first few marathon experiences like? Do they remember running their first marathon? If so, did it goes as well as they wanted it to?

Thoughts?