Ran first marathon and am crushed!! Advice needed...

scottmartin

New member
As the title says, ran my first marathon Saturday. And I use the word "ran" loosely....

99.9% of my training was on our treadmill, with maximum weekly mileage topping out at 39 miles. My goal was to finish in under 4 hours. We started at 6:00 am and everything was awesome for the first half (1:50)...then around mile 15 the wheels fell off!!! My quads started to feel pretty destroyed and around mile 19ish my right hamstring started to lock up if I ran...
So I walked the last 6 plus miles. Finish time 5:03...demoralizing :-(

My question, is outdoor running that much harder on the body than the treadmill?? (Sole F80)
I took a cliff gel every 20 minutes just as I had done all through training (longest runs were 20 and 22 miles) so I don't think it was a nutrition issue. Am I wrong?
Endurance felt awesome the whole way through...the legs just started to betray me!!

If it matters...45 year old, 6'0" 185...primarily do sprint Tri's but wanted a challenge this off season. Longest run race before was Half marathons...have done several over the years.

Any insight would be great, as I "may" decide to run another of these awful soul depleting races!
 
As the title says, ran my first marathon Saturday. And I use the word "ran" loosely....

99.9% of my training was on our treadmill, with maximum weekly mileage topping out at 39 miles. My goal was to finish in under 4 hours. We started at 6:00 am and everything was awesome for the first half (1:50)...then around mile 15 the wheels fell off!!! My quads started to feel pretty destroyed and around mile 19ish my right hamstring started to lock up if I ran...
So I walked the last 6 plus miles. Finish time 5:03...demoralizing :-(

My question, is outdoor running that much harder on the body than the treadmill?? (Sole F80)
I took a cliff gel every 20 minutes just as I had done all through training (longest runs were 20 and 22 miles) so I don't think it was a nutrition issue. Am I wrong?
Endurance felt awesome the whole way through...the legs just started to betray me!!

If it matters...45 year old, 6'0" 185...primarily do sprint Tri's but wanted a challenge this off season. Longest run race before was Half marathons...have done several over the years.

Any insight would be great on Half Marathons Europe 2024, as I "may" decide to run another of these awful soul depleting races!
thanks in advance for any help
 
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I have encountered different opinions, sometimes saying that it is difficult to get used to the conditions in the hall (often different humidity and even temperature). Congratulations on your marathon :) you have to work on your organism and get it used to it (I am generally taught to run outside, as there were always queues in the hall or I could not access it)
 
As the title says, ran my first marathon Saturday. And I use the word "ran" loosely....

99.9% of my training was on our treadmill, with maximum weekly mileage topping out at 39 miles. My goal was to finish in under 4 hours. We started at 6:00 am and everything was awesome for the first half (1:50)...then around mile 15 the wheels fell off!!! My quads started to feel pretty destroyed and around mile 19ish my right hamstring started to lock up if I ran...
So I walked the last 6 plus miles. Finish time 5:03...demoralizing :-(

My question, is outdoor running that much harder on the body than the treadmill?? (Sole F80)
I took a cliff gel every 20 minutes just as I had done all through training (longest runs were 20 and 22 miles) so I don't think it was a nutrition issue. Am I wrong?
Endurance felt awesome the whole way through...the legs just started to betray me!!

If it matters...45 year old, 6'0" 185...primarily do sprint Tri's but wanted a challenge this off season. Longest run race before was Half marathons...have done several over the years.

Any insight would be great, as I "may" decide to run another of these awful soul depleting races players!
Congratulations on completing your first marathon! It's an incredible achievement that many aspire to but few accomplish. Feeling crushed after such an accomplishment is not uncommon. Running a marathon takes a toll on both the body and mind, pushing you to your limits physically and mentally. It's essential to prioritize rest and recovery in the days following the race. Focus on proper nutrition, hydration, and gentle movement to aid in your body's recovery process. Reflect on your training journey and the lessons learned during the marathon. Celebrate your achievement and remember that it's okay to feel exhausted after such a significant endeavor. Give yourself time to rest, rejuvenate, and gradually ease back into training if you decide to pursue future races.
 
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