u/ConfectionLiving8445

Hey everyone !

I just ran my first marathon in 3:59, been running for 2 years now. I’ve used Runna for the past year and I really enjoy the variety of workouts and I feel like I have improved with it

However, I feel like Runna has way too much interval/tempo workouts. These workouts are the most fun for me but I’m not sure they’re the best way to improve my endurance

I’ve been thinking of starting Hal Higdon Intermediate 1 or 2. The mileage is higher but it seems more manageable.

What I noticed during my marathon is that I was able to sustain a pace of 5’21 for the first 25km but then started cramping. I didn’t feel like cardio was the limiting factor

Any thoughts ? Which one will make me improve the most ? Should I give up the fun I have with Runna for a potential performance gain ?

M28, 1st Marathon, been running for almost 2 years, trying to balance it with gym, olympic weightlifting and some bouldering here and there

Goal A : Finish
Goal B : Sub 4h
Goal C : dont shit myself
Bonus : didn’t get injured

Training

I started running about 2 years ago and run 3 half marathons prior to this race. My avg mileage in the past training block was 40-50 km / week.

I kept lifting heavy in the gym, which I think is one of the factors that allowed me to stay injury free since I started.

I was initially following a 20 week Marathon plan with Runna for a Marathon on June 8th, but a colleague from work couldn’t attend Copenhagen and ended giving me his bib. By pure luck I had my longest run on the plan (34km) planned on the exact same day as the marathon.

I stopped following Runna 1 week prior to the Marathon and just did 2 easy runs that week.

Race Day

I flew to Copenhagen (from London) on saturday morning and picked up my bib at the Forum. As expected from Scandinavia, everything was extremely well organized.

Weather was perfect, 10C degree, not cold and not hot, no rain.

I had read the countless posts on reddit about everything that could go wrong on Marathon day, so I came prepared.

Woke up early, big cup of coffee, took a shit.
Took 2 immodiums (I had tested with one), used some tape/band aid on the spots I usually get blisters and on my nipples as well.

Took 5x40g gels with me.

Goal was sub 4h, so I followed the 3:50 pacer (to have some room in case something went wrong), take 1 gel every 6-8 km just before aid stations.

I followed the 3:50 pacer for the first 25km and I was feeling pretty strong. I started to get a cramp in my left hip flexor but pushed through until km 31. Got a cramp in the other hip flexor (hey at least I was balanced now) and kept pushing but running slower.

Didn’t feel like I “hit the wall”, I felt like I was ok cardio-wise (my avg HR was 163), but the cramps really slowed me down.

Ended up finishing in 3:59 and achieving both my goals and staying injury free !

Next marathon is in September, goal is to learn how to not have cramps until there :)

Olá corredores !

Fiz minha primeira maratona hoje e trago um relato aqui para vocês.

H28, 72kg, correndo há mais ou menos 2 anos. Faço musculação, levantamento de peso olímpico e escalada além da corrida (uns 10 treinos por semana).

Estava seguindo um plano do Runna para correr em junho, mas um colega que tinha se inscrito para Copenhagen não pode ir e acabou me passando a vaga dele de graça. E de graça, até ônibus errado.

Por sorte, o dia da maratona coincidiu com a corrida mais longa do plano (34km), então cheguei mais ou menos preparado.

Meus objetivos eram :

1. Terminar
2. Sub 4h
3. Não me lesionar

Dias antes da corrida

Parei de seguir o Runna uma semana antes e só fiz duas corridas fáceis. Sexta e sábado consumi bastante carbo e descansei bem.

Voei para Copenhagen sábado de manhã. O processo para recuperar o número de peito e a camiseta foi muito fácil, nenhuma fila e não durou nem 5 min.

Como já li vários relatos de maratona aqui no Reddit, já estava esperto no que poderia dar errado.

Dia da corrida

Dormi umas 8h, acordei cedo e já fui comprar um café pra dar aquela vontade de ir no banheiro.

Tomei 2 Immodiums (remédio para diarreia, constipa) e funcinonou 100%, não tive vontade nenhuma de ir ao banheiro durante a prova.

Coloquei uns esparadrapos nos lugares onde costumo ter bolha no pé e no mamilo tb, e não tive problema nenhum durante a prova. Levei 5 gels de 40g e não levei água (tomei nas estações)

Como queria correr sub 4h, decidi seguir o pacer de 3h50 pra ter uns 10 min de margem caso algo desse errado. Segui esse grupo pelos primeiros 25km mantendo um pace de 5’21 e estava me sentindo muito bem, mas comecei a ter câimbra no flexor do quadril direito. Diminui um pouco a velocidade e pelo km 31 tive cãibra no flexor do quadril esquerdo (pelo menos agora estava equilibrado)

Já estava meio fudido nessa hora, mas faltavam só 10km então continuei mais tranquilo. Terminei em 3h59, me diverti muito e não tive nenhuma lesão.

Acho que fui um pouco limitado pela câimbra, pq não senti meu aeróbico limitar tanto (FC ficou em 163 media)

Próximo objetivo é aprender a prevenir câimbra!

Espero que tenham gostado do relato !

Hi everyone,

I hold a Masters in Software Engineering from a Grand École in France. I’ve been working for the past 7 years (France, Switzerland and London) but would like to do another masters and work with something that has more mathematics

I’m thinking about applying for the quantitative finance masters in november.

Do you see a lot of people going back to a Masters at ETHZ after being out of university for the past 5-7 years ? Do you think my professional experience will be valuable ?

Thanks for your opinions !