What Was I Thinking (Part 4): Super Dave

Now what?  I had set some mighty high objectives and I only had three months to go before I was expected to run a marathon.  What do I do?  Where do I go?  How do I even get started?  How am I going to find enough people to sponsor me $1000 per mile?  How am I going to get myself into shape to run 26 miles?  Should I run 3 miles everyday?  Should it be more?  Should I take days off?  What am I going to do!!!!  Aaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!

I know!  I'll call Dave!  Dave will have my answers! 

Dave and his family are friends of ours.  We see them at many local events, camp with them once a year and Dave and I play softball together.  What makes Dave different from all of our other friends, is that Dave has run marathons, approximately eight or nine... I believe.  This qualifies him as my answer man!

Within two days, Dave and I were sitting at a bar discussing the fine art of marathon running over a few large pints.  If only all of my marathon training could be done in a bar over a few large pints but alas, Dave informed me that it wouldn't be. 

Dave was excited.  He explained to me that the first time he ran a marathon was because of a bet, however, he ended up catching the marathon bug and has never looked back.  He knew that this would happen to me and for him to be sitting here at ground zero of a wide open running future, made him excited. I knew, however, that as soon as this meeting was over, I was hitting the pharmacy.  I did NOT want to catch THAT bug.

I told Dave that I had been running three miles every day and that I could use some advice at what to do.  As expected, he was chock full of good information.  We ended up talking for over an hour about things I should and should not be doing.... what to wear.... what not to wear.... eating habits... where to run.... training ideas.... stories about his races.  He also explained the process of the days events, pre-marathon events and what I should expect after the race.  We discussed so much good marathon information.  Way to much for me to even remember, so I'll summarize a few that I found most helpful in my training.

First of all, he told me to get rid of the 'sneakers' that I was wearing, go to a running store (it isn't easy catching a running store!) and get a good pair of running shoes.  I should also buy another pair of the same shoe about three weeks before the race, using them to finish up my training and for race day.

He told me that Boston is one of the toughest marathons because of the Newton hills.  After running about 17 miles, you get to Newton and have to deal with these four monsters.  He explained that getting up the hills can be very difficult, but getting down the hills is even tougher on the body.  He also told me that I should try to get into town at some point and actually practice on the hills.

It was also suggested to me that I find a schedule and stick to it.  There should be long run days, short run days and no run days.  My body needs time to rest as much as it needs the training.

Finally, nothing I do on race day should be new as it isn't the time to be testing out new equipment or techniques.  Don't eat differently on race day.  Don't wear new clothes on race day.  Get a routine and stick to it.

This was great.  As expected, Dave came through and I was.... yes... I was.... off and running.

Stay tuned for What Was I Thinking (Part five): My Follow Through

What Was I Thinking (Part one): In the Beginning 
What Was I Thinking (Part two): Goodbye Reality
What Was I Thinking (Part three): The Point of No Return