Don’t get me wrong, I think running a good form marathon can be done, it
just depends on how well you have trained and how hard you push during the
race. When I have hit the wall, my form is shot completely, and I fear even
thinking about how I looked! The marathon is always a learning experience,
no matter how many you have run.

Pete

OK, Pete, thanks. Understand your point. What I am getting is that makes sense to use the minimal shoe on a particular race IF I am comfortable enough with distance and planned pace that makes me sure I will not land on my heels anytime during the full race. Otherwise, maybe it is more prudent to use a protective shoe. Anyway, fully agree with you that it is a good idea to practice using different shoes and pavements. It allows you the flexibility to change the approach depending on the race and also reduces the risk of stress related injuries.

I have been using the strategy of sipping from my watered down gel
flask every mile or two from the start for each of the past two
marathons and it has worked well. I think perhaps a bigger issue that
I did use at Disney is to be done eating breakfast about 2 hours
before the race, and then to have nothing until just before the race
begins. I have kept this approach up. It’s so hard to know what is
right and wrong when it comes to fueling, but the fact that I haven’t
hit the wall recently has me encouraged.

Pete

On Thursday, November 11, 2010, Disqus

Ok, understood. I was probably being naive by thinking that it is possible for an amateur to run a full marathon in a perfect form. That is the lack of experience. Your approach seems more reasonable. Thanks again.
Sergio (Brazil)

Sergio – it’s hard and this question probably deserves it’s own post.
I guess all I can say is that on the day I ran Manchester, I think
more shoe would have been warranted. Had I been training regularly in
the A4’s, and had this been my only marathon this Fall, perhaps things
would be different. I just know that given my level of fatigue, the
Kinvara would have been a better choice. Still a relatively minimal
shoe, but it has a good deal more cushion than the A4. I’d tell you
that if you are training regularly in a very minimal shoe and it’s
working for you, stick with it, particularly if you are wearing it
with success on your long runs. At least for my body, I seem to do
better when I mix things up, but we are all different and have to find
our own formula.

Pete

On Thursday, November 11, 2010, Disqus

I heard in your Disney Marathon Podcast that you delayed gel consumption after mile 8. Do you advise this? I am running RnR SA on Sunday and need a gel cumsumption strategy.

Mark,

We did speed up on the downs and slow on the ups, but the hills were so
frequent that it evened out the pace overall I think. The lead pacer was
following a steady effort rather than steady pace plan.

Pete

One of these days I need to run Manchester. Going to be tough fitting it in: it’s only a week after the Conway 1/2! ;)