if you have ever run a marathon, what was your time, and how did you feel you did. I ran my first one on Palm Sunday in St. Louis. did good the first half, then cramps got me. i had to walk the last 8 miles or so cause i couldn't run without my calves cramping. finished in 5:52 and change. pissed about it, cause i ran the first half in 2:18, and the second half in 3:30. anyone else?

The Humpty that I know would NEVER run a marathon.

Humpty, it sounds like you may not have trained properly. My first marathon went pretty much the way yours did. I cruised through the first 17 miles, bonked at 19 and had to eat oranges to recover. I then developed knee pain around mile 22 and had to alternate running and walking. I came in around 4:40 after averaging 7:30 minute miles through 17. I realized after the fact that I had not trained properly. The most I had run at one time leading up to the event was 13 miles.

I recommend checking out a site like HalHigdon.com for a training program that will help you improve your time and prevent causing yourself bodily harm. Regardless of your time, you should still feel pride in your accomplishment. Most people never try and many who do never finish. Keep with it!

Very first try---Age 52. Time 3:30.
Tried about 5 or 6 more, could never completely run the whole way. Only finished 1 of the 5 or 6.
TRAINING TRAINING TRAINING!!!!

[This message has been edited by JRDANCER (edited 4/17/2006 11:23p).]

Just started training for my first marathon a couple weeks ago (San Francisco on July 30). I have quite a way to go on the training, but I'm not too worried. My experience is in triathlons, so this is a slightly new challenge to me. Last year I finished a half iron man with a 2:07 split, I would be happy with that as my back half in SF.

It's always inspiring to hear someone else's training/race stories. Good luck!!

I did NYC years ago on a lark. Much like the other posters, I wasn't properly trained, but I finished. Popped a knee ligament on the bridge from Manhattan down into the Bronx. A doctor at the 1st aid station iced it down for 30 mins and wrapped it tight in an ace bandage. He allowed me to walk to the finish line.

My leg was stiff for a week, but I finished the damn thing!!

Haven't even tried since. I'm now a biker, set to do my 2nd MS150 this weekend.

Chico - Be careful riding this weekend. We had a cyclist fatality here in Austin yesterday (hit and run). The roads here are still more biker-friendly than in most cities, but things are changing for the worse.

ran the Houston marathon in January, time 4:30, I wasn't able to train as much as I wanted to due to school, but it was an absolutely awesome experience

I drove a marathon one time in about 30 minutes. It was pretty easy. I had plenty of water and there wasn't much traffic.

NumberEinAg,

I hope you had an automatic transmission otherwise the knee pain may have been too much.

humpty, you probably either didn't put in enough miles of training or didn't drink enough sports drink at the aid stations, or both. Next time try one of Hal Higdon's training programs: http://www.halhigdon.com/.

I've run 14 of em. Best was 2:47 at Dallas White Rock(while I was at A&M), worst was 3:59 at Boston (2005).

Dancer, if you ran 3:30 at age 52 on your first try, YOU ARE THE MAN!

I ran Houston a few years ago. My first and only one. Time was 4:15. I felt good physically but was MENTALLY drained. I'm not sure how you prepare for that. I wanted to quit so bad towards the end and really fought it. Honestly, I don't think I'll ever do another one. I enjoy 10k's and half-marathons enough.

Nah Rollo, it was a standard shift, four on the floor Renault, thank goodness it wasn't a super-marathon. I was all tuckered out and had to drink numerous Negra Modelo's to get it back together!

NumberEinAg,

How did you possibly finish without a 5-speed? I call BS!

Well it did have 5 gears (plus reverse) but only four of them worked. Hence - 4 on the floor.