1. Thou Shalt Crosstrain and Stretch
If all you do is walk and/or run, you are setting yourself up for an injury. You simply must do an alternate exercise to tone your quadriceps, such as biking. You should also do circuit training, strength training, core strengthening such as Pilates, yoga, etc. I have never been one to stretch. Now I make sure to do my daily stretching routine. It takes only a couple of minutes.2. Get Proper Training Help and Injury Treatment
When the pain started in July, I immediately asked my trainer Steve what to do. He also has ilio-tibial band syndrome and he recommended his massage therapist. I began treatment immediately. It took another 6 weeks to see a sports medicine doctor, going through my health care system. By that time I was 6 weeks ahead on recovery and got sound advice on whether it was sane to walk the marathon. If the doctor had said no, I would not have walked the marathon. I care about my longterm ability to walk more than doing just one event.3. Try a Little Jogging
If your event allows you to run, go ahead and incorporate some running in your training. I found it very refreshing to jog down hills during the marathon. I am an unusual case - nerve damage to my left leg stopped me running 29 years ago. But I have rebuilt my strength in that leg to the point where again I can run for at least short distances.4. Train at Your Marathon Pace
Next year, I need to do some faster pace training in the weeks before the marathon, during the week. Based on how Rachel and Will were able to keep up a conversation while I was huffing and puffing (not to mention moaning and grunting), I need some aerobic conditioning. Prior years I did much more of this in advance of the walk.5. Friends Make Training Fun
Prior years I mostly did my long walks alone, listening to books on tape, going my own pace. This year I had a wonderful year of getting to know my team mates as real friends and having a blast on our long training walks. My pace slowed, but my life improved.6. Carb It
I have been on the carb-restricted South Beach Diet, but I made sure to have carbs the 36 hours prior to the marathon. I had oatmeal, bread, pasta, fruit, and chocolate. Marathon day I ate a Clif bar for breakfast. Along the route I drank Powerade at each water stop and after Mile 13 I ate half a caffeinated Clif bar. I finished it at Mile 18. I had another half of one between Mile 23 and 26. These bites really perked me up, while the Powerade contributed enough fuel to keep me going, plus replenished body salts. You should never worry about weight around marathon day - you can add a pound or two as the muscles swell and retain water after the marathon. If you lose weight it is probably due to dehydration.7. Walking Partners Must Plan Together
Before you walk the marathon with a partner or two, make a pact about whether you will stick together and your plans about stops, etc. This relieves social pressure during the event. While I was pretty much silent, we all understood and (I hope) didn't take offense. We agreed that we might split up at some point and that was OK. If we wanted somebody by our side, we stated it, as Rachel did.8. Celebrate
It was great to have everyone at my house for a couple of hours afterwards to rest, unwind, treat our wounds, share stories, eat. Silent Wendy came alive and chatted away happily now that the event was done. It was much better than going to a restaurant, as we needed easy chairs or couches on which to slump, lie down, etc. Now we must wear our Finisher shirts and medals to show the world that we are marathoners. If we can do it, so can most anyone.9. Give Thanks to Volunteers
Portland is an all-volunteer staffed marathon. We thank as many of them as we can as they hand us water, direct us on the course, give us our medal. "Thanks for volunteering" from the walkers and runners goes a long way to bringing them back next year.Next: Wendy's Stats
