Marathon Fear

packet · Post by **packet** » May 13th, 2008, 11:02 am

I fear the marathon. There, I said it, it’s out, I’ve accepted my fear… but remain afraid of overcoming it.

I have been rowing my C2 on and off for a few years now, always for health/fitness, never to be a rower of any kind. I don’t even care about improving technique or anything like that (as long as it’s good enough not to get hurt, which it is apparently).
I have never done a half or full marathon. The most time I’ve spent on the erg is a 60 minute row. I have done many 10k pieces, and I do enjoy them.

My brother recently purchased an erg and has completed 2 half marathons…and now I’m hearing about it. The ribbing is enhanced by the fact that he got his as a result of a visit where I totally guilted him in to rowing mine … while he was on vacation and we were spending nights imbibing in the finer points of drinking to excess, no less!

Here’s my question: How’d you do it?

I mean, how did you get up for even trying it out?
How'd you get through it?
Have you done it since?
Was there puking involved … ?

Thanks,
Packet

johnlvs2run · Post by **johnlvs2run** » May 13th, 2008, 11:11 am

Set the distance, get going and keep going till you're done.

Strikeslip · Post by **Strikeslip** » May 13th, 2008, 12:39 pm

Stop being such a wimpy little brother and just do it!

Set your distance to 21,092 metres and start out slowly for the first ten minutes then increase to an easy pace, but keep your SPM low.

Don't do it after a large meal.

Listen to The Crystal Method.

Have your wife listen for a loud thump, in case you have a heart attack and fall off the erg.

If you feel your bits & pieces tingling, you can get up and try to fix them for two minutes before your PM3 turns off...

Citroen · Post by **Citroen** » May 13th, 2008, 12:51 pm

packet wrote: Was there puking involved … ?

It's not an all out 2K test, so there's zero chance of puking.

There are two things worse than 42,195m.

1. 100K in 24hrs rowed in 19:30 stints (with two mates doing the same)
2. 100K with no significant stops.

I've done a 2hr54 marathon, I've done #1, I've not done #2, yet.

Citroen · Post by **Citroen** » May 13th, 2008, 12:53 pm

Strikeslip wrote:Set your distance to 21,092 [sic] metres ...

Erm? Half marathon is 21097m. Full marathon is 42,195m.

Strikeslip · Post by **Strikeslip** » May 13th, 2008, 1:01 pm

Citroen wrote:
Strikeslip wrote:Set your distance to 21,092 [sic] metres ...
Erm? Half marathon is 21097m. Full marathon is 42,195m.

Heh, he's my brother and I was trying to prank him into rowing all that way and coming up just short.

packet · Post by **packet** » May 13th, 2008, 1:39 pm

and now you see what i'm up against ...

Nosmo · Post by **Nosmo** » May 13th, 2008, 1:40 pm

You've already done 60 minute rows. For the HM, set out 3 or 4 seconds slower and just keep going a little longer. If you need to take very short breaks. You will have no problem.

Citroen · Post by **Citroen** » May 13th, 2008, 1:41 pm

packet wrote:and now you see what i'm up against ...

Just get on and row, you'll be done before 6pm Eastern

BrianStaff · Post by **BrianStaff** » May 13th, 2008, 1:56 pm

Citroen wrote:Just get on and row, you'll be done before 6pm Eastern

Gosh! you guys are being bit hard on him. He only expressed his fear today, and you want him to complete it before supper.

One of my goals this year is to not let anybody talk me into a HM or FM.

I could chase a ball around all day, but when I ran, I would start to question my sanity after about 30 minutes...and the same applies to ERGing. 30 minutes is about my mental limit.

Brian

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » May 13th, 2008, 2:04 pm

packet wrote:and now you see what i'm up against ...

Haha. As one of 8 kids in my family I know exactly what you're up against.

As for the marathon, I'm afraid that there is no way out but to make up your mind and 'Just Do It.' You've got to get better than him. That's the only way to get a brother to shut up.

Bob S. · Post by **Bob S.** » May 13th, 2008, 2:08 pm

packet wrote:I fear the marathon. There, I said it, it’s out, I’ve accepted my fear… but remain afraid of overcoming it.
Thanks,
Packet

The marathon is just a pain in the butt. Life is full of these. The fact that, in doing a marathon, it is literally as well as figuratively so is no reason to fear it. The only thing to fear is giving up along the way. Believe it or not, they get easier on repetition.

Bob S.

michaelb · Post by **michaelb** » May 13th, 2008, 2:59 pm

If you can row for an hour you can row a half marathon. Sure, your butt will hurt, but you can always take a quick break or two if needed.

As I read these posts however, your brother has not done a full marathon. I think he should stop trash talking until he has done the full monty himself. You have to be just a bit crazy to row for 3+ hours on an indoor rowing machine (Remember that bubble wrap is your friend).

packet · Post by **packet** » May 13th, 2008, 3:05 pm

bubble wrap!
now there's an idea... thanks! javascript:emoticon(':D')

i guess it's going to come down to just doing it ... <heavy sigh> ... no tricks, no excuses, just row.

Nosmo · Post by **Nosmo** » May 13th, 2008, 3:44 pm

packet wrote: no tricks, no excuses, just row.

Well did you think you could do a FM without rowing?

Do it before your brother does. DO two HM. Then a week after you second, get on the machine. Add 10 seconds to your HM pace and row 10K. Get off the machine drink. eat very little if you want. Walk around stretch your buttPress the change display button every 40 seconds so don't screw up. Get back on the machine, do another 10K. Keep doing this and you'll finish the FM no problem. Go real easy.

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