Marathon and Beyond......

One of my favorite running magazines is Marathon and Beyond.

If you aren't familiar with it check it out, although I should warn you that it's really more of a book of stories than a traditional magazine. It also has no offensive ads, no super thin models on the cover, no quick fix info on diet or any other simplistic articles but it has great stories and information along with some regular columns and such that I simply look forward to reading. I should clarify that I have NFI (no financial interest), these are just my thoughts on a great read.

When I first discovered the magazine back in 97, I immediately subscribed (and do to this day) and loved it so much that I ordered the two or three back issues I had missed and I have proceeded to keep every copy with no intent of ever parting with them. I like to go back at some point each year and reread many of the past issues and each time I have done this it was like reminiscing with old friends.

The following I took directly from their website and it really highlights some of the things that I like about the magazine (hopefully they would be ok with me doing this).

Marathon & Beyond (M&B) is a 12-year-old, bimonthly magazine tailored specifically for marathoners and ultrarunners. It is edited and published by former Runner's World executive editor Richard Benyo and former FootNotes coeditor and Human Kinetics editor Jan Colarusso Seeley.

Marathon & Beyond is designed to provide practical advice on running or preparing to run marathons and ultradistances. M&B includes complete training programs; easy-to-apply, cutting- edge scientific information; insightful examinations of the personal side of longer distance running; profiles of major marathons and ultramarathons; and regular columns focusing on specific aspects of running. The magazine also provides readers with a forum for sharing ideas, insights, questions, experiences, and concerns. M&B reaffirms the spirit of community, tradition, and collective experience. Marathoners, ultramarathoners, and those who want to become marathoners or ultramarathoners will enjoy the presentation of the important and useful information contained in each issue.

Marathon & Beyond (200 pages per issue) offers a number of regular features:

• My Most Unforgettable Marathon (or Ultramarathon)— accomplished runners describe their most memorable race and share what they learned
• Marathon Profile—a "soup to nuts" profile: race history, what to expect on the course, what sights to see (and avoid) in the race city, where to stay, course record holders, and additional information about the race
• On the Road—noted running scribes share observations and opinions about long-distance running. Columnists have included Kathrine Switzer, Roger Robinson, Scott Douglas, Joe LeMay, Barry Lewis, Ellen Curtain, Joe Henderson, and the department currently features Don Kardong.
• Joe's Journal—column by Joe Henderson, running writer guru and author of over two dozen books
• On the Mark—our panel of experts answers readers' running questions
• In addition you will find at least a dozen full-length feature stories in each issue and about once per year an issue will contain a special section—a cluster of articles on one particular topic. Past special sections have covered such topics as Death Valley, The Search for the Perfect Marathon, Western States 100, Masters Running, Sports Medicine, and the Antarctica Marathon

To give you a quick example in their current issue there's a story about the "10 classic mistakes even experienced marathoners make", written by Kevin Polin. I have made all 10 mistakes along with a whole bunch more. In case you are wondering about his list I went ahead and added it in (along with my rationalizations for my committing the errors) but you will need to pick up the March/April issue to get his info on each one.

1. Setting an incorrect time goal or no goal at all

How do you know it's incorrect unless you try? If you have no goal, how is that a
problem? Have you never heard of stop and smell the roses, run for fun, enjoy the day?

2. Failing to incorporate goal pace runs into a training plan

Have you never heard of marathon race day magic, ok, just because it never has worked for me doesn't mean it doesn't exist. You have to believe.

3. Trying something new on race day

Have you no sense of adventure, what if it works?

4. Emphasizing the number of training miles rather than the quality of the training miles

Good advice but, I need to make my mileage goal and running quality miles might cause other issues like taking away my traditional excuses.

5. Slowing down in the race during tough periods

Ok, this sounds like the tough get going mindset, so I went back and looked at his comment and it's more about not panicking as everyone knows there are bad stretches and if you don't freak they may just go away along with the fact that once you give in it's real hard to get it back. Good advice if not taken to collapse.

6. Starting the race too fast

See number 1 and number 2

7. Not building an aerobic base

Having a base can be overrated, see number 4

8. Getting injured

Define injured?

9. Not resting enough

Define rest?

10. Making mistakes with sports drinks/gel usage during a race

Ok, guilty but it's not like I thought I was making a mistake, I just found out later it was when it left the body.

So if you haven't seen Marathon and Beyond, find it and enjoy a really great magazine, as it's a gem that stands the test of time and it's written by folks who love running for runners who love running and it clearly shows in each issue.