Scott Miles, 33
Senior Vice President, Sales
New York
New York City Marathon, 4:07:00
Why did you decide to give up your Marathon V-Card?
In 2007, I was watching the marathon with friends and saw one amazing person after another running past me. I was impressed that people of all shapes, sizes, and ages were out there running 26.2 miles. I didn’t really think about it again until New Years, and I decided that my resolution in 2008 would be to train for a marathon.
How did you select your race?
I felt that there was no other place than New York City to run my first marathon. The biggest and loudest marathon in my hometown.
What shape were you in when you began your training?
I had always kept in somewhat decent shape, but no way was I in “runners” shape. I think the longest run I went on prior to my training was three miles. I had a stupid smoking habit.
What was your training plan?
I ran for a charity, Team for Kids, which was a fantastic experience. They created a training program that consisted of long runs on Saturday and weekday runs that rotated between speed work, hills, and tempo.
What was your motivation for running?
Motivation was to accomplish another goal and have another life experience. Everyone I knew who completed a marathon said it was a life changing experience. I wanted to put 100% effort into it to have a similar feeling at the end.
What was your biggest mistake in training?
I peaked a few weeks too early and went to race day feeling fatigued.
What was your eating plan?
Lots of protein, carbs, salads. I definitely didn’t focus on eating as much as I have since my first marathon.
How did you deal with any injuries?
I was lucky, I didn’t have any major injuries. I had some aches and pains, but nothing that sidelined me for extended periods of time. I had a knee issue for a few weeks, but I iced, stretched and did strength work and it got better quickly.
What was your pre-race ritual?
The night before I meticulously laid out my clothes and made sure it was perfectly set up for the morning. In the morning I ate the same thing as always which was a banana, a wheat bagel with peanut butter, and drank a Gatorade.
Be brutal, what was the race like?
Miles one through nineteen were awesome, there were so many high points: running over the Verrazano bridge with Born to Run blasting on the speakers looking at the New York skyline, crazy Brooklyn, and the ten rows deep of people up 1st Avenue. Miles twenty until the end sucked (the picture is around mile 23). I didn’t know if my legs could continue to carry me, the rolling hills of Central Park felt like mountains. I was relieved when I crossed the finish line.
How did you celebrate your marathon?
My entire family was in town, we had a celebration at my apartment with food and drinks. Later I went out and met friends at a bar and played flip cup all night.
How many marathons have you done since?
One, the Chicago Marathon in 2009 where I ran a 3:47.
What’s your running schedule now?
I run at least four times a week and always have a race on my calendar that I am training for. In 2010 I plan to make it the year of half marathons and take a year off of marathon training. I plan to run the NYRR’s 9+1 for automatic entrance into the 2011 New York City marathon.
Honestly, do you enjoy running or just the effects?
I love running and everything about it. I love the high. I love the gear. I love the challenge. I love the goals it forces you to set. I love talking about running with other runners. I love the crazy look friends give me when I told them how far I went.
What advice do you have for first-timers?
Start slow, have goals and don’t push your body too hard too fast. Running is a mental sport as much as it is a physical one, you will amaze yourself with what you can do if you remain head strong. Enjoy all the benefits of running and whatever you do, do not set a time goal for your first marathon. Just enjoy the experience.
Anything else?
I’ve recently started a blog that talks about my running experiences, I hope that it is a way to motivate average runners and help teach them how to enjoy running even more. The blog is www.irunnerblog.com.
