Mt. Charleston Marathon 2023 | Am I going to Boston? | The scoop on this marathon and how I did

[@mrmedic2012]

Congratulations 🎊. I plan on running in April 2025. Thanks for the tips and the footage. Congrats on the BQ!

[@PeterKoroma-fw9xk]

I just learned about this marathon and also wanna do it on April 2025, looking for a sub 3, current PR at 3:25;04. But I live in Atlanta, I’m wondering how the high altitude will affect my lungs. Gonna have to do more research about that

[@woodsthriving]

Happy to help. I will be running this as well in April 2025, and just started training. I'll be cheering you on!

[@woodsthriving]

I will be running as well in April. Unsure for the altitude as it affects everyone differently. I live around 3,000 ft so it doesn't affect me much, but I've done Spartan races that went up to 12,000 ft and that didn't affect me as much as others. Wishing you luck if you decide to do it. I was just where you are 3 or 4 years ago, almost the exact same time, and Mt Charleston was my first sub 3 hrs.

[@ChauTeddy9]

I just completed my half marathon at Big Bear. It was super cold, with temperatures in the low 20s. They ended up canceling the marathon race due to ice and slippery roads. I looked for this race instead because the weather in April is better than in November, but look at that ice!

[@woodsthriving]

So sorry to hear about them cancelling the marathon... it sucks to train hard for something and not have it work out. It was really cold at Mt Charleston too. However, that was a really great winter for us near Vegas, so unsure if it will be the same conditions. I actually will be doing Mt Charleston in April as well, and know it's a great course.

[@EfirdStrong]

Thank you for sharing. I just started documenting my journey and am looking to do one of the revel races to try and get my Boston qualifier! This absolutely gives me hope.

[@woodsthriving]

That is awesome... I'm confident you will accomplish your goal to BQ @Efird Strong. The two that helped me qualify for this year and next are the Mt Charleston and the Big Bear - both Revel's. Keep up the great work!! Also, you have a new subscriber. Let's help each other out!

[@waltfit9235]

It was cold AF.

[@woodsthriving]

Haha. I 100% agree with that. It made it motivating to finally start running to get the body temp back up. Haha. Happy New Year, friend.

[@ann6133]

Thank you so much for sharing ur stories and actually teary eye while watching. I feel ur happiness. U deserve it cause u trained hard for it. I’m still chasing my BQ and i’m doing Mt. Charleston this year 2024. God bless on ur Boston ❤

[@woodsthriving]

Wow... this comment just made my day, Ann. Thank you so much! There is so much work that goes into running and that BQ, but I'm excited to run it in a few months. I hope that your training is going well so far, and I'm confident that you will get that BQ in Vegas this year! Let me know if you have any further questions about this race that I can get answered. This is for sure the course to get your best time!! God bless you as well!!

[@pinarosana]

Do you remember the start temp and finish temp? I'm so nervous about the weather this year. Supposed to be 18 at the start and will be about 50 at the finish. I don't do cold weather well. Really afraid I will overdress, 50 is still pretty cool and I just don't think there is any way I can wear a singlet and arm sleeves in 18 degrees, even with a throwaway coat while I wait.

[@woodsthriving]

Last year was really cold, but not that cold. I believe it was around 25 degrees and ended around 60ish. I was freezing at the start, but that is because my emergency blanket got ripped up... haha. I would recommend using the drop off van and have some warm clothes. Once I got running I did warm up pretty quick, so I wouldn't worry too much about once it starts. Good luck!! This is an amazing race, and as long as your training is there, you should have a PR.

[@imankarawi4010]

I had no doubt that you would finish the marathon successfully. I congratulate you with all my heart.. We are not given good life or bad life .We are given a life ,and it is up to us to mske it good or bad...With these achievements and persistence, you make your life good and be happy... And when you are happy, you make everyone around you happy.. Your family and fans... Excellent work🌟🌟🌟💥💥💥💥🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

[@woodsthriving]

Thank you so much!! I completely agree that it's up to us... and I choose happiness! Well, I know you make me happy with all your encouraging words, and amazing personality! I cannot thank you enough my friend! Have an amazing day/night and I hope things are going well with the fasting.

[@imankarawi4010]

The weather is cold in Germany, but the fasting hours are long, from 5 in the morning until 8 and a half at night .. My problem is thirst, not hunger, especially with exercises .. I practiced today on one of your old videos and rode a bike for 35 kilometers

[@woodsthriving]

I couldn't imagine not drinking for that long... especially when active. You are amazing, and your dedication is inspirational!

[@IAmJohnSparks]

Thank you for doing this video. I did have several Questions: 1) Would you suggest bringing warmer throw away clothes and layers to the start if you did this again? 2) Also did you have any issues at water stations?? I hear you say you don’t think you hydrated well enough I have heard some say they ran into issues that there were not enough volunteers or cups at some of the stops. Know anything about this? What are your experiences with this? 3) What one piece of advice for training , pre-race planning, and race day would you give to someone who has not done this marathon before? 4) would you do this one again? Why or why not?

[@IAmJohnSparks]

Also what was the confusion on packet pick up?

[@woodsthriving]

I appreciate the questions John. 1) Yes I would bring warm throw away clothes. Or bring warm clothes and add to the drop bag right before the start. 2) I didn't have any issues with their being no water at the aid stations. However, if I did the race again, I would have brought a hydration pack or bottle with more electrolytes. I just finished the Revel Big Bear Marathon and had a bottle belt and I would do that again. 3) With Mt. Charleston and how much downhill there was, I would have trained more 20 milers with a downhill course. Also, I would have cross trained my Quads and Hamstrings more. The last 5k felt uphill, and I think the change in muscle groups also caused my legs to cramp, so I would do some uphill repeats with tired legs. 4) Yes I would. It was a beautiful and fun course. I just did the Revel Big Bear Marathon on Saturday (2:48), and I liked that course slightly more. However, Mt. Charleston I felt is fantastic for a PR or a Boston Qualifier. I hope that helps out. I would love to hear how your training goes. I will start my Boston Marathon Prep the beginning of the year, and will do videos on my training for that. I appreciate the comment, and wish you a ton of success with this marathon!

[@IAmJohnSparks]

@@woodsthriving Hi Timothy, thank you for the response and I appreciate your help. 1 - What water belt did you use for Big Bear? I’ve had issues trying to use them in the past falling off. I’d love to know what worked for you please. 2 - I watched your ideas on the shoes you wear for training. Did you train in NB More, 1080, and Endorphin Speed for both Charleston and Big Bear? 3- What was the issue on the expo? Did you stay at the Tuscany near the strip and buy the bus pass? From your video it sounds like you stayed near the finish??? What are your thoughts and recommendations on this?? 4 - what is a stretch goal? I’ve never heard this term before? 5 - the girl that did a 2022 recap on KZbin said that the first mile of Charleston was uphill??? Is that correct? She also said at the end you run past the finish and do a u turn and run back to it. That she got her hopes up and then still had more to go?? Do you remember this?? Again I appreciate all your words.

[@woodsthriving]

@@IAmJohnSparks Happy to help. 1. I got it off Amazon and went with a nicer one. Fitletic is the brand, and it worked great. I agree that normally I hate them, but this one stayed in place really well and the bottles are placed in a great spot. 2. Yes I did train in those. The only new one was NB Fuelcell Trainer SC's (I think they are called). I also used my old Nike Next % 2's for Tempo and a few of my hard effort long runs. I retired my Endorphon Speeds, but would use them again. 3. The issue with the expo, is it was really hard to find parking, and in that huge building there wasn't any signs for where to find them. So there were a number of people looking for the expo. But that was it. I stayed at a WorldMark Condo near the strip, and drove to the bus (it was about a 30 minute drive I believe). 4. I generally set a goal I would be happy with, but then a hard goal that I will strive for if the body is feeling amazing by half way point. 5. There was a very small turnaround at the finish, maybe a hundred feet or so. I didn't think anything of it as an issue, or something that bothered me. Maybe it was longer in 2022.

[@kwayupeter]

@@woodsthrivingthank you for this content. Planning on running this course this year, 2024. Any recommendations for someone living in a flat area (Houston) to get ready for such a downhill course? Thanks

[@margaritakumichel9027]

Hola guapo que lindo debe ser correr una maratón acá en Argentina se hacen muchas pero debes tener que estar bien preparado yo solo las veo me gusta correr pero no llego a maratón es muy bueno lo que haces y compartis gracias siempre eres el mejor amigo 🙏🙏🌻🌻👏👏💪💪🤝

[@woodsthriving]

¡Buenos días mi amiga! ¡Muchas gracias! Tengo fe en que podrías correr un maratón algún día... sí, necesitas estar preparado... sin embargo, ¡tu cuerpo es mucho más fuerte de lo que crees! ¡Me alegro mucho de que te guste correr porque es un deporte increíble! ¡Usted es el mejor!

[@margaritakumichel9027]

👏👏🤝🙏🙏🏃‍♀️🙋‍♀️