Marathon First-Timer (Brooklyn Native) Qualifies To Run ING NYC Marathon 2010 with the Elite Runners

I sat down with Stacey and got all the details from her training secrets to her power breakfast to her new SUB-ELITE status!!

Pamela Oelerich: Running with the sub-elite category for your first marathon is quite an accomplishment! How does it feel? I know you're probably nervous but is there bliss inside you too about the whole thing?

Stacey Barron: You hit the nail on the head. I'm definitely nervous but there are so many perks that I'm real stoked about. I was very stressed about the thought of starting amongst a sea of people where I'd have to try to pass people to stay on pace. Now I'll be toward the front of the pack and I only need to worry about going out too fast - a really big concern. The really cool benefits include getting to catch a later bus (since it'll be part of the motorcade that includes the pros and a police escort to the Fort Wadsworth start on Staten Island), special warm up area, and special recovery area.

PO: Training: I know you've been training with Damien Al-Angurli of New York Sports Club (NYSC). Tell me about his training plan for you.

SB: Damian has been my mentor, thankfully! He's a professional trainer with NYSC but I worked with him (only for a few sessions) outside of NYSC since I really needed him to help me with speed work at the track and hill repeats in Prospect Park (we're both brooklynites). Damian stressed the importance of hill repeats and incorporating hills into long runs because the NYC ING Marathon is actually quite hilly. He's been running forever and is so knowledgeable about the sport as well as training in general. I'm following Hal Higdon's advanced 1 marathon training program that is available online - but Damian has helped me to modify as necessary. Without Damian's help, I definitely wouldn't have been able to finish the harder track sessions (8 x 800 Meter) and also would've likely overtrained, possibly even injured myself. The training is definitely harder than expected; an 18-week training program is a huge commitment!

PO: Tell me about the warm-up that you'll do before the marathon.

SB: Good question I'm still researching it. I'm a marathon virgin after all. But I know that I'll do at least one mile of really slow jogging to warm up, and then will do my stretch routine that targets the standard muscles groups - quads, hamstrings, calves, IT band, glutes.

PO: What's your energy intake strategy for the marathon? Gels, Gatorade, or whatever drink they'll have on the course, and/or water, how often?

SB: I've recently started to do my long runs w/Gatorade endurance and power bar gels, which is what they'll have on the course. Again, since I'm a virgin I'm not exactly sure when I'll be refueling - but I expect to use gels right before the start, and then miles 9 and 18. I'll have extra on me just in case.

PO: What fuels and heals/repairs your body? Tell me about your favorite pre-race and post-race meals.

SB: My husband has been so good to me. I really appreciate that he's a chef because I'm a mess in the kitchen. So he's been helping by cooking up awesome pasta and rice dishes when Damian suggested that my diet was lacking complex carbs to match my increased mileage. He also came up with a modified recipe for amazing all-natural energy bars and will basically make whatever recipe I throw at him. After my long runs he cooks me these fabulous blueberry pancakes that I devour. Pre-race I like oatmeal with blueberries at least an hour prior, a banana closer to the start.

PO: What are you wearing for the marathon? Tell me what you like about each piece. Include your sneakers and sports bra too.

SB: I will be proudly wearing ellasport's New Power Capris and Charlotte Running Tank in Jet Black, and a simple black Champion double-dry seamless cami sport bra (unfortunately I need zero support but it keeps it simple & cheap!) underneath. And my favorite Asics (GEL-DS Trainer 15) sneakers.

PO: What advice would you give other runners thinking about running a marathon?

SB: I never appreciated nor understood the need for rest days until I started training for the marathon. My training plan includes one rest day, Friday, which is now my favorite day of the week! I also never realized how important sleep is and how much in aids in your body's ability to recover. As for diet, I naturally tend to watch what I eat and avoid too many carbs. That all changed when I my mileage really started to pick up; carbohydrates are essential not only to fuel work outs, but to recover faster.

PO: How do you balance training with working full-time and time with your hubby, Bob? :)

SB: It's been difficult, but I've always spent too much time at the gym. It's been more stressful for sure, because I don't want to miss a work-out, but in terms of time away from each other, it hasn't been too much more than usual. Thankfully things haven't been too hectic at work until recently, so I've been able to manage pretty well. I have been sleeping a lot more though, which has eaten into any residual time that I have to spend with Bob. But he's very understanding so it's been good.
Here are a couple of photos of Stacey in her ING NYC Marathon race outfit. Good Luck Stace!!