marathon training in St. Thomas on vacation
 

We are vacationing on St. Thomas and the area beginning Friday for a week. My husband has been training for his first marathon, and does not want to lose what he has trained for so far. Can anyone help us with locations for him to run? He would be running early morning. I guess safety is the biggest concern I have as his wife. Thanks so much!

Try the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas. They may have a track.

Athletic Director: Peter Sauer - [email protected] (340) 693-1102

Thank you. There is only a high school track. Does anyone know if these street routes would be safe?
Anyone know these streets/routes if they would be safe for running?
What about running on the streets around 6:00 - 8:00am?

10.5 Miles
Yacht Club Rd to 322 to 32 to 38 back on 32 to 322 to Yacht Club Rd

16 miles
Yacht Club Rd to 322 to 32 to 38 to 313 to 30 to 32 to 322 to Yacht Club Rd

As his wife I'm concerned about him running on the streets!!!!!! Thank you!

Hey a track is a track is a track.

St. Thomas is very, very hilly with mostly narrow roads. I would not do it.

As far as how safe it would be, I guess that depends on how fast he is.

mm

Oh I totally agree - a track is a track is a track! I hope he goes there. I will pass on your post on the streets. Thanks so much for the advice!

Hi,

My daughter is a marathon runner, having run and completed 14, said the proud mom :-)

I asked her advice. Although she hates running on the track, she suggests it is safer, injury wise, than running the streets on an island or any unkown territory.

As another one on the sidelines, I understand your anxiety..but you know he is going to continue to train ;-)

Where and when is his marathon ?

Marion

Additionally, my daughter suggests that even if your husband runs in the early morning hours, he should expect to almost double his fluid intake.

I took her to Anguilla in May of 2002 and she had some problems because of the heat.

Toughing it out in a different climate is not wise. Hydrate and listen to your body :-)

Marion

Thanks Marion! Oh my how I know he is still going to train. hehe ;) He's obsessed with his new sport! lol

At 43 he plans to run his first marathon in Columbus, Ohio in October.

I'm a walker, not a runner, but I found the roads and drivers on St. Thomas to be pedestrian-unfriendly.

Cars will expect YOU to get out of the way, shoulders are often nonexistent, and there may be broken glass and other trash alongside the roadway.

Walking in Charlotte Amalie was nice (love those 102 steps!) but elsewhere was sometimes unpleasant.

The Columbus Marathon is a great one, especially since it's his first. The terrain is pretty much flat and the temperatures should be in the runners favor.

If you think he's obsessed now, just wait until he's finished :-) The marathon calendar may soon run your life (pun intended !).

The good news is that at 43 he's doing something positive. I'd rather follow a runner than stay at home with a couch potato with the remote in his hand, asking for another beer ;-)

Good luck to him ! And I hope you will enjoy every minute of your stay on St. Thomas !

Marion

He chose the Columbus one because it's only 2 hours from us, and that it is flat for his first. He's barely making his long runs in his training of 18 miles right now, but he will! He ices his feet afterwards and cringes and I ask now WHY are you doing this???

I'm starting a travel agency. Maybe I'll focus on runners and getting them to all their marathons all over the country! lol

You have a very marketable idea there...truly !

The $$ numbers that Marathons bring into any venue is staggering.

Usually hotels will offer discounts to participants...but the transportation issue has yet to be addressed.

We are way off topic now...but I encourage you to research transportation options.

One last bit of advice, be prepared for the emotion you'll feel as you send him off and the hours you'll endure until you find him, safe, at the finish line.

I plot the route with my daughter, and agree on certain meeting points for seconds of cheering, hugging and encouragement. I usually want to say..that's enough now honey...come home with Mom, but I don't. Encouragement is what's needed and it does help the runner.

As you can tell, marathon running is a very emotional sport. And I also ask, myself (never my daughter !) WHY ??

GOOD LUCK to both of you :-)

Marion

i've been on st. thomas 3 times and i can't think of anyplace that would be good for training. the roads are really hilly and narrow and i agree cars Will expect him to move off road, and they drive quickly despite all the twists and turns. i'd go with the track.

> I'd rather follow a runner than stay at home with a couch potato with the remote in his hand, asking for another beer

Marion honey, hurry up with that Bud will ya! And don't forget the chip while yer at it. The game's gunna start.

mm