Hi, I have just been given a last minute space for the London Marathon. I have not been training specifically for the Marathon as I didn't think I would be running as didn't get a ballot place. I have been doing my own thing and on average 18 Miles per week. Am I being unrealistic thinking I can do a full Marathon in 11 weeks time. I will start training properly this week. I am doing the Brighton half marathon 17th Feb. This will be my 3rd Half marathon. My long runs recently been 10 Miles to 12 Miles and I know I now need to extend these but just wonder If I have enough time with only 11 weeks to go. Any advice would be really appreciated. Thanks
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Thank you so much David I really appreciate it. I was sure I can do but nerves are setting in and starting to question everything. I just wish I had more time but don't want to wait another year to try and get a place. I am going to up my mileage and will hopefully being doing 18 Miles at least 3 weeks before. I mean I run 12 miles in the snow for gods sake. Well that was easier on the knees. The one niggling injury I do have is my coccyx! its feels bruised. I have it for over a year and had physio but doesnt seem to go.. this marathon will prob see me off! Oh well I'm going for it. Thanks again Dave x
It'll hurt, but you could do it with the right commitment to training.
Slow and sure, steady miles. So what are you waiting for? Get your bum out there!
A number of years ago when Liquid Power was sponsoring the drinks i entered a competition for the 2000 FLM & was lucky enough to win a place, only problem was they did'nt announce the winners until early Feb leaving just 9 weeks to the marathon! Due to not thinking i'd be running i had to start training from scratch but surprisingly still managed my average time of 3:40 even though the mileage was greatly reduced from previous years. As SJDub stated don't go mad & risk injury but personally i think 11 weeks is plenty of time to peak, i once ran a marathon on 6 months hard training & had a awful run, feeling heavy legged & fatiqued due to overtraining. All the best with the training, you'll be fine.
Go for it. You have a good base fitness and a strong idea of how to up your training.
Considering runners world have 16 week training plans and you aren't a million miles away from their beginners one with the activity you are doing I say go kick that marathons arse (If you can lift your legs that high afterwards)
You may not hurtle around the course but I think you'll certainly get around. Consider what you have done as establishing base camp and now it's time to head off for the peak.
I think with the encouraging advice on this thread reassuring you then you'll be fine and dandy.
Good luck with it all.
I'm using the 'experienced' 3 x a week plan and am only just up to about 25 miles a week, so you aren't far behind. Just keep extending those long runs by a little and keep doing plenty of runs and speed work during the week.
I've probably only done 3 or 4 runs over 10 miles so far...