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Unrealistic marathon ambition?
stu1970
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I've just completed my first half marathon and was thinking of kicking on and putting in for a marathon in April or May next year. Most of the training plans seem to be around 20 weeks so I thought that was achievable. My training at the moment is around 20 miles a week, comprised of one run of 11 miles and a couple of shorter ones. However I popped into a running shop (the type that does analysis etc) today and was chatting to one of the advisers. She said she thought that was too short a time frame for progressing from half to full marathon and that I should do two or three more halves and not think about a full marathon until later in 2018 at least. Does she have a point? I was certainly planning to get a couple more halves in beforehand but hadn't thought of leaving it that long before trying the full thing.
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Comments
Sensible words from the sales assistant.
Saying that I do think there is enough time to train for the full, but if I was in your shoes I would look to this time next year. The more preparation the better really and it gives you more time to get your long runs increased and the overall mileage up too. Marathons aren't going anywhere - no need to rush
My advice would be if you want to run a marathon, then go for it. It may not be your best possible one, but you can always do another after, and learn from your training and your experience on the day to improve.
I've done it the quick way, where I got a place for London and then trained for 14 weeks off of not a huge base and to be honest, it wasn't a great experience. That was a few years back and I've not done another road marathon since but now, having got a really solid base of 30 miles a week, which I've maintained for about a year, I feel way, way more prepared for another crack at a marathon and am aiming to knock about 1h20 off my London time.
2. Train towards running a decent HM time.
3. Train towards running a debut Marathon.
In 12 months you will be ready to run a decent Marathon time by being adequately prepared to run the distance with weekly long runs and gradually increasing your weekly mileage
Others are right in saying that you could wait, build up for longer and run a better marathon but if you're sensible with training, build up gradually and have a realistic goal time you should be fine even if it is tough and painful.
It really depends on how well you want to run. What's the definition of a decent marathon anyway? For lots of people it's just getting around, for others it's under 2:10.
On that basis you have time.
I personally would agree with the thoughts of others in that training more, running (and improving halfM times) and getting a feel for the different requirements of a training programme would stand you in good stead for tackling , enjoying and being successful at a marathon.
I accept that for many, the marathon is the pinnacle of running. I however am more impressed by a single 1h30 half than 50 5hr+ marathons.
To even get round you will pretty much need to double your 20mpw training.
Your first marathon is a personal best no matter what the time. And either way everyone is happy to get round their first regardless of time.
If you ran the whole half then you will do the marathon in 6 months easy. You are fit enough.
I think it is easy to overthink this stuff sometimes. You just need to go for it. I was a half marathon runner and then signed up to my first 50 mile before even doing a marathon. And guess what. I didnt die. I loved it.
You need to go for it. Realise what you nailed, what you hated, what you could have done better. Then improve on it next time.
Best of luck
C
I did my first mara off sweet fa training, and I mean sweet fa.
I wasn't going to be a runner. Had to have a shoulder op so couldn't play rugby. I was considering giving up full time playing as at the age of 42 I was getting injuries that weren't going away. Someone suggested I train for a marathon in the spring to keep fit if nothing else. (Shakespeare in April)
Just never got around to doing the training. I mean, how hard could it be? loads of people do it and I'd seen people doing London marathon in all sorts of costumes so it can't be that hard.
It was long, it was hard, and it hurt. For the last 6/8 miles it was just attrition. Run, walk, run (Well, jog/shuffle anyway). Came in at 4:36 and took ages to recover.
Knew that I could do better if I trained. Entered another, Loch Ness at the start of October to ' Do it properly', and Snowdon at the end of October for the challenge of the hills and not having any pressure to go fast, I could just enjoy the scenery.
Started my training with a 16 week plan in June and did 3:45:05 at Locj Ness. That 5 seconds really bugged me!. Ran it all the way and climbed Ben Nevis with the wife the following day. Went round Snowdon just over 4 hours. That's the difference training made to me. That was eight years ago and I'm now approaching 20 marathons, along with various other races of various distances on various surfaces. For me failing at the first one spurred me on to others.
So my answer is train or don't, do it tomorrow or next year, or the year after, it's all up to you. The difference training makes is how fast you want to go, how much do you want it to hurt at the time, and how quick do you want to recover.
Your choice.
Wish I built it up over a couple of years like others advised at the time as it was torture.
24 weeks or so to improve your distance by 13 miles is only going up half a mile a week on average, not sure why anyone would think you would need a year to go from half marathon distance to full.
Let us know how you get on, just keep consistent in your training.