My friend who is training for the NY marathon at the smae time as me is using a different schedule. On his it suggests that you should do at least 3 20 milers before the race whereas mine (Hal Hidgon I think) recommends just one 20 miler and other than that one 18 miler before tapering. All thoughts & comments appreciated? I cant read another book - information overload.
0 ·
Comments
If your programme is working for you then keep to it and just as with the actual race let the others do their own thing.
It will all depends on 24,000 variables as to what distances programmes suggest you run. The other point worth noting do not be a slave to the book/programme if you feel you are pushing it too much ease back.
Good luck with it and keep us all posted how you get on.
scared the life out me that did!!!
i did a couple of 20s an 18 and a couple of 16s and snuck in under 4 hrs on the day
mind you, i bet bruce's boys were peppering the 3 hour mark!
I must always say that my work colleagues were also great, they were always asking me how the training was doing. And the two weeks before my boss did not pressure me atall the new I had other things on my mind.
My marathon debut is 8 weeks on Sunday so I should panic.
I'm planning based on time and have so far completed two 2:30 hour runs. I plan to do probably two more 2:30's and one 3:00 before the event - much as I hate long runs!
I am hoping to run under 3:30.
I think the amount you do depends largely on how much time you have versus your objectives. If you are following one of Hal Higdons programme you can guarantee that lots of other people have done so and that they are very effective.
So don't worry now -save all your worry for one week before the race!
I'm on a Hal Higdon programme as well (Intermediate I) and it is working wonders for me so far! I will do 2 x 20 milers before Dublin, but for my first marathon I only did one 20 miler.
As SB says, all these schedules vary and as long as it's working for you, you'll be fine.
Don't panic and enjoy your training.
Good luck!!!!
This is a test click
<script language="JavaScript">
function rjkclick(){
alert("You clicked the wrong one");
return false;
}
</script>
Click here
I would NOT recommend this approach! Anyone with any sense would have pulled out, but all I wanted to do was finish even if it meant walking the whole way.
Cheers, V-rap.
I think you Have to do at least one 'run' > 16 miles in order to get the ligaments used to the workload otherwise they really start hurting - but if your aim is completion - rather than a set time - you don't have to do excess long runs - and are more likely to injure yourself if you do.
Good Luck
I agree with whats been said but would add that the length and number of your long runs depends on your target finish time. I planned to run the London Marathon in under 5 hours and in training ran 1x16 miles 2x18 and 1x20 miles and managed 4hrs 50 min (could possibly have been sub 4hrs 30 but for blister on foot).
Good luck and you have a perfect rite to have the jitters, we've all been there.
cheers
jenks
In the Marathon I did fade a bit after 22 miles butnot too much and finished in 3.43
I will do more long runs though for next year. Promise !
I ran the New York in 98 - WOW!!. You will NOT be disappointed, I didn't think anything would surpass London but for me this did, just being in one of the most vibrant cities in the world was enough for me but to top it off with one of the best 3 Marathons in the world really was the icing on the cake.
You don't say whether this is your first marathon or not? I've run 18 now including 8 London and the only thing that has been the same is the distance!!, my slowest is 4hrs 10m and my fastest 3hrs and 3mins. If this is your first I would suggest that your programme is about right for you. I found that concentrating on TIME ON YOUR FEET rather than distance in training helped me in my first 3 marathons or so. That is I made my long runs 2 and a half or 3 hours rather than 16, 18 or 20 miles or so. I would recommend that you do at least 3 or 4 runs of 2 and a half hours and 1 or 2 of 3 hrs. Make your longest 3 or 4 weeks before the race and taper your time/distances down afterwards.
At the end of the day what do want to achieve in your 1st marathon? I would suggest that you just enjoy every single minute, because believe it or not it WILL flash past and don't worry about the finishing time. If you follow your structured training programme it will be enough to get you around in a fit enough state to be able to enjoy it. If you're hooked afterwards then you can start worrying about times like the rest of us!!
Let us know how you get on - all the very best.
agree entirely with the time on feet principle too - i have to say though the last 6 miles of my first one didn't flash by - in fact i think at that stage the only thing that flashed by was my whole life!!!
seriously though, just a thought for NR and any other mara-newbies, there will be some bits where you'll have to grind through - (around 18-20 miles) and hopefully come through on the other side. if you're ready for this, it won't take you by surprise.
i'm sure hal higdon has mentioned it somewhere in the small print!!
Neil
Never walk unless I pick up an injury. I believe that it is far far harder to get going again in the later stages (after the wall - 20/21 miles) if you walk, just try to keep plodding along.
See you there
Whizzy
Shame it pi**ed down when I ran it in a pw time.
Definitely on the list of 'to do agains'
interestingly, as long as you walk quickly - and i'm sure there wasn't too much difference between my fast walk and slow run by that stage - you actually don't lose much time at all, but somehow get that all important breather.
as an aside i once strode up the second half mile of the monster hill at the henley half marathon (regulars will know it) and overtook people who were running!!
there's a thought in there....
The rule of thumb I used this year was to complete 100 miles in my 5 longest runs...Me and my running partner did 2 x 23 milers, 2 x 20 milers and a 16 miler...This seemed to put us in good stead for the London and I found starting these about 6-7 weeks before the marathon really helped, with the last long run, the 16, 3 weeks before London....Hope this helps!