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Original poster

Tell me I am crazy but I am actually considering a marathon ...

28 replies

IrianOfW · 06/04/2017 12:22

I've just done my second half and multiple 10ks. I am 52 and not exactly skinny . Until recently I never even considered running 26 miles but I it is starting to appeal despite my best efforts to suppress the idea!

How much of an increase in time/effort will it be? Bearing in mind I work full-time and have three kids and elderly parents to keep an eye on. I know two women who are running the London Marathon this year who were running halfs last year - but they are both younger and without families.

OP posts:
MandMand · 06/04/2017 12:57

I did my 9th half at the weekend and am still really indecisive about whether to sign up for a full marathon in the autumn. I think having trained for and run several halves gives you a healthy respect for the distance and a realisation of the amount of commitment a full would require.

I know that every time I've crossed the finish line after 13.1 miles, I've been completely spent and exhausted and couldn't have run much further, but then again I've never trained my body to run any further.

My husband and kids aren't particularly supportive (none of them bothered to come out to cheer me over the finish line at the weekend, even though it was only a ten minute walk from our front door), but I manage to fit in a long run on Saturday mornings by getting up and out of the house by 7am, so I'm back by mid-morning and can carry on with the day as normal.

If you're busy with work and family commitments during the week, then an Autumn marathon is probably better than a Spring one since at least you can fit in runs early in the morning or later in the evenings and it will still be light.

Nell McAndrew's Guide to Running has some good training plans in it and some realistic advice about fitting it all in around work and family life. Good Luck!

Original poster
IrianOfW · 06/04/2017 12:42

Thankyou emummy.

The most I have even run is 14.5 and at the moment I am not sure how I could manage more. I vary between 3 and 4 runs a week but apart from saturydas am they are only every about an hour.

I will need to do some googling I think.

Good luck for London! I will be watching and tracking my friends!

OP posts:
emummy · 06/04/2017 12:38

Ok. I have 3 kids, a dog and a husband who works away a lot, I am not working but studying with the OU. London in 2 weeks will be my first marathon. The main difference I have found between training for this and my halfs is the tiredness when you start going up to longer runs i.e. 16 and above. Also the longer runs take longer, depending on your speed of course!, so you need to have the time for those. A lot of beginner plands go up to a 3 .5 hour long run, or 18-20 miles. Plenty of plans exist to do it on 3 runs a week, I have done 4 as I was doing that already. Maybe have a look online at some plans - London has some on their website and there are loads out there and see if they can be fitted into your life. Also be prepared to become totally obsessed in later stages of training, it has taken over my life! On the plus side, I have lost 2lbs and am eating everything!