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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If I regularly run 10k, can I prepare for a marathon in 2 weeks?

272 replies

54321nought · 19/08/2021 21:36

I've been offered a place in a marathon in 2 weeks time, which I want to take, but realistically, I am not sure I can finish it within the time limit ( 6 hours)

Any advice on diet and training to give myself the best shot?

OP posts:
Original poster
54321nought · 20/08/2021 11:36

@Therehavetobeadjustments

In the race itself I intend to carry orange juice cartons

I'm honestly beginning to think this is just a wind up tbh

Whats wrong with that? There will be refreshment stations
OP posts:
ReviewingTheSituation · 20/08/2021 11:42

I'm thinking wind up too....

OP posted at just after 9am to say she'd done a 3hr 10 HM this morning, so was up and out before 6... not impossible, but unlikely.
And is also ridiculously goady for one 'seeking advice', contradicting most things, or countering with daft suggestions.

gogohm · 20/08/2021 11:42

How fast do you run 10k and how do you feel at the end? Half marathon seems doable but 4x will depend on pacing yourself and general fitness

Dogscanteatonions · 20/08/2021 11:42

Orange juice cartons? 🤣🤣 I was already starting to think this was bollocks

Original poster
54321nought · 20/08/2021 11:44

@ReviewingTheSituation

I'm thinking wind up too....

OP posted at just after 9am to say she'd done a 3hr 10 HM this morning, so was up and out before 6... not impossible, but unlikely.
And is also ridiculously goady for one 'seeking advice', contradicting most things, or countering with daft suggestions.

why is it unlikely to be out running before 6? Thats when I normally run

Why is orange juice cartons a daft suggestion? Its worked for me before

OP posts:
wednesdayweather · 20/08/2021 11:45

I think you risk injuring yourself too. There are loads of marathons. Pick one further in the future and train properly.

Therehavetobeadjustments · 20/08/2021 11:57

How will you carry all your orange cartons or will you just buy a 2 litre one, strap it into your back and afix a straw device?

ReviewingTheSituation · 20/08/2021 11:57

How many people have you seen running marathons carrying orange juice cartons? Not many, I'd say. I wonder why...

Have you worked out how many g of carbs are in them/how many g of carbs you need?

There's a well known saying 'nothing new on race day' - it applies to everything from your routine/food beforehand, your clothes and shoes, anything you may wear/have about your person, your nutrition and hydration en route, your running pace/plan.
You're going for the 'everything new on race day' approach, which goes against ALL the advice (here and more widely).

Therehavetobeadjustments · 20/08/2021 11:58

You'll get the raging squits too I'd imagine

Therehavetobeadjustments · 20/08/2021 11:59

I so want a post race report, I think you owe us OP after we've offered all this advice

Original poster
54321nought · 20/08/2021 12:00

@Therehavetobeadjustments

How will you carry all your orange cartons or will you just buy a 2 litre one, strap it into your back and afix a straw device?
I use small ones, in a belt, this is how I often run
OP posts:
Original poster
54321nought · 20/08/2021 12:01

@ReviewingTheSituation

How many people have you seen running marathons carrying orange juice cartons? Not many, I'd say. I wonder why...

Have you worked out how many g of carbs are in them/how many g of carbs you need?

There's a well known saying 'nothing new on race day' - it applies to everything from your routine/food beforehand, your clothes and shoes, anything you may wear/have about your person, your nutrition and hydration en route, your running pace/plan.
You're going for the 'everything new on race day' approach, which goes against ALL the advice (here and more widely).

No, same shoes, clothes, juice cartons, etc that I always use - just intending to go further and slower
OP posts:
Original poster
54321nought · 20/08/2021 12:01

@Therehavetobeadjustments

I so want a post race report, I think you owe us OP after we've offered all this advice
I will definitely report back!
OP posts:
ReviewingTheSituation · 20/08/2021 12:07

Good luck finding a belt big enough to carry the 40ish g of carbs recommended per hour of running (after the first hour) in the form of orange juice cartons!

Therehavetobeadjustments · 20/08/2021 12:09

Grin promise to come back to us and tell us the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Mnet loves a good sport!

Original poster
54321nought · 20/08/2021 12:11

@ReviewingTheSituation

Good luck finding a belt big enough to carry the 40ish g of carbs recommended per hour of running (after the first hour) in the form of orange juice cartons!
I will be able to restock at around the 18 miles mark, where the charity supporters will be
OP posts:
Original poster
54321nought · 20/08/2021 12:11

@Therehavetobeadjustments

Grin promise to come back to us and tell us the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Mnet loves a good sport!
I promise!
OP posts:
icedcoffees · 20/08/2021 12:23

I think I will do the second half quicker because I did the first half really slowly, and finished with load of energy

Are you sure you've run marathons before?!

trebelclef · 20/08/2021 12:26

I am just agog at this thread! Grin

More experienced runners are trying to tell you that just because you could get round doesn't necessarily mean you should.........

If you are going to do it then pretty much stop running already....

Your body needs to be as strong as it can be for the race, which means resting now to allow it to repair the damage from the half this morning...

Stress fractures are cumulative, you seem fine, you seem fine, you seem fine, and then suddenly you aren't...but it hasn't just happened, it has been building. The more running you put in now before the race, the more damage you are doing. That is why tapering before races is a thing.

If I was in this situation (and determined not to listen to reason) I would

  1. Taper. Any mileage you do now is not going to help you. Do 3 or 4 miles slow run 2 or 3 times this week, and a couple of slow 3 milers next week, stopping 5 days before the race.
  1. Work out a race day strategy. I would either
-Run a half and then plan to walk the rest. -Run 45 and walk 15 every hour or -Run the flats and walk the hills.
  1. Sort out my nutrition. Work out your weight in kg's. This is roughly the amount of glucose in grams you should be ingesting per hour. eg if you weigh 65kgs, eat 65g of glucose an hour. (eg every 30 mins eat 6 jelly babies, one energy gel, half a banana etc)...Yes, elite runners and even club runners don't need to eat much in a marathon, but that's because they are going to finish in under 4 hours which is when their glucose reserves would run out. If you don't eat from the start you will run out of fuel and hit the wall about 20 miles in at 4 hours. Also get hold of rehydration salts to put in your water. You will run out of salt waaay before 6 hours if you aren't putting it back in.
  1. Sort out someone to drive you home, don't assume you will be OK to do it yourself.
Softleftpowerstance · 20/08/2021 12:29

Orange juice cartoons?! Grin

ReviewingTheSituation · 20/08/2021 12:32

I predict the post race report will be

'got round in 5 hours, felt totally fine, no real bother at all'

And should be taken with a big pinch of salt.

meanderingthrough · 20/08/2021 12:39

Ridiculous idea ...but strangely tempting. I wouldn't worry about training for it - the only thing that will achieve is going into it tired. I'd be tempted to do say 12-15 as soon you can as a confidence booster and to give you time to recover. Enjoy (you crazy fool!)

Therehavetobeadjustments · 20/08/2021 12:41

Orange juice will not be anything like enough for 6 hours in amongst the craziness of your whole plan. You need gels and real food for that amount of time, don't try them for the first time on the day either.

What surface is it on? Trail or road?

What's the elevation? Very important

grafittiartist · 20/08/2021 12:42

Could someone you know be at certain points with food/ orange juice? Save you carrying?

Original poster
54321nought · 20/08/2021 12:55

@trebelclef

I am just agog at this thread! Grin

More experienced runners are trying to tell you that just because you could get round doesn't necessarily mean you should.........

If you are going to do it then pretty much stop running already....

Your body needs to be as strong as it can be for the race, which means resting now to allow it to repair the damage from the half this morning...

Stress fractures are cumulative, you seem fine, you seem fine, you seem fine, and then suddenly you aren't...but it hasn't just happened, it has been building. The more running you put in now before the race, the more damage you are doing. That is why tapering before races is a thing.

If I was in this situation (and determined not to listen to reason) I would

  1. Taper. Any mileage you do now is not going to help you. Do 3 or 4 miles slow run 2 or 3 times this week, and a couple of slow 3 milers next week, stopping 5 days before the race.
  1. Work out a race day strategy. I would either
-Run a half and then plan to walk the rest. -Run 45 and walk 15 every hour or -Run the flats and walk the hills.
  1. Sort out my nutrition. Work out your weight in kg's. This is roughly the amount of glucose in grams you should be ingesting per hour. eg if you weigh 65kgs, eat 65g of glucose an hour. (eg every 30 mins eat 6 jelly babies, one energy gel, half a banana etc)...Yes, elite runners and even club runners don't need to eat much in a marathon, but that's because they are going to finish in under 4 hours which is when their glucose reserves would run out. If you don't eat from the start you will run out of fuel and hit the wall about 20 miles in at 4 hours. Also get hold of rehydration salts to put in your water. You will run out of salt waaay before 6 hours if you aren't putting it back in.
  1. Sort out someone to drive you home, don't assume you will be OK to do it yourself.
thank you for your input. I am taking it all on board
OP posts:
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