One month to prepare to run 16 miles.

[lookingforsunshine]

I am about to sign up to do a 16 mile run in one months time. Can anyone give me some tips on preparing?

I used to run regularly, I ran a marathon in 2009. I do not need to lose any weight. I have no health issues.

Although I haven't done much running recently, I am an active person...do lots of walking etc.

Any advice welcome?

I am planning on attempting an 8 mile run today, then thought I'd increase it by 2 miles each weekend plus do 3/4 shorter runs in week. Does that sound okay?

If I am not ready to run 16 miles in a month, I can always walk-run the whole thing.

It's virtually all on road and pretty flat.

Thanks for any advice!

:-)

With my sensible head on I'd say it was maybe a bit too much. If you are planning to race it, I'd certainly say it was too short. Most 1/2 marathon training plans are 8 weeks. But with my (somewhat irrational!) runners head on, I'd justify it somehow! If you just want to do it for fun and get round then you will have a challenge on your hands but I'd say still possible.

See how you feel after your 8 miler - that will tell you a lot! If that goes well, then your plan to +2 miles each weekend is sensible and definitely do the additional 3 runs during the week...a couple of short fast runs with a slightly longer slower run in the mix as well as your weekend 'long' run. Don't miss any training runs! Avoiding injury is going to be your biggest challenge - you might need to slow down quite a bit to get the mileage in. Stretch after your runs and - this definitely helps, although I am bad at it - have a yogurt or banana milkshake within 10-15 minutes after your run. I can't believe how much this helps heal your muscles and build your strength.

Getting into a schedule will definitely help. I've ran a few marathons with the last being in October last year. I haven't done much running at all since then but I think I could run 5-6 miles reasonably comfortably. 8 miles would be a test that I don't think I am ready for without a few 3-5 mile warm up runs.

Good luck!

If you're still 'about to sign up' I would not, tbh. Why risk injury by trying to increase distances so significantly in a month, even if you're already pretty fit? Either pick something much shorter or give yourself longer to prepare.

No no no! You'll do horrible injury to yourself. I trained just a bit too hard (sensible enough training schedule but just a little rushed) for a marathon 2 years ago and now I have a permanently damaged ankle and am unlikely to ever run again.

i would think that even your 8 mile run today is putting you at risk of injury. You'd be far better off starting with 3 (or even 5 if you must push it) to gauge your fitness and get your body used to running again.

What's so important about this event that want to do it on such short notice?

You were all right. I was very silly to imagine this was vaguely possible. I am a LOT more unfit than I realised. I just ran ONE mile (hangs head in shame)....worse still it took me a good 10 minutes to properly recover.

So, I'm not entering the 16miler, instead I'm just going to work on improving my fitness. There is a local 10k in a few months, if I can, I'll do that.

It's ridiculous really that because 4/5 years ago I was fit I believe somehow, without much effort, I still am.

I'm hoping this will be a bit of a wake up call for me...I'm going to try gradually to increase my fitness. Maybe I could build up to 3/ 4 miles. I'd be happy to do that 4 times a week.

Thanks for everyone's comments....

:-)

Good luck, OP!