Marathon in October - do I dare? Can I even do it?

[Mominatrix]

I am a long time regular runner. I usually stick to treadmill running at a gentle incline due to weather constraints and previous ankle injuries. I usually run for 7 miles three times a week and finish in just over one hour. I do run outside along the Thames path once a week (twice if the weather is nice) for another 7 miles. Th 7 miles because I usually have an hour allocated for exercise.

Recently I have been seeing how I feel about longer distances, and have easily done 10 miles in just under 1 hour 25 minutes. As the path I run on is flat, it isn't really taxing. A friend has signed up for a marathon in October and is trying to convince me to run it with her. There is a half marathon which runs concurrently, which I think I could very easily do, particularly as the path is flat just like my current runs, and I can easily do 10 miles not.

My question for those experienced runners is:

a) how difficult is the leap from half marathon to marathon
b) do I need to do all of the different training runs recommended in training plans (tempo, hill, fartlek, etc), or can I get up to marathon conditions doing what I currently do and just push myself a bit more every week
or c) do I chicken out an just run the half at a good pace?

Many thanks!

You can do it but do you really want to? If you do, go for it!

Marathons are really hard, so much harder than a half. I regularly run 12-13 miles once a week, I find it a really enjoyable and doable distance.I've only done one marathon and it's taken me 4 years to sign up for another.

The agony and pain is still etched on my brain I had said I would never do another and genuinely meant it but I'm ready now to try and face my demons and improve on my last, rather dismal performance. I got injured half way round my marathon which contributed to the agony and unfortunately it kept me off running to for months. That's the other risk, injury. Increased mileage takes its toll.

Having said that, it is certainly possible to do. You should look at training programmes to get an idea but essentially you need to focus on a long run, a medium long run and one or two shorter runs, one of which should be some kind of interval training.

You will need to move outdoors for most, if not all of your runs.

It's a massive jump. I would say the biggest jump there is. If u can do 10k then a hm is nothing but hm to marathon relies on much longer training runs weekly. Its also concerning that your curren regime isn't challenging you/ pushing you to dig deep. Do u enjoy digging deep? It's ok if u don't but I'm wondering why u keep things as an easy 7 rather than a more varied 7.

Do u want to do it? Is it to tick a
Box? (box ticking is a valid reason) or do u want to enjoy a race? Is it just cos your friend is scared?

a) how difficult is the leap from half marathon to marathon

It is huge. If you can run 10 miles in 1.25, you can run a decent half marathon, and you probably will feel fine. However, you will probably struggle to do more than around 16 miles with your current fitness. Leaving you 10 miles of marathon hell to really struggle through.

b) do I need to do all of the different training runs recommended in training plans (tempo, hill, fartlek, etc), or can I get up to marathon conditions doing what I currently do and just push myself a bit more every week

The KEY to marathon training is the Long Run. You MUST DO LONG RUNS! That means building up to at the very least 20 miles, done relatively slowly - c. 45 seconds per mile slower than your predicted marathon pace. I usually do three or four runs of 20 miles or more (longest is just over 22 miles, done four weeks before my marathon) as part of my marathon training. Pushing yourself a bit more will help your speed and basic fitness, but the long slow run will build the vital strength and endurance. Your other runs can fit in around the long slow run, and you probably want to be running a minimum of 40 miles per week basic, but that will peak around 3 weeks before your marathon. The more miles you do, the easier the marathon will feel. My two key weekly sessions are a long slow run, and a hard track session. In between I do a medium run of 10 miles plus, and a few shorter tempo and fartlek sessions. There are tons of marathon training plans available to download - the Runner's World ones are good. I use Pfizinger's Advanced Marathoning, but it isn't really suitable for a first marathon, unless you are ok with doing 80-100 miles per week.

or c) do I chicken out an just run the half at a good pace?
Yes, if you can't commit to the training! Maybe do the half, and think about a Spring marathon next year. Manchester, Brighton or Edinburgh are all usually ok to get into.

Thank you for all the replies.

In terms of my current routine, it doesn't really stretch me because I've been doing it for years, and it is comfortable. I do enjoy digging deep, and do this by sprinting the last 2 miles of half the runs. Never been able to really run for longer due to time commitments. Why keep it at an easy 7? principally because my run is my relaxation time and I usually have my legs on autopilot and mind elsewhere (probably why I twisted my ankle so many times!). Instead of pushing myself running, I added kettle bell training to my routine to shake things up - just something different.

doyouthink, you have definitely made a marathon sound not very appealing! I think I am toying with the idea of marathon because it is something which I have never done and never thought of challenging myself with - not really fear of the physical challenge, but the mental one. Also, I literally did not have the time for runs longer than an hour/hour and a half. With DS2 needing less input from me, I can now envision spending more time on myself.

The long slow run is something I'd have to build up to - the longest run I have done was 14 miles 2 years ago (I ran a half back then), so have the hurdle of "the wall" to contend with and train around. Looks like a more structured approach is necessary - plus I'l have to get used to those glucose gels (tried one and it made me gag as I really don't like sweet things).

I think I'll stick to the half for October but will start now in terms of training for a marathon.

If you had a year to train for a marathon starting from my level, is there a programme you would recommend? All the ones I find have a 12 week timeframe.

That sounds like a good plan. A year is a very realistic timeframe to build in some base training and then extend your distances nearer to marathon time.

My plan, having entered a marathon next April is to work on my speed this summer and maintain a weekly mileage of 35ish miles a week. That will be spread over 4-5 runs a week with a long run of between 10-14 miles a medium run of 9-10 miles and shorter runs. One speed work session of approx 6 miles, one recovery run of 3-4 miles the day after my long run and one other steady run. For me, that's fairly standard mileage which I've been running most weeks for years though. I'm not suggesting you should do that much necessarily.

Most of my runs will stay the same after Christmas, it will just be a case of extending my long run up to 20-22 miles.

So for you, I'd suggest you do need to mix up you runs a bit and have one run longer than the rest, doesn't have to be more than 8-10 miles if that's all you can fit in. Just to build endurance. The rule for increasing your running is no more than 10% overall mileage per week. Any more risks injury.

Don't be put off, I love distance running but the full marathon is a bit of a beast and it's good to go in to it with your eyes open.

We

Well I say go for it! I have done a marathon (14 years ago) and just booked in for my next late sept (notts robin hood). I am massively positive that anyone can do this and we have 5 months. Plenty of time! I can't wait. Good luck whether you do half or full but don't think for a second that you can't.

Like your positivity, Summer. I'll have it as my goal, and see where I get to by October.

Apparently the ballot opens for London 2016 on Monday. Just sayin'.