Going from half to marathon?

[user0177561]

Thinking of doing a marathon in 2026. I have done a lot of races, mainly half marathons and then some 5-10k. but never ran any further than a half marathon. Really started to get tempted by a new challenge next year in the marathon but the jump seems crazy compared to the half.
Is there any runners who can give there experience of taking the jump and any advice including which marathons to take a look at for next year.
Thank you!

I'm interested in this. My current technique is just to run at an easy speed where walking wouldn't feel like a rest as it's already easy. And just keep going.

It’s all about the training. I’ve done two, my first was about learning what not to do.

if you don’t already, you need to start strength training to protect against injuries.
Nutrition is really important and your training runs are also to find out what works for you.
i did a 16 week programme, which gave me plenty of time to get to the big numbers and allowed me to have a week off when I was sick.

generally my week was, an easy 5K, an efforts session, a tempo session and a long slow run.

doing some of your training runs during a race, makes it a bit easier. A good way is to chuck a park run in the middle of a long run. I’m lucky that there’s quite a few in running distance from me.
running with other people helps me, I’m part of a running club, so didn’t do many of my long runs alone which helps.

it sounds mad, but there will come a time when 13 miles feels easy.

I’ll let you know how hard it is after tomorrow when I will run my first marathon.

I didn’t follow a specific plan but I have trained with a guy who is doing one of the big marathons on the same day as I’m doing mine and has done several before, so knows what he’s doing.

my week kind of goes one mid distance easy pace run, one hill repeats session, one track intervals session, a park run and a long run. I usually strength train once or twice a week. Do a HIIT class and a ballet class as well as home yoga 5x a week.

longest run was 20 miles about 4 weeks ago. I definitely felt I could have managed the final 10k.

I really don’t like gels and haven’t used them in training but now I’m sitting here wondering if that was a mistake and I’ll crash at the 20 mile mark. We shall see.

as a previous poster said though, you will get to a point where 13 miles seems easy and you starting thinking things like “it’s fine, there’s only 10k to go”.

Oh good luck.

just try and enjoy it. It’s such a cliche, but the race is your victory lap.

You were right. It did feel like my victory lap.

following today’s marathon I can confirm it was ok doing a first marathon. I even finished sub 3:30 with my slightly dicey fuelling plan.

Go for it OP. It’s definitely worth it!

It’s a lot more training, the long runs you can’t really afford to miss and you need to up your mid week miles too really. The time commitment as much as anything means it’s not for everyone.

You have to decide your all in, otherwise it’s to easy to ditch training.
I was running 3/4 times a week, a couple of strength training sessions, at least 1 swim and a yoga class. The training was fine, but fitting in everything else around it was a pain.
I’m not bothered about quick, goal is only ever to complete under my own steam.
I went on to an ultra marathon so can’t have minded to much!

Wow a sub 4 on your first try is superb, well done. You obviously don’t need much fuelling.

I ran marathons in another lifetime, before kids. If you’re already running HMs, 4 months is plenty of time to train. Think of the time of year you’re doing it though - I ran London which was amazing but it meant training through the winter which was grim, especially when your’re getting up at 5am to run before work in the cold and dark.

Bear in mind that the long runs are time consuming and a sacrifice - not just because you’re out running for a few hours, usually at the weekend. But because it generally means getting up early to fuel your run a few hours before running, so you think twice about going out the night before. Then you’re tired and probably just want to chill for the rest of the day.

Having said that I would totally recommend it, it’s such an achievement doing one!

Thanks everybody I’ve really took in to consideration what you’ve all said and think I’ll give it a go.
I work as a personal trainer and strength training has always been my back bone before I decided to take the leap in to running properly about two years ago, I eat mindfully and follow plans so the fundamentals are definitely there. As you all say at one point a half would have sounded like a massive jump and with the training you get there, that’s the real task the weekly increase in mileage and not the end race.
Definitely something to bare in mind the hours I will have to put in around kids but luckily my job can be flexible and my partner is also a gym goer and runner so we are very accommodating around each others workout schedules so I have no excuse to give it a try.
Thanks again, and all of you who have completed marathons are very inspiring!

There's no getting away from the fact that running a marathon is a very different challenge to running a half, but if you've been running regularly for a couple of years and have a half or two under your belt, this is the perfect time to start building up for a Spring marathon.

When I'm marathon training I basically carry on what I normally do, but add a few extra miles to one of my midweek runs and prioritise a proper long run at the weekends every week.

Just add one mile a week. Every once in a while drop back to give everything a rest. So I might build up to 13m, then do 10m, then 15m, 16m, 17, and drop back to 13m etc.

Lots of people will tell you you only need to go to 20m in training, but I like to do at least one 23m run.

A 20 mile race 4-weeks out can be useful to test your target pace.

What always comes as a surprise is how tired and hungry you're going to be in between training. Perversely I often gain weight when marathon training, so plan some healthy but substantial things to fill you up, and factor in some time when all you want to do it sit!

Being used to half-marathons and keeping a decent base of distance runs through the year, it felt much more achievable to just count the 14, 16, 18 & 20 mile runs as extras above regular load. I did a 2-week training cycle alternating long run and mid-length every other week. I kept the other runs modest to not aggravate an injury that had me out of action for a prolonged period the previous year, but I do a lot of cross-training too. I jeffed mine and did it in just over 5 hours, and had the energy in my system to enjoy it. By mile 25, my knee was struggling and it was easier to stick with a run as the walking hurt more then, and I didn't need to worry about energy conservation any more.

When you're trained for a half, you're ready for a half. When you've trained for a marathon, you're ready for a marathon.