Running a marathon

[evo4a]

Very tempted to enter one next year.
Just a minor one, not an event like London.

I have been getting fit for 15 months, I'm in shape, 10-15% body fat.
I run 5 times a week, usually 10k each time, not quick but gettting quicker gradually. 10k time is about an hour.

Here is the dilemma, I want to run a marathon in under 4hrs.

Say I have 6 months to improve could I get to this time?

I'm 48.

[vescaegg]

Five 10k's a week is a pretty intense amount of running (in my opinion!).

I'd say you shouldn't have any problem getting there in 6 months.

My friend did no where near that amount of running before he did London last year. Managed a 3:49.

[Steve7777]

How long have you been running 50k per week for as that's a slow 10k time for someone running that much? If you keep up that many miles you'll be fine although you'd get more out of doing some shorter fast runs and longer slow runs. If you've been doing say 10k per week and have just stepped up to 50k your biggest challenge will be not getting injured

[evo4a]

I have just moved up to the 10km, up until about 2 weeks ago it was about 5-6 km about 5 times a week.

[goforbroke]

I would say you'd be better entering a decent sized marathon as your first one. Maybe Brighton if you can still get in.

A bigger event has bigger crowd support, and believe me, even after all the training over the previous 4 months, the crowd support was a massive boost once you get into the last 5 miles. (Write your name on your top, then you know people are shouting for you)

Its hard going, but well worth doing. Good Luck.

[ewenm]

Yes, you should be able to do it, especially as you already run 5 times a week.

However, running the same distance at the same pace 5 times a week isn't a good way to get faster. If you look at Runners World you can find various training plans that will mix up the work and get you going faster.

I'd recommend joining a local running group too - others to run with, banter, competition, access to coaches - all help with keeping the motivation up during the long training.

[Terminator X]

Mate of mine is doing the LM in 2014 having never run before in his life! He started a few months ago running short distances, then started doing Parkrun which is 5k and is now doing 10k x-country runs as well as 10k ish during the week. His aim is a half marathon in Jan 2014 and will simply up the mileage from there.

TX.

[evo4a]

Thanks chaps,
My plan is now to alter distances and speed, plus intervals and then get on a proper program in the new year.
May also join the local club in my town.

[scdan4]

watching with interest as my drunken confident mouth has entered me in a marathon next year.

10K is currently a long long run for me. usually manage to run about 5 miles at least once a week. Is currently feeling like a big step up!

[Willy Nilly]

Join a running club. Have you done other races? If not, do some shorter distances. If you have done a half marathon, did you think you could go around again?

Don't under estimate a marathon, it's a long way.

[UpTheIron]

Willy Nilly said:

Don't under estimate a marathon, it's a long way.

I don't disagree... but on the other hand, train properly and it's well within the capabilities of most human bodies.

OP, go for it... keep the distance up, get on a proper training plan, add some longer, slower runs, some shorter, faster ones and some intervals.

You can do it!

I went from lardy footballer to sub 3:00 marathon and respectable 10k, HM and ultra times too. Nothing compared to EwenM, but if I can do it, you can!

[evo4a]

Willy Nilly said:

Join a running club. Have you done other races? If not, do some shorter distances. If you have done a half marathon, did you think you could go around again?

Don't under estimate a marathon, it's a long way.

Done no races what so ever. max run is 8 miles, could I do another 16 on top, NO WAY.

I do think I could plod round no problem, however I do like to take challenges seriously, hence the 4hr cut off

[a boardman]

I signed up for the Preston marathon in dec 2011, marathon was in Octobe I had never done a half before when I signed up.

I started running in jan 2012 and did 2 miles but had to stop on that.

So I joined local running club. They helped me and did the marathon in just over 4 hours.

I have done London marathon as well since but due to injurys it took me longer at 4:42.

I am now in training for disney dopey challenge 2014, which is 5k 10k half and marathon over 4 days. This will be 2 years after i started running.

[Friggerpants]

Join a run club.

You will get round a marathon comfortably running 3 times a week.

Twice with a club on Tuesday and Thursday ( Use one of them sessions as effort training if they do it) and run a long run on Sunday. If you can only run 8m at minute, run that for two sundays, then 3rd and 4th sunday, run 1.2x that distance, than 5th and 6th sunday, run 1.2x new distance etc. Only need a 20 mile big run prior to running a marathon to get round.

I ran a 1:30 half when I was 18, got cocky and entered a marathon. The only distance training I did was a 22 miler a month before, and I ran a marathon in 3:30. It hurt mind, and messed up training for my shorter races

I've learnt my lesson now though, and don't race over 10k.

[Taita]

I recently completed the Chester marathon with virtually no specific training.

I did a half marathon about 8 months ago, and all of the runs I had done leading up to it were under 8 miles.

Bimbled round in 3.34 with virtually no problems, only reason I wasn't under 3.30 was that my borrowed Garmin watch ran out of batteries and there were no clocks on the course!

Don't over think it.