Running - am I being too ambitious
Running - am I being too ambitious
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lost in espace

Original Poster:

6,579 posts

236 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2011
quotequote all
I started walking 2 months ago and have now built up to a 1 hour/6mile run every night. I am a fairly fit 41 year old bloke.

I am going to do a 10k run at Hatfield House next week, but I have just seen a marathon in 18 days around Bedford, all off road sounds a bit of a laugh, walkers and runners. There is an option to do 16 miles.

Is this going to be stretching myself too far? I could always yomp around and there is 10 hours to finish!

http://sites.google.com/site/bedfordclanger/home

goldblum

10,272 posts

196 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2011
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If you've only trained for 6 miles then 16 is too far.By far (?)

Don't mess things up when you're training well.If you want to do a distance run then follow a training schedule.Plenty available online.

pokethepope

2,667 posts

217 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2011
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You may be able to do the 16 miles, but it wont be enjoyable.

I agreed to do a half marathon at short notice last year, having never done any serious running before. I hadn't done any exercise for 6 months, and only had time to do three five-mile runs before the event. I finished, but it wasn't that enjoyable and I was pretty slow (2h 15m).

I think if you can ramp up the training over the next two and a half weeks the 16 mile may be achieveable, but i think the full marathon may be pushing it.

lost in espace

Original Poster:

6,579 posts

236 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2011
quotequote all
Well I am feeling quite sore this morning so I will stick to the 10k next weekend and do a half marathon in a few months, at least I feel keen about things. I am enjoying the kick from stretching myself and the peace and quiet!

dave_s13

14,026 posts

298 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2011
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pokethepope said:
You may be able to do the 16 miles, but it wont be enjoyable.

I agreed to do a half marathon at short notice last year, having never done any serious running before. I hadn't done any exercise for 6 months, and only had time to do three five-mile runs before the event. I finished, but it wasn't that enjoyable and I was pretty slow (2h 15m).

I think if you can ramp up the training over the next two and a half weeks the 16 mile may be achieveable, but i think the full marathon may be pushing it.
You must have a decent baseline fitness though, did you do other stuff?

2hr 15m is a goal for some long term regular runners!

Melchett

822 posts

215 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2011
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Do it!

If you say you can manage 6 miles every night, then 16 wont be beyond you. OK, you have not done it before, that doesnt matter. It will hurt by about 10 miles, but you just need to hang in there and will be well chuffed at the end. A few pointers:

Try a couple of longer runs beforehand, 8, 10 then 12 miles.
You dont need to do 16 in training.
Adjust your pace acordingly though
Consider your fluids, how much to take in and when
Tape over nipples
Vaseline where its going to rub
Ibuprofen if you find joints getting sore/swollen in training

Bam. You have just done your first 16 miles!

Bing o

15,184 posts

248 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
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My training routine - passed down from an olympic trainer who I happen to work with...

Do 3 runs a week - 2 half race distance at 100% effort, and 1 of full distance at 80%. For leg strength (I have the body of a budgie) 3 sets of 10 of the following with 90 second breaks:

Push Press
Bar Bell Squat
Clean and Press

You can also do interval training - sprint from one lamp post to the next, walk to the next one etc.

I've gone from 3kms to a 14km competitive race in 7 weeks, and will be going for a 1 hour competition 12km in April, followed by a half marathon in May.

pokethepope

2,667 posts

217 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
dave_s13 said:
pokethepope said:
You may be able to do the 16 miles, but it wont be enjoyable.

I agreed to do a half marathon at short notice last year, having never done any serious running before. I hadn't done any exercise for 6 months, and only had time to do three five-mile runs before the event. I finished, but it wasn't that enjoyable and I was pretty slow (2h 15m).

I think if you can ramp up the training over the next two and a half weeks the 16 mile may be achieveable, but i think the full marathon may be pushing it.
You must have a decent baseline fitness though, did you do other stuff?

2hr 15m is a goal for some long term regular runners!
Do you mean for a full marathon? (mine was only half).

I just spotted a nice woman's arse in tight lycra in front of me early on, and decided to keep pace with her biggrin



dave_s13

14,026 posts

298 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
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No a half.

Anything under 2hrs is decent enough for a half - not quick mind.

I did it in 2hrs bang on. The amount of lycra and tight @rses (female ones!!) is definately a good reason to enter such events smile

lost in espace

Original Poster:

6,579 posts

236 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
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Ahhh entries now closed to the Bedford Clanger, my dawdling meant I missed out.

goldblum

10,272 posts

196 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
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lost in espace said:
Ahhh entries now closed to the Bedford Clanger, my dawdling meant I missed out.
No harm done.16 miles is an unrealistic distance to race having not done more than 6 with only 2 weeks to go.

Why don't you pick a 13.1 miler, in say 8 weeks time and train properly for it? It'll speed up your shorter distances as well

and should give you a positive experience,rather than struggling round the last few miles of a 16.Plan ahead...


lost in espace

Original Poster:

6,579 posts

236 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
Sounds like a plan.

dave_s13

14,026 posts

298 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
It does.

When I did Leeds half I absolutely fvckin died in the last 2 miles.

I blame:-

1. Drinks stations - didn't get a drink all the way round as they were just too busy

2. Bad prep - I only did one 10 miler as part of the training before hand.

3. Lazy borderline alcoholic

If/when I do another I'll make sure I take my own fluids/energy bars and also get off my @rse a bit more often, and for longer, before hand!.

It's not that I was a slow runner either as I have cracked 10k in <45mins before now but you definately need to get a handful of longer runs under your belt 1st.

ewenm

28,506 posts

274 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
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You'd have probably been fine as long as you took it very easy at the start (and can walk 16 miles). However, a more progressive build up would definitely produce better results. Have a look in [url]The Running Thread|http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=169&t=389714&mid=28696&nmt=The+Running+Thread{/url] if you have some time.