Can I run a marathon?
Discussion
Hello people,
I have my heart set on running the beachy head full marathon on October 24th of this year.
A bit about my running background: this time last year i ran for a couple of months, was running 5-6k then got into weight training a bit more and that took over.
But I NEED to run this marathon, every body around me (family etc) has expressed how impossible this will be to train for in this little time whilst studying for a degree and working full time and how i won't be fit enough etc etc and that's just made me want to run it even more.
But i'm asking you guys as I think you'll have a better idea of what I'm getting myself into?
I've started a programme on Nike+ for it and it starts on monday. Thanks
I have my heart set on running the beachy head full marathon on October 24th of this year.
A bit about my running background: this time last year i ran for a couple of months, was running 5-6k then got into weight training a bit more and that took over.
But I NEED to run this marathon, every body around me (family etc) has expressed how impossible this will be to train for in this little time whilst studying for a degree and working full time and how i won't be fit enough etc etc and that's just made me want to run it even more.
But i'm asking you guys as I think you'll have a better idea of what I'm getting myself into?
I've started a programme on Nike+ for it and it starts on monday. Thanks
5 months...anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
What time were you doing the 5/6k's in and is your goal just to finish rather than get a specific time? What weight are you, how is your general fitness and any injuries?
Get your programme set, get your diet, nutrition and recovery routine in place and get training.
Ps programme might start Monday but I'd be out tonight if I were you!
All the best,
Chris
Sure others will be along who could provide input regarding your programme!
What time were you doing the 5/6k's in and is your goal just to finish rather than get a specific time? What weight are you, how is your general fitness and any injuries?
Get your programme set, get your diet, nutrition and recovery routine in place and get training.
Ps programme might start Monday but I'd be out tonight if I were you!
All the best,
Chris
Sure others will be along who could provide input regarding your programme!
You'll be fine, just set out a sensible training plan and stick to it.
I went from 5 years of sloth to running a half marathon in 7 weeks of training. I'd literally not exercised in years when I decided to run the half marathon 7 weeks before it started!
It was tough but incredibly rewarding!
I went from 5 years of sloth to running a half marathon in 7 weeks of training. I'd literally not exercised in years when I decided to run the half marathon 7 weeks before it started!
It was tough but incredibly rewarding!
So presumably you were running for 30 minutes at a time, come October you need to run for 300 minutes in one go. That's "only" another 30 minutes running per month so I'd say that if your only goal is to finish it rather than going for a time then it's perfectly possible. Not easy and will require a lot of discipline, but possible.
Just look at Chris Evans, ran the London marathon this year and could only run a few miles 6 months ago.
Just look at Chris Evans, ran the London marathon this year and could only run a few miles 6 months ago.
chris_c201 said:
5 months...anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
What time were you doing the 5/6k's in and is your goal just to finish rather than get a specific time? What weight are you, how is your general fitness and any injuries?
Get your programme set, get your diet, nutrition and recovery routine in place and get training.
Ps programme might start Monday but I'd be out tonight if I were you!
All the best,
Chris
Sure others will be along who could provide input regarding your programme!
Thank you!, If i remember correctly the best time for the 5k was around 24ish minutes, i weigh about 65kg and am 5'8. It's hard to tell how fit i am because of the little cardio i've been doing recently apart from a 10-15 minute run before a weights session. As far as injuries go i've got 'osgood schlatters disease'- which sounds sooo dramatic for what it really is and i'm an asthmatic but I don't think either would stop me doing it. What time were you doing the 5/6k's in and is your goal just to finish rather than get a specific time? What weight are you, how is your general fitness and any injuries?
Get your programme set, get your diet, nutrition and recovery routine in place and get training.
Ps programme might start Monday but I'd be out tonight if I were you!
All the best,
Chris
Sure others will be along who could provide input regarding your programme!
I'll be out tonight for a run and find out what i'm up against, i'm sure that i'll be delving into this part of the forum for any advice on recovery routines/ nutrition etc.
5k in 24 minutes very respectable.
65kg also a good weight for a runner...ice baths after long runs a personal favorite to help with recovery!
Depending on body fat, I'd suggest shedding an extra few kilos, should be easy enough with mileage you'll be putting in each week.
I'm not a runner, more into weights, but from doing tough mudder last couple of years I've learned to tolerate it and use it for fitness / fat loss. For 26 miles nutrition / hydration will be crucial and not something to leave til on the day, practice it in your training so you know how your body reacts, particularly with things like carb gels which work great for some but really hammer other people's stomachs!
Sure your plan will cover the bases but generally your week will be split into three runs, intervals, "tempo" run and long run.
Might be worth thinking about gps watch / heart rate monitor..I've got a forerunner 210 and it really helped my training.
How did run number one go then?
65kg also a good weight for a runner...ice baths after long runs a personal favorite to help with recovery!
Depending on body fat, I'd suggest shedding an extra few kilos, should be easy enough with mileage you'll be putting in each week.
I'm not a runner, more into weights, but from doing tough mudder last couple of years I've learned to tolerate it and use it for fitness / fat loss. For 26 miles nutrition / hydration will be crucial and not something to leave til on the day, practice it in your training so you know how your body reacts, particularly with things like carb gels which work great for some but really hammer other people's stomachs!
Sure your plan will cover the bases but generally your week will be split into three runs, intervals, "tempo" run and long run.
Might be worth thinking about gps watch / heart rate monitor..I've got a forerunner 210 and it really helped my training.
How did run number one go then?
Think the marathon plan my Mrs used goes from 5k to marathon in 4 months, so yes, it's perfectly possible. Bear in mind though it is quite time consuming, she had several sundays where she was doing 20+ mile runs which are could be 4+ hours depending on your speed, and that blows out most of the day as she was generally knackered and spent the afternoon asleep in the bath
That's enough time to do it, I went from nothing to marathon ready in about that time, I did injure myself with a couple of weeks to go so had to rest for a bit before starting again but it's possible, whilst I won't break any records the sense of achievement and realizing how far you can push yourself despite your body telling you to stop was incredible.
chris_c201 said:
5k in 24 minutes very respectable.
65kg also a good weight for a runner...ice baths after long runs a personal favorite to help with recovery!
Depending on body fat, I'd suggest shedding an extra few kilos, should be easy enough with mileage you'll be putting in each week.
I'm not a runner, more into weights, but from doing tough mudder last couple of years I've learned to tolerate it and use it for fitness / fat loss. For 26 miles nutrition / hydration will be crucial and not something to leave til on the day, practice it in your training so you know how your body reacts, particularly with things like carb gels which work great for some but really hammer other people's stomachs!
Sure your plan will cover the bases but generally your week will be split into three runs, intervals, "tempo" run and long run.
Might be worth thinking about gps watch / heart rate monitor..I've got a forerunner 210 and it really helped my training.
How did run number one go then?
Thanks for the input people, i'll try the ice baths after my next long run! Yeah i looked into the plan and there's around 5 runs per week with two of them being more 'cool down' type easy runs and then a rest day and cross-training such as swimming in there to make up the week.65kg also a good weight for a runner...ice baths after long runs a personal favorite to help with recovery!
Depending on body fat, I'd suggest shedding an extra few kilos, should be easy enough with mileage you'll be putting in each week.
I'm not a runner, more into weights, but from doing tough mudder last couple of years I've learned to tolerate it and use it for fitness / fat loss. For 26 miles nutrition / hydration will be crucial and not something to leave til on the day, practice it in your training so you know how your body reacts, particularly with things like carb gels which work great for some but really hammer other people's stomachs!
Sure your plan will cover the bases but generally your week will be split into three runs, intervals, "tempo" run and long run.
Might be worth thinking about gps watch / heart rate monitor..I've got a forerunner 210 and it really helped my training.
How did run number one go then?
Does your GPS watch allow you to plan a route before you go and it tell you how far it is and let you follow it? cause that would be really helpful
Don't know of any that do route planning on the watch, but Garmins (and presumably other) website has a planning tool so you can measure before you go, and some of them (eg the 310XT) do allow you do upload the route to the watch and follow it. My 610 has a "take me home" mode so if you get lost it will give you a range and bearing to where you started, although I've not needed to use that yet.
Yes you can.
My key advice for fitting training into a busy life: work out a way to Run-Commute or use running as transport. So for example, if you're on a family trip somewhere, take the running kit and get dropped off on the way home to run the remainder of the distance. Lots of scope for this sort of thing.
My key advice for fitting training into a busy life: work out a way to Run-Commute or use running as transport. So for example, if you're on a family trip somewhere, take the running kit and get dropped off on the way home to run the remainder of the distance. Lots of scope for this sort of thing.
It's certainly do-able in that time, but it will take time. With about 6 weeks to go you'll be running (roughly) 35 miles a week - 1 long run about 20M, an 8M, and two 3-4M - which will take up about 6 hours a week.
Don't expect to do much else on the days you do your long runs either
Don't expect to do much else on the days you do your long runs either
Think very carefully about your Degree. How crucial is a good Degree to you? Want to go on to a Masters or Phd? If this is your first year then fine... .Training for a marathon can become an obsession and your other interests may suffer. Further, if you get overtired you will not function at your best mentally. Why not try a half marathon or ten miler first?
Edited by popeyewhite on Friday 8th May 17:03
popeyewhite said:
Think very carefully about your Degree. How crucial is a good Degree to you? Want to go on to a Masters or Phd? If this is your first year then fine... .Training for a marathon can become an obsession and your other interests may suffer. Further, if you get overtired you will not function at your best mentally. Why not try a half marathon or ten miler first?
My degree is really crucial to me but I am in my first year and I'm doing well. I also came back from my 5 mile run yesterday and felt in the mood to study and i'll make sure it doesn't affect the amount of time i studyEdited by popeyewhite on Friday 8th May 17:03
You'll make it easily
I did the same 5 years ago but had 12 weeks prep time and weighed over 16st (6ft1") I was also in my final year of Uni....but had to run it to pay back the people that helped my mum...still got the 2:1 I wanted and it looked great on the grad job CV
Yes, before the ting I could run 10k in just under an hour bit it was hard...I finished in 5 hours flat but got progressively worse through the lack of training, you have time to remedy this (50min 10k, 1hr50 1/2, 3:20 30k, 5hr finish) bit the weather didn't help, who thought I'd get to 30* in Scotland, in May!
You have more time to train and will be fine! Degree isn't too too important this year as long as you pass!
I did the same 5 years ago but had 12 weeks prep time and weighed over 16st (6ft1") I was also in my final year of Uni....but had to run it to pay back the people that helped my mum...still got the 2:1 I wanted and it looked great on the grad job CV
Yes, before the ting I could run 10k in just under an hour bit it was hard...I finished in 5 hours flat but got progressively worse through the lack of training, you have time to remedy this (50min 10k, 1hr50 1/2, 3:20 30k, 5hr finish) bit the weather didn't help, who thought I'd get to 30* in Scotland, in May!
You have more time to train and will be fine! Degree isn't too too important this year as long as you pass!
Thanks for all the advice/ experiences everyone. The Garmin website sounds good i'll need to look into that. The thing i'm going to struggle with the most is the nutrition side of things and eating enough of the right stuff, especially since my run yesterday apparently burning 500 calories?! crazy.
TheCarFather said:
Thanks for all the advice/ experiences everyone. The Garmin website sounds good i'll need to look into that. The thing i'm going to struggle with the most is the nutrition side of things and eating enough of the right stuff, especially since my run yesterday apparently burning 500 calories?! crazy.
I'd recommend a new book "Training Food" by Renee McGregor. Renee is a registered dietician and nutritionist who works with the English Institute of Sport and various TeamGB sportspeople as well as children with eating disorders. Her book describes how the body uses fuel and works on evidence-based science. It's also got recipes and meal plans to illustrate the points. It's all about real food, not supplements, and fitting it in around work and family life.Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff