Betty and Rich F - I need your opinions!

[Richt]

As you both may know I havent been able to run for a while due to a nasty chest infection. In 11 weeks time I am due to run the London Marathon which has always been my ambition. Due to not being able to train recently I have had to re consider my goal. Now I will be happy to just complete the course. I went onto the runners world website today and downloaded a training programme, take a look at it below and tell me what you think please?

I am entered into a half marathon on week 7 which co-incides quite well with the training. And I will probably also look for a 10k on the Sunday of Week 5 if I can too, just to give me some fresh race experience.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance

Rich T

[Richt]

Re: Betty and Rich F - I need your opinions!

Unfortunately just checked and there are no 10k's near me on March 2nd! Booger!

[Richt]

Re: Betty and Rich F - I need your opinions!

Its not good enough a schedule imho. On reflection there is no where near enough miles! I am going to include 2 x 5 miles a week on a treadmill to increase the mileage a bit more.

[ttdriver]

Re: Betty and Rich F - I need your opinions!

Rich, I agree, that schedule does not build enough miles for a marathon base.

IMO, you should hold off doing the marathon .. you've been sick, and your body has been overstressed trying to heal itself. There will always more more marathons ...

That said, I would encourage you to do the 10k or half marathon .. I think you could be ready for that distance if you're feeling strong enough ... build to about 10 miles, see how you're feeling and then decide ... but I would shoot for it.

As for marathon training, IMO, you should build to a base of 50 miles a week (or thereabouts) to be adequately trained for the full. I think RichF worked his way up to 55 miles a week before his Disney marathon if I remember correctly. I don't think you really have enough time to get that much of a base in 11 weeks...JMHO...I personally would not do a marathon without a run or two of 22+ miles....

Take care .. !

Betty

[BigRunner]

Re: Betty and Rich F - I need your opinions!

The plan doesn't have nearly enough miles to be "good and ready" to cover a marathon.

That being said, if your heart was set on it and you just wanted to Finish:

I would cut out ALL speed work as listed. Run a couple short runs during the week (3 or 4 miles) and run a nice long run on the weekend and build up as you go. For the 12 weeks, I would do long runs of 8,10,12,10,14,16,14,18,20,16,12.
You get the idea. The most important element is to get used to the amount of time and wear on your legs that you'll encounter for the marathon. I'm not a believer in running past 20 miles in training. Others swear by it. It's a YMMV thing that each person has to find what works best.

DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME. I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE A GOOD ENOUGH BASE TO FINISH REAL HAPPY. I THINK MOST RUNNER'S WOULD ADVISE YOU TO NOT RUN IT.

However, I believe you said the London Marathon is based on a lottery entry that you received and it's always been your dream. I am a pig headed runner and have definitely done some races I was not "properly" trained for. I survived and learned.

If you decide you absolutely are going to do it. Take a look at the suggestion above. The critical part is to go SLOW enough to be able to complete all the long runs. Also, you should be sore, but not injured. You should be able to run Tuesday after the Sunday long run without an unreasonable amount of soreness. If you can work up a single 20 mile run between now and then and your not sore and mentally you can handle the fact that a marathon still has 6.2 more miles (the hardest ones) left, then I say go ahead and do it.

Hope all this rambling helps some.


RichF

[ttdriver]

Re: Betty and Rich F - I need your opinions!

If you can work up a single 20 mile run between now and then and your not sore and mentally you can handle the fact that a marathon still has 6.2 more miles (the hardest ones) left, then I say go ahead and do it.

That is the key, totally. Running 20 miles while remembering "the worst is yet to come"..... IMO, the last 6 are BRUTAL, and the last .2 is...well...in a word... . If you are MENTALLY prepared for the last 6.2, you can will your way to the finish.

Call me gutless, but if it were me and I had been as sick as you have been, I'd skip it. When it comes to running, I take the long-sighted view of things.

Betty

[Richt]

Re: Betty and Rich F - I need your opinions!

Thanks for you input. Betty I appreciate your advice, but like Rich F said, this has always been a dream of mine to do it. If I dont do it this year I may have to wait 4 or 5 more years for another chance.

Like Rich F I too can be pig headed, and I am going to do it no matter what. I have already taken it on board that I will not be able to run the whole way, but I am going to give it my best shot. I have just come back from a 5 miler tempo run, and managed to do it in 50 minutes exactly which i am not unhappy about and actually felt as if I could have done more (maybe I didnt run quickly enough), but this to me is exceptionally pleasing bearing in mind that I have not run at all in the last 6 weeks (except for 2 miles on sunday). But to be feeling relatively fresh after 5 this evening makes me feel a lot more content.

Thanks again for your thoughts / opinions.

Rich T