Alternative marathon training?

I'm sure there will be contrary opinions to suggest that you 'just go out and do it' and more than a few posters who will have done what you are asking, but in my opinion, marathon running may not be for you. Your approach is entirely incorrect. Your next goal shouldn't be to run a marathon on two runs a week. Your next goal should be to build up and strengthen your running so you can run a half marathon properly (and then potentially at some point, a marathon).

Have you ever considered that it is your approach that is causing these 'overuse injuries'? I think yout should take a step back and gradually build to a point where you can run 4/5 times per week comfortably (with a medium long run thrown in) and then establish what you're goals are. Otherwise you'll continue to scrape onwards, permanently straddling injury, always wondering why running doesn't work for you, until you ultimately give it up completely ams become another one of those 'I tried running, but my body couldn't handle it' stories.

The good news is that you can run a marathon and you can run 4/5 days a week. You just need to take a step back and build appropriately.

When you were running four times a week, and getting all those niggles, how fast were you going?

You could look at the runnersworld plan, where you run 3 times a week and fit cross training in on other days.


But i would agree with what the lads said above

Vancity wrote: »

Do you mind me asking what you mean when you say run a half marathon properly? Do you mean faster or with a better training technique regardless of time? Obviously I'm a newbie but I honestly felt great during the HM, I hardly struggled at all other than at mile 10 for about 5 minutes - I felt like I could go around again at the end, hence my disappointment at the 2.01 time I felt fine the days following as well. I definitely plan to do at least 1 more HM plus a few 10ks before the marathon - I'm not planning a marathon for at least 6 months hence why I want to make sure I approach it as best I can.

I haven't had any niggles since easing down to 2 runs per week so perhaps the next step is to add a third easy run and go from there?

Hi Vancity, by 'properly', I mean run a half-marathon from a sufficient base of training (running training) such that you do yourself justice. It's a damn fine time and one you should be happy with, but suggests that if you could get yourself into a routine where you are running 4-5 times per week, you could run a time significantly faster. But it all comes down to what your running goals are. If your grand plan is to run a half marathon and then run a marathon and that's the sum total of your aspirations, then you should be able to do it on 3-4 runs per week, without significantly increasing your risk of injury. At 2 runs per week (one of which is a long run), your risk of injury is significantly increased as you won't have made the necessary adaptations to run longer distances (physically, and physiologically). If you weren't satisfied with your 2:01 in the half marathon, just wait and see how dissatisfied you'll be, if you run a marathon following your current regime.

If on the other hand your aspirations are a little grander - i.e. to develop as a runner and to maximize your potential, you'd likely be better off developing your more basic running skills, such that you do undergo those adaptations that allow you to tackle the stresses and physical demands of longer distances or faster paces.

All of the supplementary training crossfit/spin etc.) means you will be fit - but you won't necessarily be running fit. It's important to remember that your situation isn't unique. Many of us have come from a similar background. Many of us ran on our first half marathons on 1,2 or 3 runs per week, plagued with shin-splints, dodgy knees, it-band issues, hip pain etc, but these aren't necessarily over-use injuries, but potentially, the signs of trying to advance too quickly, without having done the basic groundwork. My own first half-marathon was not dissimilar to your own experience - a 1:54 in Connemara on 1-3 runs per week, plagued with niggles. These days, I run around 80-90 miles per week, and suffer far less from an injury/niggles perspective than I did when I first started out. Not, by any means, holding myself up as as golden example or anything (truth be told, I run a little too much!), just pointing out that sometimes, more running = less physical distress.

So if the plan is just to tick off the marathon, then I'd advise gradually increasing the number of runs per week to 4, and slowly ramping-up the mileage (followed a structured plan, like one of Hal Higdon'd novice plans). But if the plan is to be as good as you can be, then take a step back and focus on becoming a runner, before you focus on becoming a marathon runner.

Vancity wrote: »

At the same time I don't want to give up my other activities either - running 4-5 times a week doesn't allow for a whole lot of other things unless I start doubling up on days. I need to figure out a balance. I think I'm going to join a running club and go from there because I think just running alone I'll invariably get something wrong and injure myself again.

Joining a running club sounds like a wonderful idea. And you're entirely right, not to want to give up the other stuff too. Life is too short not to focus on what you enjoy doing. Another reason to stick to the shorter stuff and leave the marathon until later, as it just requires too much commitment. Anyway, best of luck with whatever you decide.