Alternatives to running training for the Marathon

billyhead

I am training for the Dublin Marathon, and I'm currently running outdoors only 3 days a week. I am a member of a running club and usually do a speed session on the track on Tuesdays, a tempo run of about 8-9 miles on Thursdays and a long run on Sundays (last Sunday was 16 miles). However I go to the gym the other 4 days, a typical session being either an hour on the bike (speed intervals) or an hour on the cross trainer. I am hoping to break 3 hours in New York. My PB for a 1/2 marathon is 1hr14mins last April and I'm hoping to get around the same time in the Longford 1/2 later this month. I was just wondering because my times are fairly good (I ran a 10km race 2 weeks ago in 33mins & 50 secs) should I stick to this training schedule, because I am happy with my shorter distance times or would you recommend that I will need to run more often to break 3 hours in the Marathon. Dublin will be my first Marathon

hunnymonster

Billyhead, can you clarify. If DUblin is your first marathon are you trying to break 3 hours in NY less than a week later?

aburke

Man Oh Man...
33 odd for 10km, 1:14 for a half!
Running 3 times a week!
I HATE talented people ;-)

I reckon that if you are doing your long runs, and get them up to 20 miles, you'll easily dip under 3 hrs.
You're biggest problem will be to COMMIT to a 3 hr marathon, and run at 3 hr marathon pace. A 1:30 1st half will feel positively pedestrian, given your current speed.

To put this in perspective, I ran 1:25 odd for a half last year, and ran the marathon in 3:13, off max mileage of 60 miles per week.

This year, I have gone sub 37 for 10 [36:59.5 :-)], have just started my marathon plan off a base of 50 miles per week, and hope to peak at 80 miles per week.
My plan is to go sub 3, but even McMillian reckons I could go closer to 2:50 based on my current form.
McMillian says you could run 2:40 odd ...

So in short, while I'm not suggesting you're not working hard, but if you were doing the mileage I plan to do, you would be one of the top runners in the country.
NO question.

Best of luck, let us know how you get on.
Alan

billyhead

Honneymonster,

I am running both New York and Dublin. I will try not to run to hard in the Dublin Marathon. I'll be happy with sub 3:15 but I hope to break the 3 hour mark (maybe 2:50 if all goes well on the day) in New York. I will be travelling to New York with a group called Sports travel international.

Peckham

Two marathons in two weeks is a tough ask for an experienced marathoner.
Two marathons in two weeks is an incredible task for a novice marathoner.
Doing the first in 3:15 and the second in 2:50 is beyond belief

Do you realise how tough (mentally and physically) a 3:15 marathon is? It is running very hard! Trying to pick yourself up (mentally and physically) and go even quicker SIX DAYS later is going to be close to impossible.

All off 3 days a week training? :eek:

You should write a book if you pull this one off! (and try to get onto the Olympic team!)

hunnymonster

Thanks for the clarification Billyhead. I haven't run a 2:50 marathon but I have run plenty of marathons including several in the same week. Could you be persuaded to run your flat out effort in the Dublin marathon and a more pedestrian pace in NY. I say this for a couple of reasons.
-You want the freshest legs possible for a fast marathon.
- NY will be more crowded then Dublin so more time weaving around people. With your times you might just be able to balg an elite start in Dublin.
-If you are based in Ireland, your routine and nutrition is based around Irish stuff so there is less chance of sleepless nights or upset tummys before Dublin.