How to train for Dublin, with 2.5 week holiday in September?

barb

Hi,

I'd like to run the Dublin marathon later this year. This will be my third time running Dublin. However, I'll be away on my honeymoon from mid to late September, and will be back 4 weeks before the marathon, and I'm not sure how to schedule my training to accommodate this.

I am currently running 30-35 miles a week with long runs of 16 miles. I'm trying to come up with a training plan whereby I have a couple of 20+ mile runs done before I leave and one more when I return, and then a taper to the marathon.

Is this a feasible plan or am I doing my long runs way to early in the lead up to the marathon?

Any thoughts/advice would be very much appreciated!

--amadeus--

That wasn't great planning... Is it too late to move the wedding?

(joke!)

Will you be able to do any running while you are away? Long runs at any stage in the training will be benificial and the fact that you are an experienced runner means that you have the adaptations so it's just a case of re-building and re-sharpening. A good set of long runs before you go is vital and if you can fit in a few runs (the longer the better) while you are away and then follow that with a 20 (or 22) when you return and an 18 three weeks out then you should be fine I would imagine. If anything the rest might do you the world of good - (insert your own rest in Honeymoon joke here!)

barb

Thanks for the reply!

I will definitely be running while away, but I imagine these will be shorter runs, just because I'll be running in areas I don't know! Aiming to do 22 and 18 miles on consecutive weeks when I come back sounds like a good (but tough!) plan though.

Thanks again.

Peckham

Agree with Amadeus. If you can manage to get out running every second day whilst on honeymoon then I'd imagine you'll be fine. Sounds like you're already in great shape, so assuming you'll have pushed yourself up to a couple of 20+ milers before the honeymoon, then if you could maybe do 9 or 10 x 7 milers while you're away, this will be enough to keep the fitness up (even better if you can get in a few longer than this) - however, it will be crucial to get back into the long runs as soon as you get home.

Whilst it's not the exact same as your situation, for both of the last two years, I've taken a one week holiday about four or five weeks before the marathon. In both cases my running was limited to a couple of 5 or 6 milers whilst I was away, but I didn't feel it did me any harm. If anything it refreshed me and boosted my motivation for the final few weeks of training.

911sc

barb wrote: »

I'll be away on my honeymoon

consider this as cross training:)

I did not run for about 3 or 4 weeks (due to ITBS) before the Connemathon and i was grand (well, 4h22min, but that's ok for me) . I had done a good bit of running before though, which is probably the cause of my ITBS.

I would say it all depends on your time target.

Racing Flat

barb wrote: »

Hi,

I'd like to run the Dublin marathon later this year. This will be my third time running Dublin. However, I'll be away on my honeymoon from mid to late September, and will be back 4 weeks before the marathon, and I'm not sure how to schedule my training to accommodate this.

I am currently running 30-35 miles a week with long runs of 16 miles. I'm trying to come up with a training plan whereby I have a couple of 20+ mile runs done before I leave and one more when I return, and then a taper to the marathon.

Is this a feasible plan or am I doing my long runs way to early in the lead up to the marathon?

Any thoughts/advice would be very much appreciated!

I would advise targetting a race for before the wedding instead. ?Longford marathon or half August 24th or Netional half marathon championships in Waterford on ?Sep 3rd. Train hard for this, belt a good race out, then enjoy yourself on your honeymoon like never before. Thinking about running and possibly diet etc on honeymoon doesn't sound like too much fun to me. You only get one honeymoon (usually anyway:p) but there are loads of marathons. Maybe do Dubai marathon in January? So you've something to train for after indulging yourslef on honeymoon?

I speak from experience - I ruined many holidays trying to get up early to run, so now I plan races around my holidays so that I can pig out on holiday conscious clear.

Enjoy the weeding and honeymoon anyway.

barb

I think I'll have to weigh up the pros and cons of trying to aim for the Dublin Marathon and how this might impact my one and only honeymoon...I'll have to chat to himself about it too!!
My plan at this stage is to aim for it and check how I'm doing mid-August and then make a decision.

Thanks again for all the advice!
Barb

TheRoadRunner

Hi

It definitely can be done but is a bit of a pain.

I trained and raced (3 times) on my honeymoon. Caused a bit of friction with the Mrs but she knows I'd be like the antichrist if I didn't get my run in.

I usually fit the training in whenever I can. In general it takes me 10 minutes tops to get ready to head out for a night out. It takes the Mrs anywhere between 60-90 minutes. This is when I usually hit the road, or treadmill if the temperatures are too high.

Some of the above suggestions regarding targeting a half marathon are a good idea imo.

Stupid_Private

It's definately doable. if I was in your situation I'd make sure I've the work put in by the time the middle of September comes along so that you can take 5 days to a week completely off running guilt free. Then for the second week you could just get out when you can and not worry so much about the distances. Your legs won't forget how to run in two weeks!

Running 16 miles for your long run at the moment is absolutely perfect. I'd stick with that distance for the long runs from now until about the middle of July and then start to increase them. If you could get two 20s in before you went away and one 18 and 20 when you get back I'd say you'd be flying.

Good luck with it