Yay/nay.......will I/wont I

MarieC

Hi folks,
As of Monday this week it is 18weeks to the Dublin Marathon. And so if training is to start, I need to be starting now. Problem is Im in the final year of a PhD. Most would focus attention on getting that out of the way and then run all I want but I was wondering if there's anyone out there who's been in a similar situation and could give me some advice. I want to do it but I know with work, stress, exhaustion, losing the plot every few days I may be biting off more than I can chew.

So is it possible???? :eek:

--amadeus--

Depends on a lot of factors - how motivated you are, your marathon goals and your experience as well as how much you enjoy running.

Speaking personally I run my own business and have two young kids and I find time to run pretty easily, in fact I enjoy it as it gives me a bit of space and "head time". If I have particular issues at work it is often on a run that I work out the answer. I'm not unusual in this - lots of people find that the structure of a training plan forces them to put some space into an otherwise crowded life.

Hunny may be able to give you some more focussed advice - she combines running with a high flying academic career

hunnymonster

Yeah, I've been in the same situation. I wrote up when I was just stating to get into running.

You can only write for so long each day. Taking an hour or two to go running is an ideal way to get the phd out of your head for a while.

When do you have to submit by? If it is very close to race day, things might get a bit hairy.

The only caveat I would add is that you will be putting both your body and mind under a lot of stress through training and writing. Make sure you eat well to maintain both (I now sound like your mammy!)

goofygirl

having gone the academic route myself, I know well your pain...

I would suggest training for the marathon only if it is going to relieve your stress rather than add to it, ie; if you enjoy running and it helps you relax, rather than training becoming one more deadline to meet/chore to undertake.

you'll need whatever coping mechanisms you can lay your hands on to finish the phd, so if running is one of those then go for it. don't put yourself under too much pressure to become Superwoman or anything though

MarieC

Thanks a million for the advice, makes perfect sense. I know I want to do it, but any friends/family that I say it to think Im crazy, and I think I just need someone to believe that I can do it so I know that it is possible.

I really want to avoid the route of the PhD write up meaning no exercise, crap food and alot of weight put on - that wont do me or my PhD any good! But yer right, it is essential that it will be acting as a means of stress release and not just adding stress.

I dont plan on submitting until spring next year but there is a mountain and a half to get through before then so I know that I need to be putting the head down now.

Will keep ye posted! thanks!!

HardyEustace

MarieC wrote: »

Thanks a million for the advice, makes perfect sense. I know I want to do it, but any friends/family that I say it to think Im crazy, and I think I just need someone to believe that I can do it so I know that it is possible.

Unless they participate in sports, people will regularly call you nuts. I often don't tell people the full extent of my training in order to avoid the pearl drops of wisdom such as "you know you'll ruin your knees", "my aunty's husband's work colleague's brother's wife did the marathon ten years ago and still has a hairy ear lobe every mid summers night", "if I were you now I'd only run 20 mile a week max"....

You learn to dread the phrase "if I were you now"... it pretty much inevitably comes from someone who was the star of their under ten football team many years ago and who's major form of exercise involves couch to car.

I just don't tell people the full extent of my mileage. That said, expect plenty of support form people, it really is great. There'll always be a few naysayers but just ignore them. If you listen to someone who says "you can't do a marathon" and believe them, instead of giving them a mental two fingered salute, then you'll never do a marathon.

Forums like this are great as are running clubs as you get to meet like minded people and pick up loads of great advice and some funny anecdotes.

I managed to train for my first marathon while being a dedicated chain smoker and commuting back and forth to the South of France for the summer.... oh and only haven taken up running a few months before hand to run/jog the mini-marathon.

You'll be grand. It's a great stress reliever! You can't run a marathon and not change your life for the better. Along with travelling it's one of the best things I've ever done in my life and while it might sound cheesey, I'm still so proud that I did it (typing this with a silly grin on my face).

gaf1983

goofygirl wrote: »

I would suggest training for the marathon only if it is going to relieve your stress rather than add to it, ie; if you enjoy running and it helps you relax, rather than training becoming one more deadline to meet/chore to undertake.

Amen to that. Depending on how rigidly you stick to your training programme some of the runs may feel like a chore.

Good time management is crucial too. I also find that during my training for my first, and only so far, marathon, on the Monday after some of my long runs I would be like a zombie, just knackered. I'll chawk that down to experience though - in future I'll try whenever possible to do my long runs on a Saturday or Friday even.

If you can manage your time well and the runs are just a stress-reliever for you then go for it.