Marathon training.Is this ok?

FOLDnoSHOW

hey im regd for connemarathon in march, which is my first marathon. its actually my first road race ever bar a 7k fun run before the summer. basically boozed and partied all summer and decided that the connemarathon would be a good incentive to get fit.I started 'training' on saturday with a 5k run in <25mins, a 6k run on sunday in <30mins and a 7k run in <35mins today. My aim is to run a sub 3.5hr marathon (ie 5min/km). My training plan is to run 2 days on, 1 day off, increasing my distance by a k each consecutive run. (maybe by 2k when i reach 20k).

My question to you: is this sustaniable? will this programme lead to problems down the line (ie at 25k mark etc) ? any other comments ?

note: felt fine after each run

cfitz

Well it certainly wouldn't be typical marathon training. If you do try it, make sure to let us know how it works out. Running 25km+ most days of the week might be hard on the body, make sure to back off when you're very sore or you feel like you're almost worn out. And drop down the distance for a few weeks before the marathon.

Peckham

For what reasons are you taking this approach? What are you going to do when you get to a level where the increases are unsustainable - e.g. doing two 30k runs on consecutive days? Sounds like a recipe for an injury in my opinion.

My advice to any newcomer would be to follow a tested marathon programme so you can get an appreciation for the various elements that fit into it. There are some things that your programme doesn't allow for - e.g. doing different runs at different paces, recovery weeks etc.

Check out Hal Higdon's plans (halhigdon.com) - he has some great beginner's plans with very detailed descriptions and explanations of the various workouts.

FOLDnoSHOW

thanks for the advice..note to add, when i reach the 20k mark i was planning for 2 days on 2days off. also this is all in the vacum that i dont get an injury. the reason for this approach seems like a logical way to build the mileage ( k-age )

cfitz

FOLDnoSHOW wrote: »

thanks for the advice..note to add, when i reach the 20k mark i was planning for 2 days on 2days off. also this is all in the vacum that i dont get an injury. the reason for this approach seems like a logical way to build the mileage ( k-age )

It might be an ok way of building mileage up to about 16km. After that, it might be better to just build up one or two of your runs per week longer.

FOLDnoSHOW

cheers cfitz.appreciate the help. so you reckon stick with this till 16k then maintain building on just one run/week. so what would the rest of my week look like? thanks in advance

Daithi BC

Connemara was my second ever marathon, so at least I knew what I was getting myself in for. I'd definitely only be out for one long run a week, and aim to increase the distance of this by up to 10% each time. For a first marathon, I wouldn't bother with any speed work, but because it's Connemara, you need to be running on hills at least once a week. FWIW, this schedule got me around Connemara in 3:27 in 2003:

Tues: 8M hills
Weds: 6M easy
Thu: 6M hills
Sat: Long run - increase by 10% a week up to 18 or 20M
Sun: 6M easy

Total: 40-44 miles a week, depending on how long your long run is.

FOLDnoSHOW

cheers man.so were you doing these runs at a certain time/mile?

MarieC

I cant recomment enough the Hal Higdon programmes. This is your first training for a marathon, so for you you are going in to the unknown. Best way to arm or prepare yourself for this is to use and tried and tested programme. Hal Higdon, Novice 1 programme will have you running maximum 4 times a week. And you can still mould it a bit to your own liking. Can sway what days you run/rest etc. If you follow his programme you are giving yourself the best possible chance of this going well for you.

Best of luck and keep us posted on training progress. Im training for the same one myself, 3rd marathon (fingers crossed) and sticking with Hal Higdon Novice 1 programme.

TheRoadRunner

FOLDnoSHOW wrote: »

My question to you: is this sustaniable? will this programme lead to problems down the line (ie at 25k mark etc) ? any other comments ?

Simple answers are I don't think it is sustainable and yes it will lead to problems down the road.

The general rule is start off at a low mileage base (if you haven't run much lately) and build up your weekly mileage by a maximum of 10%. You wouldn't continue to build by 10% infinitely either. Some weeks you may maintain mileage and others you may actually drop back to get some rest

Do some research on the web and get a training plan for a 3.30 marathon and this will give you a great starting point.

Do you know any seasoned runners. If so buy them a coffee and drill them for information on training. It'll be the best 2 euro you ever spent.

novarapid

Another vote for the Hal Higdon schedule. I used it for Dublin for my first marathon and found it great, also got my target time which was the same as yours.
The good thing i found was with the plan you can see what you have to do, make it up on a calander and mark it off when its done.
Be prepared for a drop in motivation during the build up it happened to me and if i was just adding 2k a day i wouldnt keep at it.
the step back weeks are also a great help.
Enjoy it and good luck

THX 1138

For a novice running im gussing it will take its toll on ye after a while. Has anyone got any sugestions for myself? I have never ran a marathon before (but have ran for 2hrs for an unknown distance... long story)
I now run PB 10k in 30:02 and Im training for a 10k for crimbo after that I will move to marathon training for the 2009 Adidas Dublin Marathon.
I normaly run 5 times per week with Fartlek, Hills, 10k and 20k on Fridays and that long run takes me 1hr and 10min. The problem will be to keep that pace for another 1hr and a bit. Any hints?
Thanks in advanced.

shels4ever

THX 1138 wrote: »

For a novice running im gussing it will take its toll on ye after a while. Has anyone got any sugestions for myself? I have never ran a marathon before (but have ran for 2hrs for an unknown distance... long story)
I now run PB 10k in 30:02 and Im training for a 10k for crimbo after that I will move to marathon training for the 2009 Adidas Dublin Marathon.
I normaly run 5 times per week with Fartlek, Hills, 10k and 20k on Fridays and that long run takes me 1hr and 10min. The problem will be to keep that pace for another 1hr and a bit. Any hints?
Thanks in advanced.

Wow is that time correct for you 10k? If so you look like the advanced HalH plan would be one for you

http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/Mar00index.htm

Any planned times for dublin?

With your 10k time I would guess a sub 2:30..

cfitz

THX 1138 wrote: »

For a novice running im gussing it will take its toll on ye after a while. Has anyone got any sugestions for myself? I have never ran a marathon before (but have ran for 2hrs for an unknown distance... long story)
I now run PB 10k in 30:02 and Im training for a 10k for crimbo after that I will move to marathon training for the 2009 Adidas Dublin Marathon.
I normaly run 5 times per week with Fartlek, Hills, 10k and 20k on Fridays and that long run takes me 1hr and 10min. The problem will be to keep that pace for another 1hr and a bit. Any hints?
Thanks in advanced.

There are very few people in Ireland running this fast. I suggest you get in contact with some top distance/marathon coaches. They would probably be delighted to advise you.

Racing Flat

THX 1138 wrote: »

Im training for a 10k for crimbo

Is that the midnight run in Sao Paolo?

THX 1138

shels4ever wrote: »

Wow is that time correct for you 10k? If so you look like the advanced HalH plan would be one for you

http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/Mar00index.htm

Any planned times for dublin?

With your 10k time I would guess a sub 2:30..

Hi shels4ever, yes that is my time. Im Irish but im living in Brasil... im coming home around Oct for 2 weeks and thought what the hell... do the Marathon while im here. Im gussing I will try for 2:40/2:30. Time will tell if i can slice the time down. I ill let you know as soon as I do.
As for contact with some top distance/marathon coaches, its a bit hard to do here in Brasil.
Racing flat: no its not that.,.. im not aware of any midnight race in Sao Paulo sorry... its the "Corrida De Sao Silvestre" Its ran in all the smaller towns in Sao Paulo. Its a VERY hilly course.

Opps... I know I said Crimbo... its really the 31st of December. Sorry.

Racing Flat

THX 1138 wrote: »

As for contact with some top distance/marathon coaches, its a bit hard to do here in Brasil.
Racing flat: no its not that.,.. im not aware of any midnight race in Sao Paulo sorry... its the "Corrida De Sao Silvestre" Its ran in all the smaller towns in Sao Paulo. Its a VERY hilly course.

Opps... I know I said Crimbo... its really the 31st of December. Sorry.

Aaah, bringing back memories of all those early morning runs in Parque Ibirapuera. Did you do your 10k time in the race there? I thought there was a run in SP at midnight on Dec 31st/Jan 1st to see in the New Year, but perhaps it's RJ.

With Brazil's strong tradition in the marathon, there must be some good clubs in SP that you could go along to and get some advice on the marathon?

THX 1138

Racing Flat wrote: »

Aaah, bringing back memories of all those early morning runs in . Did you do your 10k time in the race there? I thought there was a run in SP at midnight on Dec 31st/Jan 1st to see in the New Year, but perhaps it's RJ.

With Brazil's strong tradition in the marathon, there must be some good clubs in SP that you could go along to and get some advice on the marathon?

Hey Racing flat... tudo bom? Wow Parque Ibirapuera...very fancy. Im gussing you lived in SP for a while? So... yes I did that time here in Avare. There might well be a race at midnight in SP city but thats not were I live... I live waaay out of town. Normaly everyone dress's in white and jumps 7 waves to bring in the new year with a few Skol's of course.
And as before... there might well be some strong clubs in SP city but its a lot harder to find GOOD clubs out of town. Its just me and the road.

Racing Flat

THX 1138 wrote: »

Hey Racing flat... tudo bom? Wow Parque Ibirapuera...very fancy. Im gussing you lived in SP for a while? So... yes I did that time here in Avare. There might well be a race at midnight in SP city but thats not were I live... I live waaay out of town. Normaly everyone dress's in white and jumps 7 waves to bring in the new year with a few Skol's of course.
And as before... there might well be some strong clubs in SP city but its a lot harder to find GOOD clubs out of town. Its just me and the road.

Tudo bem. Spent a fair bit of time working there, go a few times a year.

THX 1138

Racing Flat wrote: »

Tudo bem. Spent a fair bit of time working there, go a few times a year.

Ah cool.
So... if your ever here again let me know, would be good to see some paddys again!
Now its time for me to get out and run.