marathon in nov ... am i kiding myself???

positivenote

hi guys,
having kept a fitness/jogging log on here in the months running to nov/dec last year i went from sweating and out of breath after less than a minute jogging to completing close to 5k jogging and wanting to keep going (which was a huge milestone for me tbh). Now it has been about 6 weeks since i have steped on a treadmill or gone for a jog but i have still been playing football each week. Am i kidding myself in thinking that i could enter the dub marathon in nov? having never ran any kind of distance past 5k in the last 10 years and being over weight am i just setting myself a goal too far?

any advice would be welcomed.
thanks in advance

RoyMcC

Well, you'd have some work to do. You'd need to (1) give up the footy and concentrate on your running and (2) set intermediate race goals - say 5m, 10k, Half M. If you come through those by (say) midsummer then - with a lot of dedication, it could be done.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

milligank

My advice (and only mine)

Goals are there to keep you focused.

Best plan.
1. Jan - June - Keep running, increasing slightly each week. And even take some weeks off.
2. Find a running partner / join a club
3. Set interim goals. i.e Bupa 10km, Addidas race series (5m, 10, 13.2 etc)
4. If you are concerned about your weight i.e in relation to the ability to run long distances... dont be. As you train toward the interim goals, the longer you run the pounds will fall off.
5. Oh yeh.. Eat well (not too much, not too little). This combined with longer runs is a great combination.

Again, just my opinion.

hunnymonster

and just to make sure you can do it... Dublin marathon is in October this year :-)

RICHIE-RICH

As a certain Mr Obama might say

YES YOU CAN.


Start slowly, and you can build up to marathon distanceover next 10 months.

Running Bing

Ill just say your most definitely not kidding yourself.


Its a very achievable goal and a great goal to have for the new year. As long as your commited and smart (i.e. dont do anything silly and get injured) you'll finish Dublin in October.

rovers_runner

It's easily achievable, did it in the space of 7 months in 2007 myself.
Hadn't ever run more than 5m before the Great Ireland run in April 2007, finised the marathon that Oct.
That was with having had no physical activity to speak of in the previous 5/6 years.

Route to take....

St. Patricks 5k in Mar (or equivalent in other parts of the country)
Great Ireland Run in April (10k)
Adidas series in the summer (5m, 10m, 1/2 marathon)

With each hurdle the distance increases and you'll feel you want more.

eliwallach

positivenote wrote: »

am i just setting myself a goal too far?

No.
Did the DCM last year and only began my training in Feb.
Ran 4 laps of the Mardyke track on my first run and nearly collapsed.
Took my time with training (I did have 9 months) and completed 10k in April, half-marathon in Sept.
It wasn't easy and required dedication, but utterly do-able. The DCM was always a goal for me and thankfully I've gotten that particular monkey off my back and now I run for fun (addicted?) and the times are tumbling.
Do it.

positivenote

thank you all so much for the positive responses. Looks like if i try and pick up where i left off and try and get to a 10k run by the summer i could be on the right track. Another worry of mine is that when i say i jog... what i meann is that i jog at my own pace, which is proberbly shockingly slow. What time should i be aiming towards without the organisers of the DCM packing up and heading home before ive finished

RoyMcC

Whatever, it's YOUR pace. Don't try to match someone else's. We've all made the mistake, at least once, of thinking we're too slow - and have paid the inevitable price. So go even slower until you have race experience and can judge what is possible for you.

And rest assured, you will still finish hours ahead of lots of people

shels4ever

positivenote wrote: »

hi guys,
having kept a fitness/jogging log on here in the months running to nov/dec last year i went from sweating and out of breath after less than a minute jogging to completing close to 5k jogging and wanting to keep going (which was a huge milestone for me tbh). Now it has been about 6 weeks since i have steped on a treadmill or gone for a jog but i have still been playing football each week. Am i kidding myself in thinking that i could enter the dub marathon in nov? having never ran any kind of distance past 5k in the last 10 years and being over weight am i just setting myself a goal too far?

any advice would be welcomed.
thanks in advance

This is a great time of year to start, a lot of marathon programs are between 16-20 week long but would need some level of training before.

For now maybe plan for a 10k in April, and jsut get out and enjoy your running. Plan your runs in nice spots like parks etc . To start you want to enjoy yoruself and once you like what your doing a marathon program will be fun.

Nothing worse then getting up in the morning and doing something you dont want to do. For me its not the case I can't wait to get out ever day and run... it makes it some much more fun.

rainbow kirby

And nicely enough, the Great Ireland Run is on in early April. Maybe have that as a goal? I know I'll be doing that one anyway, it'll be my second 10k. c'mon sub-hour...

RoyMcC

rainbow kirby wrote: »

And nicely enough, the Great Ireland Run is on in early April. Maybe have that as a goal? I know I'll be doing that one anyway, it'll be my second 10k. c'mon sub-hour...

Or the new Armagh 10k on 19th April. Ms Kirby you'll tear 60 minutes apart.

Kelter

Great advice guys, Thanks

I'm aiming to do soething similar, and was thinking that as I have a good amount of time, I should concentrate on having the right technique. Do you think technique is a significant factor for a beginner slow guy like myself?

Thanks

RoyMcC

Ha, you'll get split opinions with that one! I believe it is important to try to run correctly from the start - both for efficiency and injury prevention. Alignment of the body head through to hips (strong core muscles help), slight forward lean so gravity assists, foot strike on mid or front of foot, economical, relaxed stride.

Maybe worth reading up on chi running for good, general advice.