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A few novice marathon-related questions

  • 08-03-2009 8:06pm
    #1
    jimbo007
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 101 ✭✭


    Hi,

    I'm 30 years old, fairly new to running, so I'm looking for a bit of advice. Also fairly new to this section of boards, just been skulking around here since januray..

    I did a bit of training in January and Feb with a long run at the weekends and ran in the Barcelona marathon (prob lucky not to pick up any injuries!), finished in 5 hours.

    I'm deciding to take this a bit more seriously now and go for a better time with proper training, and going for the Berlin marathon in September, or the Venice one in October.

    The plan is from the start of May to follow one of Hal Higdon's training schedules, http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/Mar00index.htm for 18 weeks, with gives me a bit of time to recover from the last one and prepare for the start of that. I'm not sure which schedule I'm following yet, I haven't decided what end time to go for.

    A couple of questions - has anyone else followed the hal higdon training schedules? Can anyone recommend what schedules or other schedules they found best to follow?
    Also I have no experience racing apart from the Barcelona one - not 5ks, not anything... is it recommended to use smaller races to build up to a marathon? Should you push youself fully in these races (risking injury) or just use them to get racing experience?

    Also I've seen it mentioned that boards have formed an athletic club - as I'm not a member of any, is it possible to join this? Anyone have any more information?

    Cheers,
    J.


Comments

  • #2
    RoyMcC
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,567 ✭✭✭RoyMcC


    There's an old Irish saying 'I wouldn't start from here if I were you.' Good for you, taking on a marathon and just doing it - and succeeding, without following any traditional plan.

    If I were you I'd just retire now. But you clearly have the ability to knock chunks off your time with a more organised approach.

    In answer to your questions, Higdon has schedules which many follow and swear by. Despite the fact that you're already a marathoner I would go with his novices schedule.

    And yes, run 10ks and half-marathons - you'll be able to fit them into your Higdon schedule. You'll find that you'll run these at a quicker pace which will in turn help your marathon pace. And yes, push away and only back off if your body tells you to.

    And someone from Boards AC will be along presently with details.

    Best of luck jimbo.


  • #3
    plodder
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,558 ✭✭✭plodder


    jimbo007 wrote: »
    Should you push youself fully in these races (risking injury) or just use them to get racing experience?
    You should always push yourself fully in races. Racing doesn't increase the risk of injury IMO.


  • #4
    jimbo007
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 101 ✭✭jimbo007


    RoyMcC wrote: »
    And yes, run 10ks and half-marathons - you'll be able to fit them into your Higdon schedule. You'll find that you'll run these at a quicker pace which will in turn help your marathon pace. And yes, push away and only back off if your body tells you to.
    plodder wrote:
    You should always push yourself fully in races. Racing doesn't increase the risk of injury IMO.

    Cheers, I'll look up a few and fit them into the schedule so, good for breaking the monotony :)
    RoyMcC wrote:
    If I were you I'd just retire now.

    Not possible on too much of a buzz after the last one!!
    RoyMcC wrote:
    And someone from Boards AC will be along presently with details.

    Nice one, it's a great idea too having a club from boards!

    Thanks for the advice lads!


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