Belfast too soon?

trotter_inc

I've been training for my first marathon which will be in Cork on June 1st (about 9 weeks away) this year. The training has been going quite well the past 4 weeks and I have been finding myself doing 18 - 20 miles comfortably every Saturday. Each week I have been running a total of 38 - 47 miles per week.

I just realised from another thread here that the Belfast marathon is on May 4th (which is 5 weeks away) and I am 'tempted' to run this instead. Am I getting over-excited? I feel ready to run it now and I still have 5 weeks of training before Belfast.

Should I wait and hold out for Cork? Interested in hearing your opinions.

shels4ever

trotter_inc wrote: »

I've been training for my first marathon which will be in Cork on June 1st (about 9 weeks away) this year. The training has been going quite well the past 4 weeks and I have been finding myself doing 18 - 20 miles comfortably every Saturday. Each week I have been running a total of 38 - 47 miles per week.

I just realised from another thread here that the Belfast marathon is on May 4th (which is 5 weeks away) and I am 'tempted' to run this instead. Am I getting over-excited? I feel ready to run it now and I still have 5 weeks of training before Belfast.

Should I wait and hold out for Cork? Interested in hearing your opinions.

Hi there,
How many 18-20 mile runs have you done at this stage.? What was your plan for Cork, From the sounds of your training you seem to have a lot of long runs done early in your Cork plan?

trotter_inc

shels4ever wrote: »

Hi there,
How many 18-20 mile runs have you done at this stage.? What was your plan for Cork, From the sounds of your training you seem to have a lot of long runs done early in your Cork plan?

I have done 4 runs between 18-20 miles, the past 4 Saturdays, felt fine after them. On three out the four runs I only needed to use 1 powerbar gel, on the first long run I used 3 powerbar gels. I have been more or less off the drink since Christmas, because of the training and because my wife is pregnant. My diet has been pretty good too.

I have been following the Hildalgon Intermediate II training plan but I have been doing 4 - 10 miles over what that recommends per week, simply because the weather has been decent enough over the past few weeks and I'm loving my long runs.

I had Cork in mind as I thought I would need the full 5 months training from Christmas.

The plan for the coming weeks is to keep doing 18 - 20 mile runs every Saturday as I am hoping for a 3 hours 20 mins - 3 hours 30 mins marathon time.

trotter_inc

trotter_inc wrote: »

The plan for the coming weeks is to keep doing 18 - 20 mile runs every Saturday as I am hoping for a 3 hours 20 mins - 3 hours 30 mins marathon time.

Obviously if I start feeling tired I will cut back on this, but as long as I'm getting stronger and faster I plan to keep this schedule up. The 18 mile run last Saturday took me 2 hours and 11 mins.

Woddle

If your feeling good go for it but remember if your following a program that program is designed to have you peak at your goal race and if your goal race is Cork well then why not wait but if you've been over doing the schedule you probably feel that your starting to peak now or soon, and with 5 weeks left that would allow you 2 more tough weeks before a 3 week taper

Woddle

trotter_inc wrote: »

Obviously if I start feeling tired I will cut back on this, but as long as I'm getting stronger and faster I plan to keep this schedule up. The 18 mile run last Saturday took me 2 hours and 11 mins.

2hrs 11 sounds very quick for an 18 mile lsr with a predicted time of 3:20-3:30, so it does sound like your in good shape
just to compare my 18 mile lsr would be at around 2:32 and I reckon I'm in about 3:20-3:30 shape also

shels4ever

trotter_inc wrote: »

Obviously if I start feeling tired I will cut back on this, but as long as I'm getting stronger and faster I plan to keep this schedule up. The 18 mile run last Saturday took me 2 hours and 11 mins.

Thats good running, You would have a lot of long runs donw by the time Cork comes around , Maybe Belfast would be at the right time for you, You'll prob get better advise from one of the more seasoned marathon runners here...

Woddle

I've just worked out your lsr pace 7:17 per mile
A 3:15 marathon is 7:27 per mile

Are you comfortable while running at this pace, just it is recommended you add about 10% to your predicted marathon pace.
So either 1 of 2 things are happening, your running your lsr too hard or your in far better shape than you realise, if the latter I think you would be able for Belfast and should pb nicely

shels4ever

Woddle wrote: »

2hrs 11 sounds very quick for an 18 mile lsr with a predicted time of 3:20-3:30, so it does sound like your in good shape
just to compare my 18 mile lsr would be at around 2:32 and I reckon I'm in about 3:20-3:30 shape also

You'd be a full 2 miles infront of me at that pace I'm about 2:32 for 16 miles at the moment.

trotter_inc

Woddle wrote: »

2hrs 11 sounds very quick for an 18 mile lsr with a predicted time of 3:20-3:30, so it does sound like your in good shape
just to compare my 18 mile lsr would be at around 2:32 and I reckon I'm in about 3:20-3:30 shape also

Yeah, I'm surprising myself, I drove the route twice to make sure the distance was right, I also made sure the battery in my watch wasn't loosing power

trotter_inc

Woddle wrote: »

I've just worked out your lsr pace 7:17 per mile
A 3:15 marathon is 7:27 per mile

Are you comfortable while running at this pace, just it is recommended you add about 10% to your predicted marathon pace.
So either 1 of 2 things are happening, your running your lsr too hard or your in far better shape than you realise, if the latter I think you would be able for Belfast and should pb nicely

Yes, I feel comfortable enough at this pace, don't feel too tired afterwards either. Once I cool down and stretch I feel just fine.

Closing date for Belfast is April 17th, suppose I have another couple of weeks to think it through. Am really motivated at the moment but don't want to enter unless I'm fully confident that I can run it comfortably.

Krusty_Clown

trotter_inc wrote: »

I have done 4 runs between 18-20 miles, the past 4 Saturdays, felt fine after them. On three out the four runs I only needed to use 1 powerbar gel, on the first long run I used 3 powerbar gels. I have been more or less off the drink since Christmas, because of the training and because my wife is pregnant. My diet has been pretty good too.

I have been following the Hildalgon Intermediate II training plan but I have been doing 4 - 10 miles over what that recommends per week, simply because the weather has been decent enough over the past few weeks and I'm loving my long runs.

Doesn't sound much like a Hal Higdon program! For my first marathon, I also used a mash-up of the same Higdon program and a few extra long runs (but I would alternate 20 miles, then 13 miles, 20, 13 etc), doing a total of 5x20 mile runs, which sounds similar to your current regime (except you're running faster (than my 3:25)). If you can feel like you could go on and do an extra 5-6 miles, then that would suggest you are well-ready. If it were me, I would just make sure that my head is in the right place for the race (confidence, motivation) and then launch yourself at the new earlier challenge!

trotter_inc

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

If you can feel like you could go on and do an extra 5-6 miles, then that would suggest you are well-ready. If it were me, I would just make sure that my head is in the right place for the race (confidence, motivation) and then launch yourself at the new earlier challenge!

Thought about it last night and said I would get through this week first and see how the long run on Saturday goes. Closing date for Belfast is not until April 17th, will know for definite where I'm at by then.