Dublin City Marathon - Too Late ??

muletide

Hi

Like many others here I am just looking for a little advice. I am fairly fit and a regular runner.

Currently I dont really have any training programme but would run a 10k three times a week - just to keep sane after a day in the office and have been doing so for the past year or two. I recently have developed an interest in running the Dublin Marathon in October but am now wondering if I have left it too late. Normally I take between 41 and 44 minutes depending on what mood I am in.

I dont want to set any records but would rather not finish up with the guys in the chicken suits. So I guess a circ 4 hour run would be my aim.

Any opinions would be appreciated

Thanks

Rusty Cogs 08

Nobody here (or anywhere) can tell you if your too late to start training but most marathon schedules are 14 - 18 weeks long, so unless you want to throw yourself into a schedule a few weeks old and hope you can stick to it whilst avoiding injury go for it. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it (there's hundreds of marathons around Europe, no need to run Dublin).

Izoard

You've loads of time assuming you have good base fitness and are running regularly.

I'm a tri plodder (best standalone 10k ~45mins) and at the end of the tri season (last race is 1st week in Sept), I'll generally decide whether to do Dublin or not. If yes, I'll ramp up the long runs from there.

Not very scientific and probably not recommended by most, but I can manage a 3:30 - 3:45 from there.

Go for it!

ergo

that's not a bad base

there' still plenty of time to get some more mileage into the legs

there are tonnes of different marathon training schedules around - have a look and find one you like

I'm no expert but if you can look at adding in a long run per week (or maybe 2 or 3 per month) gradually increasing it up to 8,10,12,14,16 18 miles and maybe mix up your midweek programme a bit with some shorter and longer runs and speed sessions you'll be grand

I think you need to start (gradually) getting the extra mileage into your legs though

smmoore79

I did my first marathon last year with about a 2 month period of training. Didnt take the training seriously and hit the wall at 19m and had to walk/shuffle the rest. managed to finish on 4 hours exact somehow. So there would be plenty of time if you want to run a 4 hour marathon, but take the training a little more serious than me! I started training this time in June as I never want to hit the wall like that again, not nice..

muletide

Thanks for the replies, I think ergo's plan sounds like the most suitable for myself. Right, now to get togged off for a nice nine miler