Dublin Marathon '09 - Too late to start training?

ct_roy

Hey all,

Am I too late to start training for this years Dublin Marathon?

I'm a relative novice in the running stakes. Have been running on average 3 times a week for the last year - did the Great Ireland 10k in 48 mins in April & have done lots of the 5k/8k road races in the Phoenix park.

I realise the marathon is big big step up from running 10k's.

If I start training seriously now will I have time to get in good nick for the end of October - I'd be happy finishing round the 4 hour mark - as long as I finish!

I've been having a small bit of bother with plantar faciitis but the foot has gotten a good rest the last few weeks so now seriously considering giving the marathon a lash!

What think ye? If you register for the marathon do you still have to register for the race series (10 mile/half marathon) separately?

Thanks in advance.

Woddle

ct_roy wrote: »

Hey all,

Am I too late to start training for this years Dublin Marathon?

I'm a relative novice in the running stakes. Have been running on average 3 times a week for the last year - did the Great Ireland 10k in 48 mins in April & have done lots of the 5k/8k road races in the Phoenix park.

I realise the marathon is big big step up from running 10k's.

If I start training seriously now will I have time to get in good nick for the end of October - I'd be happy finishing round the 4 hour mark - as long as I finish!

I've been having a small bit of bother with plantar faciitis but the foot has gotten a good rest the last few weeks so now seriously considering giving the marathon a lash!

What think ye? If you register for the marathon do you still have to register for the race series (10 mile/half marathon) separately?

Thanks in advance.

If I was you I would aim for a spring marathon, 4 hours is a nice target and again probably a target for spring rather than October. Your only running 3 days a week and you have an on/off niggle, so why not build up slowly for spring.
Can you make the start line in October? Yes
Will you finish? probably
Will you enjoy it? probably not

Best of luck though, the lure of the marathon is amazing and I from experience can understand the wanting to do it now and not wait and if you are like me in any way you've already made your mind up and just want someone to agree with you

and yes you can just sign up for the marathon, the series is not compulsory but is a nice build up.

ct_roy

Woddle wrote: »

If I was you I would aim for a spring marathon, 4 hours is a nice target and again probably a target for spring rather than October. Your only running 3 days a week and you have an on/off niggle, so why not build up slowly for spring.
Can you make the start line in October? Yes
Will you finish? probably
Will you enjoy it? probably not

Best of luck though, the lure of the marathon is amazing and I from experience can understand the wanting to do it now and not wait and if you are like me in any way you've already made your mind up and just want someone to agree with you

and yes you can just sign up for the marathon, the series is not compulsory but is a nice build up.

cheers for the words of wisdom
u must be reading my mind - I pretty much have said "feck it I'm doing it" and was looking for someone to agree with me

i'm gonna play catch up with Higdon's training schedule - give it a lash for the next few weeks and see how I get on - then make a final decision end of August.

thanks again!

--amadeus--

Possible?........Yes!

Enjoyable, wise, recommended, best way to do it?........Errrr no!

Woddle

My input here would be if your leaning more towards doing it then just say fcek it and commit 100%, don't leave it till August, it will help with motivation, for the days you don't want to get up and out for an easy 5.
Knowing that your doing it will get you out the door, best of luck. FYI I was in your situation last year and did the same thing and ended up running 3 in 9 weeks and then suffered badly with injury and motivation.

ct_roy

Woddle wrote: »

My input here would be if your leaning more towards doing it then just say fcek it and commit 100%, don't leave it till August, it will help with motivation, for the days you don't want to get up and out for an easy 5.
Knowing that your doing it will get you out the door, best of luck. FYI I was in your situation last year and did the same thing and ended up running 3 in 9 weeks and then suffered badly with injury and motivation.

you know what you're right - feck it - i'm signing up.

jeasus 3 in 9 weeks!

not surprised you were injured/demotivated after that!

Woddle

ct_roy wrote: »

you know what you're right - feck it - i'm signing up.

jeasus 3 in 9 weeks!

not surprised you were injured/demotivated after that!

I just look for threads that give me an oppertunity to brag

RacoonQueen

Just a word of caution, by doing it this way you could completely destroy your love of running and never want to run another step after the marathon.

runforrest

go for it sounds like you really want to do it my advice is stick with a programme dont get hung up on finishing time do the long runs enjoy:)

shels4ever

ct_roy wrote: »

Hey all,

Am I too late to start training for this years Dublin Marathon?

I'm a relative novice in the running stakes. Have been running on average 3 times a week for the last year - did the Great Ireland 10k in 48 mins in April & have done lots of the 5k/8k road races in the Phoenix park.

I realise the marathon is big big step up from running 10k's.

If I start training seriously now will I have time to get in good nick for the end of October - I'd be happy finishing round the 4 hour mark - as long as I finish!

I've been having a small bit of bother with plantar faciitis but the foot has gotten a good rest the last few weeks so now seriously considering giving the marathon a lash!

What think ye? If you register for the marathon do you still have to register for the race series (10 mile/half marathon) separately?

Thanks in advance.

If you do train for it, don't worry about times and targets just get a plan together and get around the course, too much focus on hitting the 4 hour mark could cause you trouble in the latter stages, With propper marathon training /plan/time 4 hours shouldnt be a problem but with only 12 week left don't kill yoruself going after it. Best of luck.

TFBubendorfer

RacoonQueen wrote: »

... and never want to run another step after the marathon.

To be fair, I have felt like that after most of my marathons, but that invariably passes after a few days.