Dublin Marathon 2010 - Advice please

**Portia**

I would love to run my first marathon this year and would really like it to be the Dublin Marathon on Oct 25th. However, I am on holidays from 10.09.2010 until 25.09.2010. According to most training schedules I've seen, these are supposed to be the weeks where you do your longest runs, which would simply no be possible for me. I could manage 2-3 short runs (5 miles or less) over the period but this would be my limit. Has anyone any experience they could share of training a marathon with similar training restrictions?

meathcountysec

No direct experience as I'm hoping to do my first marathon in Dublin this year. However if I were in your situation I would start my schedule early, get the longer runs in before your break, do what I could, then return to schedule after. I don't think you will lose too much as long as you manage to do something. You never know, you might actually manage something longer than 5 miles.

Good luck with your training.

**Portia**

meathcountysec wrote: »

No direct experience as I'm hoping to do my first marathon in Dublin this year. However if I were in your situation I would start my schedule early, get the longer runs in before your break, do what I could, then return to schedule after. I don't think you will lose too much as long as you manage to do something. You never know, you might actually manage something longer than 5 miles.

Good luck with your training.

That seems like a good idea, I never thought of starting it early. Maybe do 2 18-milers before I leave then a couple short runs on holidays and maybe a long one the week I come home, then 3 weeks+ to wind down.
Thanks, hopefully I can work around it somehow

Brianderunner

I had a similar situation to you, i went to america for 2 weeks before DCM 07 for the last 2 weeks in september. I found it really diffiicult to cram runs in over there, and i was wrecked after most runs there due to the heat. I fell apart on race day and painfully woddled home. I was flying up to the holiday and wasnt the same after.

In your case i would recommend 2 things. 1) Target a different marathon. Strong words i know but you gotta be committed to run a marathon for a good 4 months if your serious about it, i mean its not a fun run. 2) Failing that, most marathon schedules have recovery weeks pencilled in, make the holiday week your easy recovery week, even if it means tweaking the schedules, and do as much as you can the other holiday week, your body will relish the taper and may come back stronger as a result. Either way, best of luck.

RayCun

You should take a look at this thread, for people who are planning to run DCM as their first marathon. You could join in, track your progress there.

eliwallach

**Portia** wrote: »

Has anyone any experience they could share of training a marathon with similar training restrictions?

Did the DCM in Oct '08.
Went on a sun holiday from Sept 15th - 23rd in the month before the marathon.
I did NO running while on holidays (ate well and drank moderately - 4 units pernight?).
Resumed training after holidays.
Blew-up at mile 21 on marathon day* and walked hobbled to the finish in 4:26.xx .
That was my experience, but I think *hyponatremia* (http://www.marathonguide.com/training/coachmindy/hyponatremia.cfm)
had as much to do with my blow-up as interrupted training programme.

Good luck.