am i up to it?

Cluster92

if any experienced runners could help me it would really help. i just turned 18 and i run at a very high tempo practically every day. usually, i alternate between long sprints and jogs. thing is, the longest i ever go is 2 miles (approxiametly). By the time im done i am completly nackered so i know i put a good effort in. Ive been thinking of running the dublin marathon, but i was just wondering with my current training would i be able for it. I havnt had my vo2 max tested for over a year, but id say it would be 58 at least, based on the improvements i made since. asking on this as im not part of a running club so cant get anyone elses advce.

ecoli

Cluster92 wrote: »

if any experienced runners could help me it would really help. i just turned 18 and i run at a very high tempo practically every day. usually, i alternate between long sprints and jogs. thing is, the longest i ever go is 2 miles (approxiametly). By the time im done i am completly nackered so i know i put a good effort in. Ive been thinking of running the dublin marathon, but i was just wondering with my current training would i be able for it. I havnt had my vo2 max tested for over a year, but id say it would be 58 at least, based on the improvements i made since. asking on this as im not part of a running club so cant get anyone elses advce.

I believe you would but my advice would be not to. The fact that you are starting from a very low aerobic base and given it is 18 weeks away you will put your muscles under tremendous pressure which at 18 are not fully developed. There are cases of people doing them at a young age (Haile at 15) but these tackled it with a high aeobic base built up over years of running. Why not tackle a 5k and progress from there.
Also why do all your training at a "high tempo"? comfortable running develops the aerobic capacity and strengthens the muscle fibres in terms of capillary density without the compromise of tipping the PH balance within the body. "High Tempo" is all well and good only after a good base has been developed. Best of luck if you decide to go ahead with it and i believe that with the right training you could finish a marathon but again i wouldn advise this

RoyMcC

You might consider the possibility that you're more suited physiologically to shorter distances. Have you considered middle-distance track for example?

meathcountysec

OP, at your age I think you would benefit greatly from the support and coaching knowledge to be gained from being in a club. Let me know what area you live in and I can give you contact details.

Within Meath we have some clubs with good sprinting support and others that would focus more on middle-distance and longer events.

There is also a good road running scene with distance from 5K to 10K if that is what you are interested in. I would recommend you try out a shorter race before embarking on the marathon path.

Cluster92

Im on the west meath cavan boarder but the thing is, im not part of a club because i play football a lot and i wouldnt have time. For that reason i probably couldnt join a club. my main objective would just be to complete a marathon, just for my own satisfaction. Football is what my main goals are focused on, i dont have any real desire to compete in athletics in the long term

meathcountysec

Cluster92 wrote: »

i play football a lot

Cluster92 wrote: »

my main objective would just be to complete a marathon

Cluster92 wrote: »

Football is what my main goals are focused on

In that case running a marathon will probably cut across your football. Training for it will take up a lot of your spare time. It'll probably take a lot of speed out of your legs too, if your not careful. Maybe leave it a few years, till you're not so into the football and want another outlet for your energies.

Cluster92

Yeah, thats what i was worried about. thanks anyway

snack_ie

I did a marathon when I was 18... I was only running for a few months and was completely clueless before though. I would not recomment doing it though. Most painful experience of my life.