Could I complete a marathon?

Barack Obama

Hi guys - just looking for some advice. I'm 40, not overweight but not in great shape either. I'm just back from a holiday in the west where I completed a 20km walk one day (about 3 hours). This got me thinking - could I complete the Dublin marathon with 3 months to prepare.

I had some cartilage removed from my knee over a year ago and this is the main reason for my relative unfitness. I'd be looking to walk the distance.

Any advice greatly appreciated - and don't hold back!

Bloody Nipples

A student journalist from UCD's college paper walked the dublin marathon last year on the back of no training in about 7 hours. So it is doable, think there was a thread about it here if you search around.

jb-ski

Hi,

you should get in touch with the guys at Le Chéile AC.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Leixlip-Ireland/Le-Cheile-Athletic-Club/93951296958?ref=ts&__a=8&ajaxpipe=1

pm me for contact details.

there's a few of them (us!) training for DCM this year.
you are probably a bit short on time to be fully prepared, but the 'experts'
can advice you on that after discussing your current levels of fitness.

you'd need to post more specific current fitness levels here to get a fair assessment of what you're capable of.

jb

Barack Obama

Thanks for the info guys - I'll have to dig a bit deeper. After my op, one of my biggest problems was the lack of muscle in my quads and this was the reason my knee was worn down - it was taking all the punishment! I need to get back on the bike asap to get these built up again.

I'll spend a couple of weeks biking\walking and prepare for a long distance walk again pretty soon - then I'll have a better idea.

Pisco Sour

Bloody Nipples wrote: »

A student journalist from UCD's college paper walked the dublin marathon last year on the back of no training in about 7 hours. So it is doable, think there was a thread about it here if you search around.

He was extremely unfit aswell, and was a heavy smoker.

If that chap can manage it then it is definetely possible.

But then again, I'm not sure what there is to gain by going through that torture just to walk the marathon. It would probably be far more beneficial doing a 5k run to begin with. Google the "Couch to 5k" training programme. You'll be surprised how quickly you will improve and then perhaps 2 years down the line you could be in a position to actually run the marathon and do the distance justice.

The Rook

YES YOU CAN ....... (Sorry, couldn't resist it!)

Mr Slow

That student may have walked it but did he injure himself?

jrar

I took up walking to try to shed excess weight in early 2005 and ended up walking the DCM that year and again in 2006 (finally ran it in 2007).

First year it took me 6hrs15 but with a full year's walking behind me by 2006. I was able to trim that down to 5hrs 40 so my advice would be, yes. go for it.

With an 8hr window to play with, you'd have to end up crawling on your knees not to finish it in that time.

dokter

@THE ROOK

Damn you beat me to it!!!
But I just want to say it again....
YES YOU CAN,,,,,,, YES YOU CAN

dokter

I recommend....
1: Join a club
2: do a half marathon or 2
3: Wait till next year for the full.

I've been running for 6 years or so before I had an interest in a marathon.
Did my first last year (DCM) in 2:58