Marathon Training Bootcamp

Sports Billy

I'm signed up to the Dublin Marathon this year and very excited about running my first marathon, hoping to run around 4hrs/4hrs 15.. There has been some great training advice given on the threads here so many thanks to all the boards.ie runners. I'm due to hit 13 miles for the first time this weekend, dreading the thoughts of it to be honest. I'm thinking of signing up for the marathon bootcamp <mod snip-advertising>as I'm finding it tough running on my own. Thought the bootcamp might be good as if there's a few poor souls out there struggling with me, it might help pass the time quicker! Anyone else signed up yet for it..?

thirtyfoot

Bootcamp typically means chancres trying to get as much money as possible from gullible punters. My wife wants to join a local bootcamp. I've told her I'll pay her not to and I'll train her for free.

shels4ever

Tingle wrote: »

Bootcamp typically means chancres trying to get as much money as possible from gullible punters. My wife wants to join a local bootcamp. I've told her I'll pay her not to and I'll train her for free.

+1
There is a big group now in the park where I train must be 20-30 people in this group boot camp. I'm not so sure about them really.

But looking at the prices you could join a club for that price, maybe clubs should start doing these...

ThisRegard

shels4ever wrote: »

+1
There is a big group now in the park where I train must be 20-30 people in this group boot camp. I'm not so sure about them really.

But looking at the prices you could join a club for that price, maybe clubs should start doing these...

Would disagree with you here, while you wouldn't get much from a short marathon bootcamp the guys you see in the park are probably bootcamp Ireland or one of the similar groups, of which I am a member of one.

I get a lot more out of this than I ever did from an athletics club I was a member of before. They concentrate on all round fitness and core strengthening than focusing on speed and times. Having said that we have some very good athletes and distance runners as well as a whole host of multi sport participants who do this in addition to regular training. Sessions are split into capability and you can push yourself as hard as you want. Bootcamp Ireland use qualified military pt instructors too, a lot more qualified than the average athletic club for the average person looking to gain some fitness.

ecoli

ThisRegard wrote: »

Would disagree with you here, while you wouldn't get much from a short marathon bootcamp the guys you see in the park are probably bootcamp Ireland or one of the similar groups, of which I am a member of one.

I get a lot more out of this than I ever did from an athletics club I was a member of before. They concentrate on all round fitness and core strengthening than focusing on speed and times. Having said that we have some very good athletes and distance runners as well as a whole host of multi sport participants who do this in addition to regular training. Sessions are split into capability and you can push yourself as hard as you want. Bootcamp Ireland use qualified military pt instructors too, a lot more qualified than the average athletic club for the average person looking to gain some fitness.

I think the only problem with this is if they focus on all round fitness they should not be advertised as marathon boot camps. You say alot of these athletes do it to complement there training but what about the people who join exclusively thinking this is geared towards specific marathon training?

Regarding the athletics club comment. They may in fact be more qualified but one thing that the athletics club has as an advantage is the experience of things such as marathon gels, experiences on the day, tapers etc which are exclusive to marathon training. Athletics club usually (not all of them) have experienced marathon runners who will be able to give advice regarding mental approach and other areas of marathon training other than the fitness

ThisRegard

Sorry, wasn't clear in my point re. the marathon bootcamp, of the 4 I know of in the park, none advertise as this, 1 concentrates on kettle bells while the others are general. I think these are the ones the 2 lads subsequent to the op are talking about.

The first I heard of a marathon one was from the op, I just don't want people to think the regular sessions are out to rip people off and give nothing back.

Just reading your last comment, agree re the experience in the regular clubs, but again the decent bootcamps (not those advertising as marathon ones) do run classes and meetings on specifics and do have marathon and ultra runners as instructors.

So I'm rambling now ! But my point is that the crowds you see in the park for the most part don't advertise as getting you prepared for a marathon, the only thing in common is having bootcamp in the name.

sb4

Sub4 here guys, apologies mods if I'm not allowed answer a thread regarding our bootcamp but just to make a few small points.

Our marathon bootcamp is a new concept which we hope will help people in their training for the marathon regardless of their level. Various other bootcamps have provided a good outlet to people on improving general fitness and the marathon bootcamp will simply specialise in helping people run the 26.2 miles of a marathon.

We've top class marathon coaches lined up, excellent athletes to help pace people around at their marathon pace and various other advice/free gear built into the programme. With the marathon CVs and experience of our coaches and dietician experts that we have line up to help with the bootcamp, (ie, AAI coach of the year and former Olympian), certainly not chancers out to rip people off as the first responder suggested.

TheRoadRunner

removed

thirtyfoot

ThisRegard wrote: »

I get a lot more out of this than I ever did from an athletics club I was a member of before. .

You must have been in a sh*te athletics club if you got more for your running from a bootcamp in a park.

ThisRegard wrote: »

. They concentrate on all round fitness and core strengthening than focusing on speed and times.

What is allround fitness to a runner? Speed whether for 100m or 26miles is the most important thing. These bootcamps and gyms trying to cash in on the recreational runner is crap. You want to be good at running, you run, you want to be good at kettlebells, do kettlebells. I run, I do kettlebells. Its a small part of my training.

ThisRegard wrote: »

. Having said that we have some very good athletes and distance runners as well as a whole host of multi sport participants who do this in addition to regular training. .

Can you name these very good athletes? I'd be interested to know who they are and if I knew them maybe ask them how they find bootcamps and how its relevant to their athletics. Do the bootcamp guys tailor these athletes programs specifically in conjunction to the running training they are doing at the time or how does it work? The reason I ask is that that would be the key to a strength and conditioning program for an athlete, building a S&C program thats cognisant of the athletes running program. If its just a generic training program that all use, then it ain't much use to a runner.

ThisRegard wrote: »

Bootcamp Ireland use qualified military pt instructors too, a lot more qualified than the average athletic club for the average person looking to gain some fitness.

How would a qualified military person know more about running than even an average athletics coach. Don't know many good athletes coached by military personnel.

thirtyfoot

www.sub4.ie wrote: »

Sub4 here guys, apologies mods if I'm not allowed answer a thread regarding our bootcamp but just to make a few small points.

Our marathon bootcamp is a new concept which we hope will help people in their training for the marathon regardless of their level. Various other bootcamps have provided a good outlet to people on improving general fitness and the marathon bootcamp will simply specialise in helping people run the 26.2 miles of a marathon.

We've top class marathon coaches lined up, excellent athletes to help pace people around at their marathon pace and various other advice/free gear built into the programme. With the marathon CVs and experience of our coaches and dietician experts that we have line up to help with the bootcamp, (ie, AAI coach of the year and former Olympian), certainly not chancers out to rip people off as the first responder suggested.

To ease the scepticism, maybe remove the bootcamp element. I have visions of skinny marathon runners do exercises under a tree in Stephens Green.

Would say a prospective marathon runner not get a similar or even better service for a fraction of the price by joining say Raheny and getting guidance from say Dick Hooper.

ecoli

Tingle wrote: »

Would say a prospective marathon runner not get a similar or even better service for a fraction of the price by joining say Raheny and getting guidance from say Dick Hooper.

Have a point there if you look to the clubs in the Dublin area off the top of my head you have

Raheny : Dick Hooper
Rathfarnam : Adam Jones
Donore: John Downes
Tallaght: No coach per say but have a good marathon group of 2.4X runners

These are just a few i can think of that have a marathon/ distance knowledge who would be more than able to give guidance to a prospective marathon runner. I think you may have been unlucky in your experience with an athletics club when you joined

donothoponpop

<mod>I kinda knew something like this would happen-
Quick primer-

sub4.ie posted info about their marathon bootcamp a few weeks ago. I felt it was advertising, and asked them to remove it. They said fair enough, so all is well. I don't think they are trying to re-advertise under a first-time poster (the OP above), so lets not cast aspersions on what may well be a genuine query from the OP.

Bootcamp Ireland have also tried to promote some of their events on this forum a while back, but without declaring an interest. This type of thing that really grinds my gears, and is one of the reasons why new posters who are recommending events/organizations/clubs are greeted with some scepticism.

Snipping the link to the marathon bootcamp has nothing to do with who they are. Some of what ThisRegard is posting seems to suggest that the marathon bootcamp are lacking in qualified instructors- this is far from the case. If your opinion is that fitness groups in the Phoenix Park are worth paying for, then go for it, but don't start denigrating other programs and clubs. /<mod>

sb4

Dick would indeed offer great advice to any runner. Have a read of what we offer though<mod snip-advertising> Joining a club is a super idea but not everyones cup of tea. The bootcamp is simply an alternative.

donothoponpop

From the charter: "If you're trying to sell something consider adverts.ie, if you want to link it here, please pm a mod first to check. This covers used equipment, website links, product promotions or race / event promotion."

Every race, product, or bootcamp, that charges for its services, walks a thin line on a forum where advertising is not tolerated, and you should know where that line is.

thirtyfoot

www.sub4.ie wrote: »

Dick would indeed offer great advice to any runner. Have a read of what we offer though<mod snip-advertising> Joining a club is a super idea but not everyones cup of tea. The bootcamp is simply an alternative.

Yes, I think the idea is good but the fact its says 'bootcamp' to me rings alarm bells. Maybe its just me. Thats my original contention. Bootcamp=Dodgy Chancers, Training Group=Trust them. Sub 4 Marathon Training Group/Squad etc, I'd encourage the missus to join that if she wanted to. All in the name.

On the join Raheny thing, was only trying to mow someones lawn after the disappointment tonight in Barcalona, lashing out, apologies:o

Marathon and Bootcamp, don't even sound right together.

Krusty_Clown

Reading through sub4's bootcamp website, they seem to be doing something different and worthwhile for a change (to the usual fitness based bootcamps, which obviously have their own merits, for a different kind of punter) and there's undoubtedly some pedigree there. I hope it works out.

The name puts me off though. Sub4 in the context of a mile, sounds great. But in a marathon has only finite appeal. 'Sub4' + 'bootcamp' + 'marathon' = ? Maybe some re-branding?

<never met the organizers, don't know them, but like their approach>

ecoli

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Reading through sub4's bootcamp website, they seem to be doing something different and worthwhile for a change (to the usual fitness based bootcamps, which obviously have their own merits, for a different kind of punter) and there's undoubtedly some pedigree there. I hope it works out.

The name puts me off though. Sub4 in the context of a mile, sounds great. But in a marathon has only finite appeal. 'Sub4' + 'bootcamp' + 'marathon' = ? Maybe some re-branding?

<never met the organizers, don't know them, but like their approach>

Have to agree my original posts were referring to general fitness bootcamps but this looks okay for anyone who is willing to fork out the money (if only as an expensive alernative). Some people will prob have more confidence in the insight from well known running names

Each to there own i say

*not affiliated with this just for the record

shels4ever

ThisRegard wrote: »

Would disagree with you here, while you wouldn't get much from a short marathon bootcamp the guys you see in the park are probably bootcamp Ireland or one of the similar groups, of which I am a member of one.

I get a lot more out of this than I ever did from an athletics club I was a member of before. They concentrate on all round fitness and core strengthening than focusing on speed and times. Having said that we have some very good athletes and distance runners as well as a whole host of multi sport participants who do this in addition to regular training. Sessions are split into capability and you can push yourself as hard as you want. Bootcamp Ireland use qualified military pt instructors too, a lot more qualified than the average athletic club for the average person looking to gain some fitness.

Thanks, glad you enjoy them. Wouldn't be my cup of tea but thats just me.

ThisRegard

Tingle, you missed all my points completely.

Apologies if it came across like I was saying the marathon specific ones lacked in qualified instructors, that wasn't my intention a all, I was aiming that at a regular bootcamp class who may specify they'd train you for a marathon, I wasn't being specific about anyone as I didn't know what company the op was talking about as I never saw this thread before the link was removed.

One thing that is quite obvious is that there is a lot of condescension about these types of training groups, people join them for fun and general fitness, not everyone wants to run and constantly target times which to some people is the be all and end all. Hence them not joining an athletics club, nor ever wanting to, people want different things from their exercise, no need to be derogatory towards something that's not your cup of tea.

For the record I already declared on this thread that I'm a member of one which I supplement with my individual running and cycling as well as the now completed Wednesday night IMRA league, haven't done any of the trail races yet though, a new baby tends to restrict your time somewhat !

thirtyfoot

ThisRegard wrote: »

Tingle, you missed all my points completely.

Apologies if it came across like I was saying the marathon specific ones lacked in qualified instructors, that wasn't my intention a all, I was aiming that at a regular bootcamp class who may specify they'd train you for a marathon, I wasn't being specific about anyone as I didn't know what company the op was talking about as I never saw this thread before the link was removed.

One thing that is quite obvious is that there is a lot of condescension about these types of training groups, people join them for fun and general fitness, not everyone wants to run and constantly target times which to some people is the be all and end all. Hence them not joining an athletics club, nor ever wanting to, people want different things from their exercise, no need to be derogatory towards something that's not your cup of tea.

For the record I already declared on this thread that I'm a member of one which I supplement with my individual running and cycling as well as the now completed Wednesday night IMRA league, haven't done any of the trail races yet though, a new baby tends to restrict your time somewhat !

Good point and fair enough.