Marathons for 16 year olds and up?

Mau5dead

Anyone know any marathons going on in ireland where the age limit is 16 and up?All the big ones like dublin,belfast etc. are all over 18 which is very fustrating.I have plently of time at the moment and can run 10km fine in 50mins.Any suggestions??

drquirky

Honestly- wouldn't really recommend a marathon for a 16 year old. Focus on the shorter stuff, get quick at that and wait a few years for the marathon. Your muscles and joints are still developing! Find a club and run cross country and track if you have too much time on your hands...

TFBubendorfer

Mau5dead wrote: »

Any suggestions??

Yup. Have some patience. I know 2 years seem a long time when you're 16, but you've still got an entire lifetime of marathon running ahead of you if you want to do it.

In the meantime, use those 2 years to improve your fitness. 50 mins for 10k leaves plenty of room for improvement.

911sc

Fairly play for wanted to run long distance at your age. Hope you do it at some stage, when you feel time is right for you.
Have a read at this article.

50 mins for 10k leaves plenty of room for improvement.

would agree with that. This is give or take my 10km time...but i am 43.

ThePiedPiper

OP, I know you didn't come on here asking whether or not you should run a marathon at 16, but to be fair, if the entry rules of most, if not all, marathons in Ireland, is to be 18 or over, then there must be a reason.

Yes, there are races abroad you could enter but I think there are conditions such as parental consent, etc. in these cases. There are stories of Haile Gebresalassie or Sammy Wanjiru running marathons at 16 so physiologically, yes it can be done. But the other posters are 100% correct. Build up your speed and endurance over the next couple of years, if you still feel strongly in a couple of years, go for it when you're 18 and you'll be much more physically able to enjoy your first marathon experience.

eoglyn

I have to agree with the previous posts - very good advice given here, even if not addressing the original question. Marathons are for ould lads, and ladies - especially the long training runs - which are not only hard on the system but also can be a bit boring.

My own experience - i took up running in my late 20s two years ago in order to get/keep in shape and did my first marathon a year later in order to have something to focus on, but now that i have done it i think i did it a bit early in my running carreer and i won't be bothered doing another one for a good few years. The important thing is to maintain an excercise routine as part of your lifestyle.

OP, by all means keep it as a long term goal, it is a great experience if you want a bit of variety you should join up with your local running club, try cross country, as suggested, and maybe even a minor-friendly tri, they can be great fun

seanmacc

What do you want to be doing marathons for anyway? They are extremely bad for your health. Did you know that around mile 15 your body actually starts to consume itself? I'm sure the stress it puts on your lungs and cardio system over the hours you could probably be certain that it kills a heap of brain cells too not to mention the damage its doing to your bones and immune system. At 16 your still growing up until your early to mid 20's and you probably shouldn't do anything to stunt that. Save the marathons for us clapped out owl fellas so we can clap ourselves out even more.

ocnoc

OP, everyone on boards goes raving about marathons etc.

Get over to IMRA.
Much more awesome that running for two and a half hours on a road. Run for two and a half hours in the mountains.

www.imra.ie

TFBubendorfer

seanmacc wrote: »

What do you want to be doing marathons for anyway? They are extremely bad for your health. Did you know that around mile 15 your body actually starts to consume itself

Now that, on the other hand, is just a mixture of ignorance and prejudice.

Oisin11178

seanmacc wrote: »

What do you want to be doing marathons for anyway? They are extremely bad for your health. Did you know that around mile 15 your body actually starts to consume itself? I'm sure the stress it puts on your lungs and cardio system over the hours you could probably be certain that it kills a heap of brain cells too not to mention the damage its doing to your bones and immune system. At 16 your still growing up until your early to mid 20's and you probably shouldn't do anything to stunt that. Save the marathons for us clapped out owl fellas so we can clap ourselves out even more.

Facepalm:-(

robinph

I did this one first time aged 11:
http://www.crowson.eu/seabank/index.html

It is more of a veeeery long sponsored walk though.

PaulieC

Did seanmacc not have his tongue in his cheek there ? That's the way I read it

Krusty_Clown

cambo_gueno wrote: »

Did seanmacc not have his tongue in his cheek there ? That's the way I read it

Me too. I smiled.

Pisco Sour

ocnoc wrote: »

OP, everyone on boards goes raving about marathons etc.

Get over to IMRA.
Much more awesome that running for two and a half hours on a road. Run for two and a half hours in the mountains.

www.imra.ie

..or forget about all that stuff, and get onto the track and try go shorter and faster.;)

Regardless, running a marathon at 16 years of age is ludicrous stuff really. Could not imagine it being healthy for a growing body, and surely you have leaving cert exams to be thinking about? I'm all for young people doing lots of sport as a distraction from school, but a marathon is 3 steps too far. The amount of time it would take up, not only in terms of running, but with regards physio trips and all that other crap. It's not worth it at your age.