Beginner marathon...which one??

fungirl1

Help!

Am thinking strongly about doing a marathon this year...Ive done a few halfs in the last 2 years and being honest just want to tick the marathon off the list. Am looking for advaice on what one I should do - there are sooo many. Training over the winter has been okish but "long" run is down to about 50 minutes (5 miles) now...so significant buildup required. A pretty falt one would be good I think. Friends are doing cork but am concerned

1. its too soon and
2. it might be to hilly

views, suggestions, ideas welcome.

Thanks

FG

bart simpson

fungirl1 wrote: »

Help!

Am thinking strongly about doing a marathon this year...Ive done a few halfs in the last 2 years and being honest just want to tick the marathon off the list. Am looking for advaice on what one I should do - there are sooo many. Training over the winter has been okish but "long" run is down to about 50 minutes (5 miles) now...so significant buildup required. A pretty falt one would be good I think. Friends are doing cork but am concerned

1. its too soon and
2. it might be to hilly

views, suggestions, ideas welcome.

Thanks

FG

do the marathon with your friends, stay in cork that night and go out and celebrate the achievement with your friends they will the nicest drinks you will have....its a no brainer!

RoyMcC

Do Cork. You've got time for a proper build-up on top of your good winter training.

There are a few slopey bits but so what? You hurt on the flat and down bits just as much in a marathon

Good luck.

TFBubendorfer

fungirl1 wrote: »

2. it might be to hilly

That's not true at all.

rom

Since the route change Cork is flater than Dublin. Dublin http://www.mapmyrun.com/s/routes/view/run-jog-map/dublin/50777532 Cork http://www.mapmyrun.com/s/routes/view/run-jog-map/cork/17870236 And Cork is great boy

robinph

My only issue with Cork would be the time of year it's on as you won't find many marathons on during the summer for good reason.

digger2d2

I did Cork as my second Marathon last June.... No significant hills at all and well organised and a really nice top too Plus, you'll be doing most of your training in the Spring so weather should be better and at least you'll be heading into brighter evenings. That said, you'd be well advised to get stuck into a specific training plan now... Hal Higdon Novice Marathon would be good - In fact, if you go into the training logs section you'll find a Novice Marathon thread for Dublin last year - This should give you some tips.

menoscemo

+1 to all the above. Cork is about as flat a marathon as you'll find in Ireland.

RoyMcC

menoscemo wrote: »

+1 to all the above. Cork is about as flat a marathon as you'll find in Ireland.

...behind Longford

menoscemo

RoyMcC wrote: »

...behind Longford

Cork 2011
Longford 2011

According to my stats Longford had a whole 7 feet less of climbs :pac:

I actually found Cork easier because it is all flat/downhill for the last 5-6 miles whereas Longford has it's biggest hill at about 24 miles.

RoyMcC

I simply can't recall a hill at Longford - selective memory perhaps.

rom

robinph wrote: »

My only issue with Cork would be the time of year it's on as you won't find many marathons on during the summer for good reason.

Weather 2011 - Misty/ raining, not too windy (close to perfect) 2010 - Driving wind and rain. 2009 - Very hot day. Have a hat and sun-cream just in case.

corkrunner71

Would also agree with the plug for Cork. Always nice to run close to home. Plus, if you intend on having people supporting you, then Cork is easier as you pass a number of points on the course very close to each other. Merchants Quay around mile1, across the bridge for mile3 or 4?, over near city hall around mile 15 or 16 ? And then the last mile as well. Not certain of the miles tbh but it is more spectator friendly if that is of interest to you. The route in Cork is nice though.

ultrapercy

Cork is a good marathon but is a significantly more difficult course than Dublin. There is also far less support out on the course as opposed to Dublin. If your looking for a recomendation for running a first marathon in Ireland then Dublin is by far your best option imo. However Im not putting down Cork or Longford which are very well organised races and top events in their own right.

Patrick_K

Fungirl1 I ran Dublin last year as my first marathon and couldn't recommend it highly enough. For your first go I think it's all about the whole experience and you will need good support to keep you going - it's hard to beat Dublin for that. I was genuinely shocked at the amount of people out supporting the whole way round the course.

RubyK

Patrick_K wrote: »

I was genuinely shocked at the amount of people out supporting the whole way round the course.

I would agree with Patrick_K - the support in Dublin was incredible, the crowds were what kept me going, and got me over the line. I've only done one marathon, so I can't compare it to anywhere else, but for me, Dublin was 100% a positive experience - route, marshalling, support and all round atmosphere.

robinph

There are marathons with bigger support along the route than you'll find in Dublin, but then you'll also have to contend with much bigger crowds of runners around you as well.

I think that the size of Dublin makes it fit in the Goldilocks zone of marathons. It's not a run through the middle of nowhere on your own and it's not overcrowded fighting for space on the road. It's just right.

rom

robinph wrote: »

There are marathons with bigger support along the route than you'll find in Dublin, but then you'll also have to contend with much bigger crowds of runners around you as well.

I think that the size of Dublin makes it fit in the Goldilocks zone of marathons. It's not a run through the middle of nowhere on your own and it's not overcrowded fighting for space on the road. It's just right.

Depends on your goal time but I found it very conjested this year until after the Park. Had to stop and walk on the gate at the end of the park as there was so many people.

opus

ultrapercy wrote: »

Cork is a good marathon but is a significantly more difficult course than Dublin. There is also far less support out on the course as opposed to Dublin. If your looking for a recomendation for running a first marathon in Ireland then Dublin is by far your best option imo. However Im not putting down Cork or Longford which are very well organised races and top events in their own right.

Not sure I'd agree about Cork being a more difficult course having run both but I'd agree that there are parts of the course in Cork where there is little support mainly because people can't get to them, the stretch out towards the roundabout before the Lee tunnel & also the section on the path along the peninsula in particular I guess.

On the plus side running through the relay change-over areas is a great boost.

Nules10

Fungirl I asked the exact same question last year I did Dublin and I have to say as my first ( and only) marathon to date it was fantastic. The support all along the route was brilliant and it kept me going towards the end. Dublin gets my vote for a first marathon.

PaulieYifter

+1 for Cork
Feel like a hero running through the relay changeover points and enjoy the quiet stretches with only the sound of fellow runners pounding the ground.

Sure you can do Dublin after that.

fungirl1

All thanks a mil for all the views and advice...having mulled it over for a few days (and doing v little running as a result of all the thinking!!) I am going to opt for Dublin I think. I know I am probably giving myself a huge training lead in but I would prefer to be properly trained and I just feel Cork is a little close...

As ever all the advice is much appreciated.

FG1:)

Nules10

You won't regret it fungirl. I made my decision around this time last year too. Gives you a chance to get your head around it too. Very best of luck with your training.

RubyK

fungirl1 wrote: »

All thanks a mil for all the views and advice...having mulled it over for a few days (and doing v little running as a result of all the thinking!!) I am going to opt for Dublin I think. I know I am probably giving myself a huge training lead in but I would prefer to be properly trained and I just feel Cork is a little close...

As ever all the advice is much appreciated.

FG1:)

I think you are being very wise. You can give yourself plenty of time for upping the milage, and maybe sign up for the race series, and by October you will be in a great position for the marathon. Best of luck with the training.

G-Money

I found this longer Novice Supreme marathon plan on the Hal Higdon site if you'd like more of a build up to your first marathon.

http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51143/Marathon-Novice-Supreme-Training-Program

He also has some shorter 18 week programmes which you could also use for Dublin.

http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51135/Marathon-Training-Guide


I'm thinking about starting one myself, however I kind of like the idea of my longest run being 22 or 23 miles then beginning the taper. So if I do start a training plan, I may adjust it accordingly to take that into account.