Combining Marathon training with GAA

conseng

Hi,
I am wondering if any of you have combined marathon training with GAA training. I did DCM last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. My GAA season ended in July last year which allowed me to concentrate on running but this season will continue until close to DCM. I would still like to try and combine both and would welcome any advice. My wife is doing her first marathon this time too. I usually train with a gaelic football team for 1.5hrs on tuesdays and thursdays, doing a combination of speed work with skills drills with a game or a third training session on the weekends.
Ran 4.15 last time and would like to break 4.00 this time so not looking at anything too ambitious.

Thanks.

cwgatling

Haven't done that personally, but I'd say you'll get under 4 by just filling in the days with easy runs and 1 long run. Build the long run up weekly (take a down week every 3 or 4) and hit 20-22 a few times and you should be ok.

Getonwithit

I agree with previous poster. The requirements of the marathon are 99% aerobic 1% anerobic. Your GAA training covers the 1%! Be careful to not overdo it, if your GAA training is a solid 1.5 hours of work then that counts as aerobic too, past that just keep your runs easy and ensure youve 1 long run. The other big concern for you is to try space out the higher loads of the week from each other, e.g dont do your long run the day after a particularly hard GAA session. Your easy runs should be helping you recover and building your aerobic strength, keep the heart rate below 150 on the easy runs and best of luck.

conseng

Thanks for the replies. They go in line with what I was thinking. I think with a bit of flexibility built into when my long runs are done each week I should be able to manage it, hopefully with a bit of understanding from my GAA manager.

hardCopy

Make sure you have a good warm up and stretch before GAA training.

I always had problems when I tried to combine Running/Triathlon with Rugby/Tag Rugby. Ended up pulling my hamstrings, groin and lower back a few times. Never seems to happen when I just stick to one or the other.

entropi

I've done it once, and once only. It was tough, but very much worth it.

Managed to combine hurling training and marathon training from April-October (we still had training sessions winding down for the break by mid Oct), with Wed & Sat as hurling nights, Tues & Thurs as a short run and Friday as my LSR. Every other weekend there was a match on Sundays. I did manage this while doing a fitness-related course during the daytime, so was pretty fit already. Look after your nutrition, get enough sleep and you should be fine

Finished the DCM a few mins under 4h

Jogathon

Did that last year and this year. My schedule -

Monday - run 7-8 miles with group, then go soccer training for 1 hour.
Tuesday - slow run - 3-4 miles, then go camogie training - then yoga class.
Wednesday - soccer match- or if we didn't have one the a 10 mile run.
Thursday - 7 miles - then go camogie training.
Friday - swim - 30 lengths or sometimes day off if I'd a really long run planned for morning.
Sat - Long run
Sunday - Day of rest - but sometimes had camogie match - or a road race if I wanted to do it.

Still at that now actually - but soccer season is almost over, and I'm not doing any long runs on Sat - but I have my eye on a few half's coming up so might have to start that again!!

Oh, and I also need to say that I'm a very slow marathoner!!! So I wouldn't recommend this if you wanted speed!

It's tough but doable as long as you listen to your body and take a rest when you need to.