Marathon in June - enough time?

Cookie_Monster

I've just completed a half marathon on Sunday last after starting from nothing pretty much back in October.

As a result I'm a little bit hooked and now eyeing the Wellington marathon on 23rd June as my next challenge.

I reckon I'd be able to manage it ok were it not for getting married, home for 3 weeks to Ireland in April / May and it'll be three weeks of drinking and having fun and what not and I don't intend to abstain for this as it'll only happen once.

The half marathon was the the biggest distance I've ever done, most I'd managed 16.3km before and a 13-15km maybe ten times overall.

Aside from that I've never really been into the running but cycle a lot and prefer it too but I'm kinda determined to do a marathon now, the achievement of a half feels kinda meaningless unless its on the way to the full thing.

So I'm here to ask for some help, what should I be doing to go from half to full in 4 months, distances to aim for on a single run and weekly maybe? I had no real interest in training regimes for the half, other than to be physically able to run 15+km in advance, but for the full would be more willing to put the thought and effort into it.

Details:
Male, 29, 77kg, fit (RHR of 41), cycle at least 100km generally at the moment.

Krusty_Clown

I think you'd be quite mad to take on a marathon in June, with all of your other commitments. If you were going to train properly, it would pull you away from your other plans. If you weren't going train properly, then there's little point.

If you are going to persist, checkout Hal Higdon's training plans online, which will roughly sketch out a training framework and give you an idea of what you are getting yourself into.

rom

4 month = 16 weeks - 3 weeks taper - 3 weeks drinking = 10 weeks.

Would you be ready in 10 weeks time training ? That is not counting a honeymoon as thats negative towards training also.

Cabaal

Could you do it, yes...but then most anyone can do it, the difference is time and effort on the day.

Should you do it, I'd so no, you'll likely be an awful experience due to the lack of proper training.

Pick a different marathon, put down the head and get stuck into training for that instead. If you're going to sign up to one then do it properly

MrCreosote

Why not go for the Auckland one in October? You'd have more time to train. It's a bigger event (the marathon distance especially), get to run the harbour bridge and the weather is usually nicer. Starts very early though.

Wellington is great when it's sunny, but on a windy day, and it can be pretty grim at that time of the year, it's an even longer than usual 42k

Cookie_Monster

I'd wait till the next taranaki one over auckland, i really don't like auckland and don't want to go there if I don't need to.

Ososlo

sounds a bit mad given the time frame. what's the rush op? why not take your time and really enjoy your first one?

DOCO12

Hi Cookie Monster

Going from my own experience of doing a marathon with little marathon specific training I'd say def don't do it. I had been running for two years doing about 20 -25 miles a week. Decided in September last to sign up for Dublin, training went brilliant and I'd a very pleasant experience on the day. BUT it was afterwards I suffered from my lack of training and have been out with ITBS ever since. It's only now I'm able to get back to very easy running pain free. The cause of this injury? Undoubtedly an increase in my mileage over a very short time. I'm not saying this will happen to you but I now know that a marathon distance is something that needs to be respected and you should enjoy the training without any guilt for going on a three week bender. For my next marathon I' already planning to follow an 18 week program. I say enjoy the run up to the wedding and all the celebrations and plan for a marathon a few months later. All the best with whatever decision you come to.

Cookie_Monster

Done

4h 14mins and despite the 200kph winds 2 days before the day itself was quite nice. A section of road was washed away meaning we had to run the same 5km stretch 4 times!