First marathon

spider77

I am hoping to run my first marathon in May in Limerick and just started 18 week training plan this week. I have been running 2 years and have 3 half marathons under my belt along with various 5/10k races. Do people think I have enough time to be ready for it? I have not run much over 13 miles so dreading the longer runs to be honest. Any advice for long runs would be great. I am just hoping to finish but will probably go with 4 hour pacer and see how I feel.

Ososlo

Just wondering spider, why you would want to do a marathon at all if you're already dreading the thought of long runs? That's what marathon training and running is all about! If you dread it so much why do it?

spider77

Friends have done marathons and I just heard some bad stories of the 20 mile runs (getting sick, losing toe nails etc!). It's something I really want to do once and is a goal I always had I guess. I am actually doing it for charity for a good cause with a few others and that's one of the other reasons for doing it.

Krusty_Clown

You're far more ready than most marathon first-timers, but as Ososlo is suggesting, if you're really not into it, then there are plenty of other distances that can offer a greater challenge. If you're just a little nervous about the long runs, then that's fine; possibly a healthy level of respect for the distance. As for getting sick, losing toe-nails, learn from your buddies mistakes. Run them at an appropriate pace. Some people just lose toenails. It doesn't hurt (I'm told). I've never lost one.

Emer911

If you're comfortable running 13 miles now, then 18 weeks is ample time to train for the first marathon. I assume you have a plan to follow? Stick with it, do the training and I've no doubt you'll do just fine.

There's loads of threads on here that have useful tips for the novice marathoner, so have a search. The Dublin novice threads (each year) are always loaded with good stuff.

... and don't forget that this is supposed to be fun!
Enjoy! And good luck.

blockic

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Some people just lose toenails. It doesn't hurt (I'm told). I've never lost one.

Wow..that's your best achievement to date!

I've lost a few. Bit of minor irritation for a day or two but other than that its fine.

As emer said spider...first stop should be to read any Dublin novice thread. Wealth of information in them.

spider77

Thanks for the replies. I will have a look at the Dublin novice threads on here. I am following the hal higdon novice 1 plan for this my first marathon.

Ososlo

spider77 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I will have a look at the Dublin novice threads on here. I am following the hal higdon novice 1 plan for this my first marathon.

Best of luck with it. You'll find a wealth of information in that DCM Novices' thread.
I did my first marathon last year also and never lost a toenail. It's not a given
Do everything sensibly and you'll have a great experience and I really hope you get to enjoy the longer runs. If you build it up gradually as in your plan then there's nothing to fear:)

AuldManKing

For the longer runs, they are much easier if you run with a group.
If you have running buddies, then great, if not, keep an eye on Boards for the group runs, a great way of meeting people and running at a similar pace. Those 20 milers fly in.

TFBubendorfer

spider77 wrote: »

Friends have done marathons and I just heard some bad stories of the 20 mile runs (getting sick, losing toe nails etc!).

I stand to be corrected, obviously, but I have never heard of anyone losing a toe nail on a 20 mile training run.

20 miles isn't particularly long. If you have troubles getting your head round it, break it up in smaller segments - can you run 10 miles? Of course you can! Can you run another 5 miles? Of course you can! 3 more? Sure, it's only 3 miles after all. 2 more? Piece of cake, after all we're almost there. Done!

ultraman1

blockic wrote: »

I've lost a few. Bit of minor irritation for a day or two but other than that its fine.m.

And great for scratchin Ur birds back...

Cabaal

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

I stand to be corrected, obviously, but I have never heard of anyone losing a toe nail on a 20 mile training run.

Neither have I,
Never lost any toe nail on any training run and never got sick either,

I've experienced black nail twice and both due to marathons, toenail only fell off in one instance and that took 6-8 months and never hurt at all,

RunRoryRun

Cabaal wrote: »

Neither have I,
Never lost any toe nail on any training run and never got sick either,

I've experienced black nail twice and both due to marathons, toenail only fell off in one instance and that took 6-8 months and never hurt at all,

Have gotten sick at a couple of shorter races, 5 miles / 10km. Both at the finish lines!

Never lost a nail while running, but have lost the same nail twice because of running. Again, goes black, then falls off six months later. Both after the DCM. Was fine for training runs.

spider77

I am hoping to do long runs over 13 miles with a few others alright so that should help. I like the idea of breaking it down into segments in my head and will try that.

I have got black toe nails after HM so maybe that is why I am asking.

One last thing, my HM times to date were 1:52, 1:50 and 1:47. I average just over 8 min miles for half. So would my marathon pace be 8:30 min/mile or maybe 9 min/mile? Just trying to figure it out for long runs for pacing. Thanks.

Ososlo

http://www.mcmillanrunning.com
If you're not aware of it already then this is a useful calculator for working out training paces. Plug in your most recent half marathon time.
It can be a bit over-ambitious for predicting first marathon times though but might give you an idea of training paces.

RayCun

spider77 wrote: »

I have got black toe nails after HM so maybe that is why I am asking.

Might be your runners? Too tight at the toes, or too loose, allowing your foot to slip forward and toes to press against the front of the shoe?

ordinarysoap

IMO opinion you have plenty of experience and have run enough before to do a first marathon. I wouldn't be worrying about the long runs as a proper training program will gradually build up the mileage. The key to those long runs is not running them too fast, absolutely nothing to be gained from that. People generally only suffer during long runs and marathons ("hitting the wall") because they get excited and start of to fast, see it every year from people but yet time after time they never seem to learn. No such thing as hitting the wall is you follow a sensible program and dont take off to fast. Negative splits is the key. Thats my tuppence worth anyway!