Getting back into running properly

ronn

basicly getting back into running after a 9 month lay off, (building a house).
Before I stopped I'd run 3/4 times a week say on Monday is do 3/5 miles on road and Wednesday I'd do 5/8miles on trail and road and Friday or Saturday I'd do 8/12 miles on trail and road. Most of my training would be a mix between trail and road.

I never really got into any programmes, just done my own thing if I'd a 10k race coming up My training would be running 10k up a mountain, just to make sure I can cover the 10k. I'd do a little speed work/tempo running from lamppost to lamppost, nothing scientific now. There'd be no stretching or warm up/cool down either.
My previous races two 10k's 57:56 and 57:55 and a half marathon 2:05.

Now my question is I'm hoping to do a marathon at some stage in the future, should I continue to train as I am and build up my miles or should I start following a training program, )ie train properly)

If I wanted to run a marathon next September what do I do between now and then, lets say a training program lasts 27 weeks and that brings me to race day???


I work shift so a joining a club wouldn't suit me,


Now I know I won't win the race and I don't think I'll come last, Ill just be participator.

Any help or tips be greatly appreciated

chrislad

ronn wrote: »

basicly getting back into running after a 9 month lay off, (building a house).
Before I stopped I'd run 3/4 times a week say on Monday is do 3/5 miles on road and Wednesday I'd do 5/8miles on trail and road and Friday or Saturday I'd do 8/12 miles on trail and road. Most of my training would be a mix between trail and road.

I never really got into any programmes, just done my own thing if I'd a 10k race coming up My training would be running 10k up a mountain, just to make sure I can cover the 10k. I'd do a little speed work/tempo running from lamppost to lamppost, nothing scientific now. There'd be no stretching or warm up/cool down either.
My previous races two 10k's 57:56 and 57:55 and a half marathon 2:05.

Now my question is I'm hoping to do a marathon at some stage in the future, should I continue to train as I am and build up my miles or should I start following a training program, )ie train properly)

If I wanted to run a marathon next September what do I do between now and then, lets say a training program lasts 27 weeks and that brings me to race day???


I work shift so a joining a club wouldn't suit me,


Now I know I won't win the race and I don't think I'll come last, Ill just be participator.

Any help or tips be greatly appreciated

I'm currently doing the Boards.ie DCM Novices Marathon Plan. it's an 18 week plan that takes you up to the Dublin Marathon in October. I'm finding it great so far, and the advice on the thread, in this forum, is priceless. I'd advise just following the Hal Higdon plan for the half marathon at the moment, and then join the group next year for the 2016 DCM.

estariol

Targeting the DCM may not always suit! Personally I don't like the enormous races and the stress involved with expo's etc. and find October weather horrible. I never follow plans they have never worked for me, I run for pleasure and on whim so that seldom sits well with regimented plans. But find a 'what works for me' approach better than the HH or other internet plans, especially in light of the shift work you mention.

http://www.eastofirelandmarathons.com and http://marathonclubireland.asocion.com are both really good groups that are worth looking into if a marathon is in you plans.

ronn

estariol wrote: »

Targeting the DCM may not always suit! Personally I don't like the enormous races and the stress involved with expo's etc. and find October weather horrible. I never follow plans they have never worked for me, I run for pleasure and on whim so that seldom sits well with regimented plans. But find a 'what works for me' approach better than the HH or other internet plans, especially in light of the shift work you mention.

http://www.eastofirelandmarathons.com and http://marathonclubireland.asocion.com are both really good groups that are worth looking into if a marathon is in you plans.

I'd say I'm similar to yourself, I've a springer spaniel and I love just putting on the runners and setting sail for maybe 3 miles or maybe be 10 whatever the humour takes me, the weather wouldn't bother me though,

I'm not necessarily thinking of doing Dublin marathon but I'd like to do it at some stage.
Just starting back out should I start looking into training properly ie: recovery runs, tempo, nutrition and all the other stuff, or just keep going the way I am and if want to do a marathon follow a plan when the time comes,

Ososlo

ronn wrote: »

Just starting back out should I start looking into training properly ie: recovery runs, tempo, nutrition and all the other stuff, or just keep going the way I am and if want to do a marathon follow a plan when the time comes,

IMO you'd get more out of yourself by having a structured progressive plan to follow. You could look at a 10k plan for instance suited to your current level. Do a race at the end of the plan and then maybe look to a half marathon plan to follow if you wish to build up the distance.
Whatever plan you chose to follow (if you do) have a look at the first week of the plan and ensure you can do it easily so use a few weeks to build up to it slowly to avoid injury.