DANI - ? about your marathon training

E

elaineyue

Cathlete
Hi Dani,

Just wanted to check in with you and see how your training is going. I know there's still 6 months until your marathon, but are you following a plan to increase your mileage? I'm doing that now, but I'm a little overwhelmed because I've read that people shouldn't even think of running a marathon until they've got 3 years of running under their belts. I've only got about a year. I'm not trying to race the marathon, I just want to finish. But it would be nice to finish somewhat comfortably (if that's possible), without having to crawl on my hands and knees through the finish line.

Anyway, just curious. Thanks! Elaine
 
Hi Elaine! Don't stress, according to Hal Higdon you only need 1 year of running under your belt or equivalent physical fitness. I want to finish too, just like you! :)

Excerpt from his website:

"PEOPLE DIFFER GREATLY IN ABILITY, but ideally before starting a marathon program, you should have been running about a year. You should be able to comfortably run distances between 3 and 6 miles. You should be training 3-5 days a week, averaging 15-25 miles a week. You should have run an occasional 5-K or 10-K race. It is possible to run a marathon with less of a training base (particularly if you come from another sport), but the higher your fitness level, the easier this 18-week program will be."



I joined the Chicago Area Running Association training program.
The training starts in June but right now I am running between 3 and 6 miles at a time, with the longer run on the weekends.

It will most likely be very similar to this one (posted in the link below) with one long run at the end of the week and short runs during the week.

Check out this link here. It's a great training program!

http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/Mar00novice.htm

Please keep me posted on how you are doing and I will do the same.

:)

Good luck!!! :7
 
Dani and Elaine....I think Hal is right on the mark. I'd love it if you 2 would keep me posted. I am so excited for both of you and wish you both a a great marathon...:)...Carole
 
Thanks Dani and Carole for the encouragement! I'm excited but occasionally have doubts about whether I can do this. But since I've already registered, I can't turn back now. Since I do have 6 months, I'm really working on building up my mileage so that I will be running three 20-milers in my training, along with several other 17+ mile long runs.

Carole, how long were you running before you decided to run a marathon? And how long before ultras? Not that I'm seriously considering ultras at this point!

Elaine
 
Dani and Elaine - Good luck with marathon training! I really admire anyone who can do it! I did a half marathon in Jan. and I seriously wonder how is it humanly possible to do a full marathon!?! I was exhausted after 13 miles and I really do LOVE, LOVE, LOVE running! Oh yeah, did I mention I LOVE running!?!;) Maybe one day I'll try the marathon thing but I'm not much into torture at this time, LOL! (BTW- I've been running about 3-4 years....)
 
Laura...you can do it...trust me...:)

Elaine...before my 1st marathon I had run off and on for about 20 years. I started in about 1976, quit for about 8 years from 1984 to 1992 (achilles tendonitis) I still worked out then but did other cardio (mostly step) and lifted weights. I remember when my sister did her 1st. I told her that it was silly for someone to run that far...:)...well I said I'd do my first before I was 40. I was 38. My sister ran it with me...and I think she has regretted it since...:7 No sooner did we finish I asked her when our next one was. I had no clue if I could finish 26.2 miles either. If you are serious with training and follow a program (like Hal's) you will be able to do it. 11 marathons later I did my first ultra (50K). I love 50K's because most are on trails and it is just a different mindset from marathons. Like Laura I LOVE running....is your training going to be the 12 weeks before the marathon? 3 20 milers sound good. I'd normally do 16,17 or 18 on the other sundays. Try not to ever increase your weekly mileage by more than 10% of the total. For example if you do say 25 miles one week, don't go up more than 2.5 miles for the next weeks total (27.5). For me this prevented any injuries....:)...Carole
 
Runner's World magazine, either this month or last month, had an article about two brothers training to run their first marathon and the training regimen each of them used. It was very interesting and worth checking out!

Good luck to both of you! I would love to run a marathon one day!
 
With all of these words of encouragement, how could I not finish? :) As ambitious as I am, I'm even saying that I want to run another one after this. I'm still 6 months away from my first!

I researched a bunch of training plans. I will actually be following a program similar to Hal Higdon's 18-week Intermediate program, since I have some time to increase my mileage (not more than 10% at a time). I can start right at his first week of training. I will not necessarily run his Saturday runs at race pace, though, I just plan to do the mileage. I'd like to be as conditioned as possible, given my little experience. My goal is really just to finish, but secretly, I'd like to finish in about 5 hours. I hope that's realistic.
 
Thanks Carole and everyone for the encouragement! I will definitely keep you posted.

Elaine, I'd like to finish in 5 hours too!! :D

I know we can do it!!!! :7
 
Hi Elaine,

I'm curious about what training plan you are following. Is it online somewhere? I've not seen one that has three 20 milers. I'd be interested in checking it out.

Personally, I've always bumped up my long run by 1 mile for two weeks followed by a "down week" (i.e. 12 miles, 13 miles then 10 miles. 15 miles, 16 miles then 12 miles, etc.) And I do just one 20 miler three weeks before the marathon then it's taper time! :)

Elaine K.
 
>Hi Elaine,
>
>I'm curious about what training plan you are following. Is it
>online somewhere? I've not seen one that has three 20 milers.
> I'd be interested in checking it out.
>
>Personally, I've always bumped up my long run by 1 mile for
>two weeks followed by a "down week" (i.e. 12 miles, 13 miles
>then 10 miles. 15 miles, 16 miles then 12 miles, etc.) And I
>do just one 20 miler three weeks before the marathon then it's
>taper time! :)
>
>Elaine K.


Elaine K.,

That was Hal's Novice training program I posted.

He also has an Intermediate I, Intermediate II and an Advance Training I & II with more 20 milers on it.

Here they are:

http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/Mar00intermediate.htm - Intermediates I & II

http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/advancedint.htm - Advanced I & II

-------------------------------------------------------------
 
Elaine K.,
The Intermediate II program is the one I'm following, with some minor adjustments to fit my schedule. I haven't even gotten close to all that mileage yet, so I may be a little too optimistic with my 3 20-milers! But the gradual increase seems reasonable, and I will stick to the schedule as closely as possible. If I feel too many aches and pains, I will back off.

Elaine
 
Elaine and Dani, I am so impressed. Keep up the good work, and keep us posted. :)

I am currently following Hal's novice plan for a 15K. I have until the fall, so I am going to do his 8 week novice plan, and if I improve a lot, I might go on to his intermediate 15K plan. I am so glad he posts this for free. It's great to have.

Again, good luck and happy running. :)

Lori
 
Thanks for Hal Higdon info.

If you guys have been doing Cathe DVDs regularly then training for and running a marathon should be easy enough.

I've not yet run a full marathon since doing Cathe's DVDs but I've done some 1/2s. My times have been steadily improving. I make sure I do IMAX at least once a week along with whichever cardios of hers I feel like doing. Plus I have been doing the SH series along with ME. Also my diet is clean. I feel good. No, I feel great!

I'm in the lottery for the Saint George marathon and will find out in a couple of weeks if I'll be training for another marathon. It's such a commitment of time and energy that I don't know if I'll be sad if my name is not selected!

Good luck to you both. :)
 
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