Marathon Runners-need some advice

[kjcba8101]

I ran a half marathon last weekend (my first ever) and am wanting to make a quick jump to a full (target date of Nov 19).

I'm a newbie at running. The half marathon was not really a challenge for me. I felt like I could nearly sprint the last mile of it. To be fair, I ran with my wife at her pace, so I wasn't doing this to be the best/win but to finish. The same idea for the marathon-I'm not trying to set a world record, I just want to know if I'm putting myself at a ridiculous risk of becoming injured. Note-I'm 35, and in good shape other than a 10+ year old knee injury. I'd love some feedback from those more experienced than I...

 

[NeekReevers]

It's probably a bad idea but if you can comfortably finish a half you can probably finish a full. It will be painful and you will have a much higher risk for injury. My advice is to wait and train properly. If you're set on doing it though just make sure you start really, really slow. A marathon doesn't feel twice as long as a half, it feels 3-4x as long.

 

[kjcba8101]

It's probably a bad idea but if you can comfortably finish a half you can probably finish a full. It will be painful and you will have a much higher risk for injury. My advice is to wait and train properly. If you're set on doing it though just make sure you start really, really slow. A marathon doesn't feel twice as long as a half, it feels 3-4x as long.

Thank you, Neek. My wife offered similar thoughts, but she has never run a full (though she is an avid runner). She's also not much of a risk taker and I seem to be a bit of one. I'm just afraid that if I don't do it now, I might never do it.

 

[EvilPOKES]

Depending on what your current training regiment is, I would give it 20-3 weeks time before you consider a marathon.

Do you peak at over 20 miles in a day during training? What is an average week's miles? Do you stagger your runs or do you do a consistent run each time?

I don't run anymore, though I really should, but can offer a little bit of info on how I ran my one and only marathon. Got plenty of tidbits from my one year of XC walkon

 

[kjcba8101]

Depending on what your current training regiment is, I would give it 20-3 weeks time before you consider a marathon.

Do you peak at over 20 miles in a day during training? What is an average week's miles? Do you stagger your runs or do you do a consistent run each time?

I don't run anymore, though I really should, but can offer a little bit of info on how I ran my one and only marathon. Got plenty of tidbits from my one year of XC walkon

Evil

My longest have only been 10-13 miles (several shorter runs during the week). I suppose the risk lies in upping my mileage so drastically in short time. I'm just wondering if I can ramp it up 3 miles a week to hit my goal in 4 weeks. As mentioned, I'm not an experienced runner, but am a fairly athletic guy.

 

[EvilPOKES]

I would still give it more time if you can. You body needs to have enough time to change. I wouldn't consistently do the same mileage every run either. I would do one or two 18-20 milers a week and then keep it between 11-15 for you other days.

If you really want to do well, I would work pace up to 6:00/miles or faster. If you are more casual, then pace is meh.

 

[anon_ph7vrsh7abnty]

Running is the #1 cause of sports injuries.

That should make the decision easier.


If a half feels good, it's only an indication that you could build for more. Just do the full in the spring or summer. Plenty of time to work up and reduce the risk of injury.

 

[Cordellhall83]

I ran my first and only marathon at the age of 53. I'm 55 now and have run a few half marathons since. I didn't start running until age 50. With all of that out of the way...you really aren't ready. BUT if you don't care about time and just want to finish you can probably do it. I've been told if you can do 18 miles you can make it. My highest training distance was a 20 miler. I trained 3 1/2 months. If you properly train...getting to the "starting" line is something to celebrate because of all the training. Things to know: 1st you don't have to think about nutrition when doing a Half...you DO on a marathon. You cannot run that far on your stored calories...you will need to eat to replace burned calories as you run...I think I burned about 3000 calories. Figuring out what to eat is a part of your training. 2nd: You have no idea how your body is going to react to that distance...I had NEVER had cramps in my legs before that day...of course it was the hottest day of the Spring for my 26.2. 3rd: There is something about mileage after 20 miles. They always say the real marathon is the last 6.2 miles. So you have really 3 weeks of training...the week of November 14th I wouldn't run except maybe a few miles just to stay loose...rest your body before the run. If it was me, I would do weekend long runs of 15, 18, and 20 and if you can do that...give it a try. If you do decide to go for it, keep us up-to-date on your progress!

 

[Ostatedchi]

Best advice is that it is better to be a little under trained and healthy than ready and injured.

 

[Marshal Jim Duncan]

Running is the #1 cause of sports injuries.

That should make the decision easier.


If a half feels good, it's only an indication that you could build for more. Just do the full in the spring or summer. Plenty of time to work up and reduce the risk of injury.

This is good advice. Running a marathon (or longer) has very title in common with running a half marathon (or shorter).

 

[kjcba8101]

These are all great comments. I really could go either way. One thing is for sure-I could feel the impact of running 13 miles on my body's frame. I can honestly say that I know why so many people get worn out kneees and other things from running. I'm only 3 months into training and I can see myself cutting down my training to 2-3 miles runs a few times a week. That's my biggest reason for interest in the marathon. I feel like I might never be in this position again.

 

[NeekReevers]

These are all great comments. I really could go either way. One thing is for sure-I could feel the impact of running 13 miles on my body's frame. I can honestly say that I know why so many people get worn out kneees and other things from running. I'm only 3 months into training and I can see myself cutting down my training to 2-3 miles runs a few times a week. That's my biggest reason for interest in the marathon. I feel like I might never be in this position again.

If that's how you feel I'd schedule a marathon a little further out so that you can actually train properly. If you ran a January marathon you could give yourself about 12 weeks to get to where you need to be to run a respectable marathon. Maybe that would be a good compromise.

I've run four marathons. As your body adapts, you will actually hurt less, not more. Your cardiovascular system adapts very quickly and muscles generally do too. However, your bones and connective tissues take years to adapt and a very long time to heal once injured. Most people end up overtraining because their heart and lungs overwork their connective tissues.

 

[Renegade Bullet]

If you don't have any 18-20 miles in I wouldn't do it. Not unless you want to walk the last 6. Even trained properly the wall usually hits at 23 or so.

 

[kjcba8101]

You guys have lead me a little towards the path of not doing it so quickly. I don't mean that in a negative way. I didn't know that running gives you such a high risk of injury. As a guy who had three ligaments/tendons torn in his knee, I take heed to the injury advice

 

[Renegade Bullet]

No reason to rush it. You have a good base to draw from.

You could probably get to 16-18 pretty easily. After that is when the difference hits. Nothing like running 20 miles and then thinking "I only have a 10k left!"