Long runs?

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Replies

  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    Kindeo wrote: »
    Just checked. The training plan I was looking at starts the first week at 20 mpw, then adds about 1-2 miles each week until it gets up to about 36 mpw.

    OK now that really seems too light to me. Check out the training plans here, like Novice 1:

    http://www.halhigdon.com/

    http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51137/Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    glevinso wrote: »
    SonicDeathMonkey80 wrote: »
    glevinso wrote: »
    45 miles a week (base) is a hell of a lot of running for someone's first marathon. I don't think anyone actually has that as their base for their first one. By the end of a beginner training plan, sure, but seriously 45/week is way more than necessary.

    Of course if you CAN get there, you will rock it. But I wouldn't at all say you need to.

    I wouldn't recommend going into it with any less.

    Plenty of people go into it with a 20mi/week base. I know plenty of people who have done so, complete the plans, don't get injured, and run between 4:00 and 4:30.

    Nobody is going to qualify for Boston starting at 20/week, but you can certainly safely train for and complete in a reasonable time with a base like that.

    Oh I finished my first in 4:27. I get that. Bet your people had about the same positive split I had. Not trying to get op a bq, just trying to save from a miserable experience that I and many others have, that's all.
  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    NEVER want to run 2 hours. 10K is more than enough for me. Cudos to you. o:)
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    edited October 2014
    SonicDeathMonkey80 wrote: »

    Oh I finished my first in 4:27. I get that. Bet your people had about the same positive split I had. Not trying to get op a bq, just trying to save from a miserable experience that I and many others have, that's all.

    OK we are on the same page then. My first was around 4:35 starting from a 25ish base, and using the Higdon plan. I was plenty pleased with myself. Miserable experience at the end for sure.

    Got my times down into the 3:20 range though and now trying for a < 3:10 BQ in a few weeks.
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    glevinso wrote: »
    45 miles a week (base) is a hell of a lot of running for someone's first marathon. I don't think anyone actually has that as their base for their first one. By the end of a beginner training plan, sure, but seriously 45/week is way more than necessary.

    Of course if you CAN get there, you will rock it. But I wouldn't at all say you need to.

    I actually am currently running at least 50-55 miles per week and have had 62 miles in one week and my first full marathon is not until December. Lot's of 18 milers, some 20 milers, and even a 22 miler long run already under my belt. This week was my running anniversary so I slowly built all of this in 1 year. So it can be done if you do it slowly, consistently, and smartly.
  • BChanFit
    BChanFit Posts: 209 Member
    What is bq? Certainly hope it's not Boston qualifying... I will never EVER be that fast. Not even on the bucket list. I would be Sooooo happy to finish in something around 4:30. That would be really amazing. This time 2 years ago I couldn't run 1 minute and hated any kind of exercise at all really. I will also be studying for comps for my PhD around marathon weekend so ill be busy but I can handle 30-45 miles per week. 50+ would be out of the question. If thats necessary I'm out of the marathon game until 2017. :(
  • Maleficent0241
    Maleficent0241 Posts: 386 Member
    Kindeo wrote: »
    What is bq? Certainly hope it's not Boston qualifying... I will never EVER be that fast. Not even on the bucket list. I would be Sooooo happy to finish in something around 4:30. That would be really amazing. This time 2 years ago I couldn't run 1 minute and hated any kind of exercise at all really. I will also be studying for comps for my PhD around marathon weekend so ill be busy but I can handle 30-45 miles per week. 50+ would be out of the question. If thats necessary I'm out of the marathon game until 2017. :(

    Honestly, 30-45 MPW is probably fine for your marathon as long as you aren't looking to race at a (relative to you) peak level. The risk of training on less miles is that A) your overall conditioning may not be adequate, and thus the race will be a long and painful experience, and B) your long run becomes a significant part of your weekly mileage, which puts you at risk for injury and a lot of mental hurt as well. From time to time, your long run may reach near 50% of your weekly mileage, but it's not a great habit to get into. Ideally, it would be 33% to 40% max.

    The long run shouldn't be too difficult overall from a physical standpoint, save the last few miles when you are pushing to a new distance. Most of the run you should be running easy and relaxed. Where it really becomes difficult is the mental game - how do you deal with continuing on through the urge to stop, etc.

    The marathon really is more than twice as hard as a half, both physically and mentally. Don't skimp on training - it makes for a miserable experience. Ask me how I know :'(
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    Kindeo wrote: »
    What is bq? Certainly hope it's not Boston qualifying... I will never EVER be that fast. Not even on the bucket list. I would be Sooooo happy to finish in something around 4:30. That would be really amazing. This time 2 years ago I couldn't run 1 minute and hated any kind of exercise at all really. I will also be studying for comps for my PhD around marathon weekend so ill be busy but I can handle 30-45 miles per week. 50+ would be out of the question. If thats necessary I'm out of the marathon game until 2017. :(

    Here's the thing... I bet if you run a GREAT first marathon, you'll be back for more, and a BQ isn't farfetched. However, run a terrible one, you may not want to run another (hopefully not due to injury). I prefer to see aspiring marathoners in the former rather than the latter. The advice I gave is on the conservative side of running a marathon, and I think with consistency/determination (which a PhD says a lot about that trait in you) you will be fine :)
  • Curtruns
    Curtruns Posts: 510 Member
    glevinso wrote: »
    Going past there, yea that's when it gets hard and stays kinda hard :)

    It does stay hard but.....you recover a lot faster.
  • BChanFit
    BChanFit Posts: 209 Member
    Well, I got the 7 miles in today and it wasn't terrible! Audio book helped and got it out of the way before the sun was up. I think I'll keep building up to my 20 a week for now and then increase that when I can. I also invested in a few books on marathon running and am doing research on a few different plans. Good thing is time is on my side. I think a year should be sufficient to at least finish, which is my ultimate goal at this point. :)

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