Harder, better, faster, faster, faster... Running

bendyourkneekatie

I'm not sure exactly what advice I'm after but I just want possibly confirmation from other runners that my plan isn't way off...

I've been running about 6 months now. I love it. And I plan to run a marathon this year.

It's not til October though, so I have plenty of time, I think. I planned my fun runs out a couple months ago and I'm building up
November 2015 10km, done. Beat my (then) pb 10k by getting sub 50minutes, pretty happy
March 2016 16km
May 2016 13.5 off road, apparently quite hilly, kind of novelty race
July 2016 half marathon
October 2016 full marathon

I haven't really set up a training program, but have fallen into a routine, and really enjoy it. I'm hoping it could take me all the way up to the half, or even the full.
Monday bodyattack (55mins hiit)
Tuesday 13.5km run
Wednesday "rest" (I have a 3 year old and a 19 month old. And no car. "Rest")
Thursday 30 minute grit strength (hiit with weights) with 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after on the treadmill trying to work on speed.
Friday 13.5km run
Saturday 30 minute grit cardio (hiit), 30 minutes cxworx (core work with small weights and resistance tubing), 55 minutes bodyattack
Sunday: long run, currently about 20km, increasing by about 1km a week

I try to do body weight resistance (lunges, squats, push-ups, etc) each non gym day

My running tends to be about 5min/km, a bit faster on flat, a bit slower up hill. I seem to be improving speed wise as I go, especially after getting my new shoes (mizuno wave inspire 12), but I'm also hoping that tiny half hour treadmill work will help...

I'd be loathe to drop any gym time, particularly during the week as the crèche means I can get Childcare for my 2 and don't have to work around my husband's availability. But I do wonder if I should be doing more running, whether now, or to be planning on it in the future. As with most marathon first timers I will be pleased to just finish, but honestly, I'd like to do a reasonable time.

rybo

You're going to need to do a lot more running. you should be building to 65-80 km per week during your peak weeks. You can get by with less, but a marathon ain't no joke.

glevinso

I agree with rybo here. You need to be running a lot more than 3x/week. Running a marathon is not about the run you do on race day, or any one long run you do in training. Successfully running a marathon (as opposed to running the first 30k, blowing up and suffering horribly for the last 12k) is all about how much running you do in the months leading up to it. You will be looking to run 1000-1500km during the course of your training, with a few peak weeks in that 65-80km range.

I would suggest adding one more run into your week. Either add it to one of the other days, or replace your gym work. Since your race is in October I would say the actual focused marathon work wouldn't start until around June. Sometime around June you will want to add a 5th run to the week.

While I am not necessarily a huge fan of Hal Higdon's more advanced marathon plans, he does have a solid plan to get beginners to the start of a marathon uninjured and across the finish line.

glevinso

For what it's worth, a 50min 10k roughly translates to a 3:50 marathon assuming proper marathon training. Realistically, you will probably not hit that theoretical marathon time but it does give you an idea of what you can be capable of if you put your mind to it.