Marathon Training

UltraVegRunnerBabe

I have started my training for my second marathon in May, and basically that looks like one big 13-16 mile run per week with the rest of my workouts consisting of 4-9 miles depending on the day, as well as one rest day. The problem is, Track starts in March and I will be competeting in the 3200 m and 1600 m (oh and maybe Steeplechase) while also increasing my marathon distance training to 16-24 miles by April. I will most likely not have a rest day when Track starts, so I was wondering if anyone has any tips for not getting injured? I know, it sounds rhetorical, but I did the same thing last year, somehow didn't get injured, and ran a sub-4 hour. I will be lucky if I don't get injured...

OSUbuckeye906

I'm probably not the best person to answer this question as I'm currently out of my marathon training due to a stress injury, however I would definitely take a hard look at what's most important before you risk doing something like this. Even though you said you were able to do it last year, you may not be so lucky this year. How important is running the track events well to you? How important is running the marathon well to you? Most likely something is going to be put on the back burner. Does your team have a PT that you can check in with to make sure you're doing all you can for injury prevention?

As far as actual marathon training goes, I would probably play it safe and run all or most of my runs at an easy pace as you'll have plenty of speed work with track. There are plenty of other experienced runners that would probably have good advice on this over in the January 2017 Running Challenge thread (under Challenges). I'd post there as well to get some more opinions. Best of luck!

pondee629

I guess the question becomes: Are you a Marathoner who also runs 3200/1600/Steeplechase or are you a 3200/1600/Steeplechase track man who also runs a Marathon? Running a Marathon is a world's difference from running 2 to 3 miles on the track.

keanekerin

I would suggest a combination of cross training and stretching...maybe some yoga. Keeping your flexibility up will help prevent injuries. Also, I wouldn't overtrain. A few years ago, I ran two half marathons and was training for a full. A week and a half before the race, I pulled a muscle because I was overtraining some muscles and not training others. Good luck!

UltraVegRunnerBabe

pondee629 wrote: »

I guess the question becomes: Are you a Marathoner who also runs 3200/1600/Steeplechase or are you a 3200/1600/Steeplechase track man who also runs a Marathon? Running a Marathon is a world's difference from running 2 to 3 miles on the track.

I am a marathoner who runs 1600/3200/Steeplechase. And I am a girl.

rybo

What does your coach say? The training staff of your track team? There's also no reason to go beyond 20 miles for your long runs. I don't know exactly what your track practices consist of but basically you are just adding a long run per week to that? Keep it easy, lots of stretching & foam rolling & you should be fine. You did it last year, why do you seem so concerned this year?

pondee629

UltraVegRunnerBabe wrote: »

pondee629 wrote: »

I guess the question becomes: Are you a Marathoner who also runs 3200/1600/Steeplechase or are you a 3200/1600/Steeplechase track man who also runs a Marathon? Running a Marathon is a world's difference from running 2 to 3 miles on the track.

I am a marathoner who runs 1600/3200/Steeplechase. And I am a girl.

Seems like, then, you'll be training for the Marathon and fitting in your 1600/3200/steeplechase runs as part of that training. You should have scheduled rest days in any training program.

Sorry for the gender mistake the "Babe" doesn't show on your posts, just "UltraVegRun..." ;-)