To Marathon or Half?

emAZn

I signed up for my first marathon and made it through 14 weeks of a 20 week training plan. I was running 4 days a week and a recovery run and my longest run was a 16 miler that I did pretty well. During this time I got really overwhelmed with the mileage and how tired I was emotionally and physically and I lost a lot of confidence. My next run after that I hurt my achilles and took a week off in which I completely fell off the training wagon and have done lots of cross training and a some long runs 6-8 miles but nothing too crazy. It's been 3 weeks since I stopped my official training and 3 more weeks till my marathon.

I was originally just going to accept that I wasn't ready for the "beast" that is a full and drop down to the half but now I'm wondering if I would be able to still do it... There is a 7 hour time limit on the full and I'm wondering with walk breaks and what not if I would be able to finish safely, uninjured, and without wanting to throw myself off a cliff.

I definitely cannot race it like I had hoped but maybe there is still a chance to finish? I'm ok with dropping down to the half and feel confident that I could run that at my normal pace I guess I'm just wondering what the pro's would do. My original training has me doing a 20 miler this weekend as my long run. Maybe attempt it and see where my mind and body are?

handyrunner

have you ever done a full. my guess the pros would choose to wait for the next one. as hard as it may be if drop to the half. what's the point of doing it if it's going to be hell. get healthy and try for a much better experience.

all that being said only you can know what your capable of. good luck on whatever you choose.

emAZn

Never a full, 6 halfs though... But I know they are two different animals.

barnettsa

I would try the 20 mile run out. See how you feel on your long run. If you totally struggle it may be best to wait.

CarsonRuns

In your shoes, there is no way I would do the full.

rybo

Another vote for the half. Run the full when you are ready

Jkowals123

Run the half- do the full when you
Have a 18 miler and two 20 milers
Under your belt! I prefer half marathons
But have done 5 full marathons:). Hope
this helps! Good Luck!

ZenInTexas

I think you could do it and finish under the 7 hours. However I also think it might be a totally miserable experience. Is there another full coming up that you could sign up for and jump back into training?

Unknown

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140point6

Personally I would ramp up and get ready to run the half marathon now and use the missed full as a motivator to find a full in the near future, keep on training, sign up and go get that 26.2

Just_Scott

Not a professional, but living with someone who has done 3 halves this year, I believe your training has provided your answer. For half training you'd be running at least one long run of 10+ miles during the week, and you indicated your long is 8. Do the half, OR look for a full which is about 8 weeks away and train for that one. Best of luck,

SonicDeathMonkey80

If you gotta ask, you know the answer

RunnerElizabeth

I think you made the right decision when you decided to switch to the half. You don't want your first marathon to be a miserable experience or it may be your only marathon. Best to put it off for a bit, see if maybe there is another one 3 or 4 months out, if you are in a hurry.

emAZn

Thanks everyone for your responses, running is such a mind game!!

meganmoore112

Do it!! The same thing happened to me with my marathon training last year. I go totally burnt out. I did my 20 mile training run 3 weeks before the race and then did very little training the two weeks before the race. The marathon took me 6 hours and was SO HARD but I did it!

agthorn

Do the half and enjoy it and likely stay injury free, rather than attempting the full and being miserable and maybe re-injuring yourself. The full is as much a mental game as a physical game, and it doesn't sound like you're there yet. There will be other opportunities to have a better first marathon experience.

wolfgate

Easy question. Do the half.

You'll do a full later when you're ready. The simple fact that you burned out on the training this cycle tells you a lot.

jenn26point2

I'm no pro as I've only done half marathons (10th one will be this weekend), but I'm training for a marathon and the training hasn't gone too well (no injuries or anything, just timing issues getting all the miles in). I fully plan to do the full, but I have 3 months yet before the race so plenty of time to get my training back on course. Mine is a different beast, however, as I'm doing Bataan as my first, so there will inevitably be a lot of walking.

With a 7 hour time limit, I say you Galloway the race. Then you can finish strong and be happy with it. Good luck!

bubbaduts

I got VERY sick 4 weeks before my last full and struggled with the same thing since i missed one of my 20 milers. I finished it was tough but my time sucked 5:15. I now wished i had switched to the half but i am stubborn and thought i knew best. Weirdly enough i had no recovery time after and was able to run the next day. If i were in your shoes i would still do the full but i'm a little bit of a running nut. 27 races last year alone. If i were giving advice i would say switch to the half it will be a better experience.

Irishsquid62

I've run four full marathons. My last one was the 2011 Chicago Marathon. I planned on running it again in 2012 but had to drop out due to several nagging injuries.

There will ALWAYS be set backs and disappointments while training for a marathon. There will be weekends when you just won't be up for your long run either physically or mentally. It happens. Especially during the rigorous 16 - 20 weeks of a typical marathon training plan. You simply log your miles and write it off as 'one of those days.'

Injuries are another story. I've learned the hard way that training plans can't be written in stone. If you need to cut back the mileage or even rest completely to allow yourself to properly heal, so be it. Don't feel guilty about it and don't push yourself to make up the lost mileage. I'm guilty of both and it only makes things worse. Dropping out of the 2012 marathon was a tough choice but it was the right one. Running is suppose to be fun. If every training run is a painful chore, it's time to reevaluate what you're doing. If you don't feel you're up for a full, stick to the half and move up to the full when you feel comfortable with it.

BrianSharpe

Do the half and have fun; set your sights on another marathon (if you really want to do one....) that you have time to train for.

headofphat

Whatever you decide to do, please don't put a douchey sticker on the back of your car letting me know that you are a 13.1 or 26.2. So lame.

emAZn

Lol my step dad did that when he ran a half with me a month ago and asked me if I wanted one... I was like lol no thanks

julie_emma1

Whatever you decide to do, please don't put a douchey sticker on the back of your car letting me know that you are a 13.1 or 26.2. So lame.

Personally I love those stickers! Runners should be proud of what they've accomplished

In regards to OP, I'm not a pro runner (and have never done a FM) but it definitely sounds like the half is a better bet for you at this point. Best of luck with whatever you decide!

wolfgate

Whatever you decide to do, please don't put a douchey sticker on the back of your car letting me know that you are a 13.1 or 26.2. So lame.

My favorite was one I saw that said "0.02 - Couch 2 Fridge"

Stickers don't phase me one way or the other I didn't see any reason to put one on my car, but I'm fine with people who do. In my case, running a half or a marathon (even the first) wasn't a singular goal. I've done and will do multiples of each, so the distance is not a big milestone. However, I know that for many people it is a major goal and accomplishment. If they want to show pride with a sticker, that's reasonable.

just_Jennie1

Whatever you decide to do, please don't put a douchey sticker on the back of your car letting me know that you are a 13.1 or 26.2. So lame.

Why is it douchey to want to brag about an accomplishment?

Have you done a half or full marathon? A tri? An Iron Man? People that do those sort of races have every reason to be proud and show it off.

KateRunsColorado

Whatever you decide to do, please don't put a douchey sticker on the back of your car letting me know that you are a 13.1 or 26.2. So lame.

I'm sorry it's considered lame to you...but to me, it's a huge accomplishment. As someone who was never athletic before, does not have anyone in my immediate family or friends who runs, and used to be overweight, it is a big deal. It takes a lot of dedication to run a marathon. 2 to 4 hour runs every single weekend, getting up at 4:30AM to get weekday runs in, etc. So yes, I will be putting a 26.2 sticker on my car after I finish my first marathon in 2 weeks. Deal with it.

SonicDeathMonkey80

Whatever you decide to do, please don't put a douchey sticker on the back of your car letting me know that you are a 13.1 or 26.2. So lame.

Did your mother torment you with these stickers as a child? Why so much hate?

emAZn

I may be crazy but I decided to give the 20 miler a try tomorrow... Even if it's an epic fail at least I made it to that mental hurdle and I'll know what to expect during my next marathon training.. Plus I have about 2 dozen cookies in my belly I need to burn off

DymonNdaRgh40

Good idea!

See how you feel afterwards and then decide.

Good luck!

fleetzz

You sound like you find running miserable right now. Not a great time to tackle a marathon.

Running should be fun!