Can it be done??

katapple

Hey everyone! A friend and I had a team put together for a Tough Mudder in March, it was going to be our last hurrah together before we move a half world apart. Well, TM moved the date from March to June and we are unable to do it. There's a half marathon we can do, but we're thinking of going even more challenging and doing the full. It's a flat out and back, and it would her first, and my second.

Are we crazy? It's 10 weeks away, we both currently run 15- 20 miles a week or so, with our longest in the past few weeks being 8. I know I could easily run 10 miles tomorrow....

Could use some of your expertise right now!!

ebaymommy

Well, you've done a full before so you know what you're getting into. Personally I think it would be really tough with only 10 weeks since you are supposed to taper for 3....that only leaves you 7 weeks to work with.

Maybe look at a training program and count backwards 10 weeks and see if you could jump into it there or if it would be too much.

Looks like you could start on week 9/10 of the Novice Hal Higdon plan and not be going up too much in mileage if you are already running 20 miles a week.

http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51137/Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program

I wouldn't expect much for your time, just to finish the run. One of my running buddies (she's done 4 marathons) decided sort of last-minute (maybe 8 weeks out) to do a marathon this fall. She finished and said the run was OK but her time was about 25 minutes slower than her PR.

katapple

Oh it definitely wouldn't be for time. More for fun and the experience together. I said I would never do another full, but for her I would! LOL I don't even care if I run the whole thing, just to have fun! My first one I kinda did the same thing, I finished a half and felt so good I did my full 6 or 7 weeks later LOL

mlb929

I'd stick with the half to avoid injury, and have fun with the half. With an 8 mile long run, that's adding more than a mile a week, IMO, not what "I" would do.

katapple

When I trained for my last one I did a stagger (13 one weekend, 15, 12, 18, etc) and then only tapered for 2 weeks and only 1 20 mile run. And if I went off the rule of no more than 10% increase in a week, I could easily add on 2 miles to the long run if my base is 20, right?

I think we are going to do a couple long runs and see how our bodies takes it. Tomorrow will be 10 miles, and if we go slow I think it can be done.

I will keep ya posted!

rybo

Since you already have a base and aren't worried about time, I think you have a good plan to see how the next couple long runs go, then decide from there.

katapple

Our 10 miler went REALLY well. Took it nice and slow in the snow and I feel great! Going to try 12 next weekend, but I'm pretty confident we can do it as long as we're smart about it

KiraLech

Glad to hear that your 10 miler we well. I think you should TOTALLY do the full. Go out in a blaze of glory. If it goes well, you'll be riding high... and if it doesn't, and it takes you a really long time to finish... well, who cares. You'll have done it regardless, and you'll have those memories forever. Good luck and happy running.

trijoe

A quick disclaimer: I have a habit of taking on races I shouldn't. Last year I raced a half ironman triathlon 2 weeks after finishing rehab on a knee injury. It was tough, and I cried a few times on the run, but I finished under 8 hours. Recovery was a monster... This is one example of many.

With that said?

JUST GO FOR IT!!! Better to regret what you attempted, than what you didn't.

Shizzman

Frankly I'd say sure, heck I did a full without having run longer than a half...finish time 4:20:36 or a 9:56 pace...

katapple

well, I guess there won't be any running for me after all! I had surgery yesterday and no exercise for 6 weeks...ugh!