How long before a full marathon?
StrongerByTheMiles
Posts: 60
With my first half approaching in a few weeks, I am already asking myself the evident question, "Will I aim for a full Marathon next?" I planned to wait until after this race to think about it, but I am so pumped up! I found one that looks very appealing. It is on October 21st. Does anyone have advice on how much training time I should allow between a half and a full? I feel like I could be preapred by then, but I know that there is a big difference between 13.1 and 26.2. I am looking for advice from anyone that has run both.
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You will have more than enough time to prep for a FULL marathon BUT I would wait to register until you run your half.
Give yourself a chance to see how the Half goes and then assess if you want to run 2 HALF MARATHONS back to back. Some people decide that they don't want to go through all the EXTRA training and potential pain.
Good luck and I am just a cautious person.
Saka0 -
I did my first half marathon a week and a half ago (longest distance ever) and I signed up for a marathon right before the half. Signing up for the marathon helped me do the half! I was extra pumped. The half was flat like a pancake and that helped too. I kept thinking while running, "wow this is so flat", "yay, I like running with the people who run these things.", and "Hey, I am going to make this!". I loved the race and the distance. It was about fitness and also about making it in you mind.
For me I see the marathon distance as a process, i.e., the training to get there than just running the ultimate marathon. I feel it is different than doing the half - for me that was about doing the race, but the marathon I feel different about, I think it is impossible to do without serious training, while a half you can still 'almost' wing even if you are not trained at the distance.
My marathon is October 7, and I am doing 25-30 miles a week right now, and I am hoping to build up to 30-40 in the next 3-4 weeks and then I will do a 16 week marathon training program. I have a few halfs lined up as training runs, I may even do a full (not racing -and walking 6 miles of the distance) as training (long run) for the October 7 marathon.
PS - I am a little bit of an adventurous person, and tend to push myself a bit, so perhaps take that in consideration.0 -
Thank you for the tips! I think I am going to go for this! October 21 is set in mind! Is anyone else running the Columbus Marathon?? It is only a few hour drive from me and the description sounded wonderful. It has a LOT of entertainment and a flat course that is scenic. I am waiting until August to officially register. That will allow me to get well into an 18 week (18 or 16, I forget....I keep it at work) training schedule. I hope it works out! I0
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I'm going to give myself a year. I did my first half a little over a week ago but want to give my body a year to get used to running, to avoid any injuries. I thought about doing it this fall, but I'm okay with waiting too. I'll be doing at least one, maybe two, halves this fall.
Do you have a training plan to follow?
Good luck!0 -
I'm going to give myself a year. I did my first half a little over a week ago but want to give my body a year to get used to running, to avoid any injuries. I thought about doing it this fall, but I'm okay with waiting too. I'll be doing at least one, maybe two, halves this fall.
Do you have a training plan to follow?
Good luck!
Right now I am following a training plan from Marathonrookie.com for my half. That is the site I got my half plan from and my running is progressing nicely. It (the full plan) starts out at a lower mileage than what I am currently running, so I will either adjust or look for another plan.0 -
I completed 5 half marathons before I started thinking about a full marathon. And I'm still thinking about. I've talked a lot with people who have completed a full and read a lot threads and such on the subject.
I would like to do a full just for the experience and to have bragging rights. LOL But also because I feel the need to challenge myself a bit more. If I do one, it will be the end of summer next year (2013), that way I'm not training through a Montana winter. Still thinking about it...0 -
I've thought about a marathon, not seriously at all yet. Perhaps someday I'll do one once I have 3 or 5 halfs done. I also want to do obstacle races though too. So I don't know if I will want to devote the time to such high mileage or if I'd prefer to have more strength training in the mix. I would love the bragging rights of doing one someday though. I think I'd definitely like to be at or close to my goal weight so that I'm carrying less weight for that many miles!0
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Thank you all for your input! I am going to see how my half goes, then start into the full training schedule. I will be up to I think 16 or 18 miles by the main deadline for registration on the October full. I think that by that point I should know if I am ready or not!0
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I've been debating this question as well. I had decided that I didn't want to try the full until I had my half time under two hours. I am expecting that I will break the two hour mark this October (current PB is 2:02) so I'll look at the full next year. I had initially thought I'd go for the Fall of 2013 but given the heat this week, I now think I'll aim for a Spring 2013 full. I'd rather train in the snow than the heat!0
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Hah! I was thinking this the other day, too. I think I'm going to see if I survive my half (heh)..and go from there. There is another half here in town that I would REALLY like to run (it's in March)...so I may do it next...then plan for a full in Nov 2013 (it's a very popular one here in town). We'll see how it goes.
Good luck with your training!0 -
Thank you all for your input! I am going to see how my half goes, then start into the full training schedule. I will be up to I think 16 or 18 miles by the main deadline for registration on the October full. I think that by that point I should know if I am ready or not!
Good idea!
My friend, who has ran several full marathons, suggested signing up for a full marathon, and do the training. At any point I'm not "feeling it" (training isn't going well, not comfortable with the distances or the time comittment to training, etc) I could switch from the full to the half marathon (most races that do both have no problem with this). She pointed out if I'm signed up, I would be more likely to take the training seriously.0 -
I don't think I have time for the training runs for a full marathon, so I'm going to keep working on halves and on increasing my speed. Maybe when I'm faster I'll have time for the training runs ('cause they won't take as long, you know.)0
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How long have you been running?
I did my first full after just running for 9 months - Not a suggestion to follow. I finished it - but with injury, just simply not enough time on my feet. I have now been running for about 2 more years - and am training again, this time smarter.
I basically trained for 1/2 - until I was able to PR one I was happy with. My goal was to run 1/2 and maintain a 1/2 distance at all times. When I 1/2 train, I ran up to 15 miles every other week to get my mileages up there. I PR'd my race in March and am now training for an October marathon. It's been really easy to add from 15 up to 20 miles. I'm maintaining a slower training pace, to not go too hard at it and I will run 20 miles several times at varying speeds prior to my marathon. I won't ever run more than 20 miles, as I have worked with the coaches of the program I follow who said that recovery over 20 miles just simply takes longer and doesn't work for training. I KNOW there are other theories out there - but this works for ME and it's what I plan on following. Last time I ran up to 23 miles, when my injury kicked in - and I don't want to a repeat.0
