The Lazy Marathoner......
SteveTries
Posts: 723 Member
......or "how little training can one get away with?"
After getting off the couch in January last year I have run three half's and a super tough 10mile cross country hilly mudfest and as you'd expect I've improved with each.
Training is 4 or 5 days weekly comprising a long run of 16-20kms, one or two easy pace 10kms and one or two intervals/fartleks or hill sessions, typically about 5-6kms of distance each.
I really, really like the half. It's a distance that feels like a challenge worthy of the race fees, the logistical effort to travel to the locations and the training is at a level that is family friendly.
I have a massive respect for those who run the full and I think I'd like to experience it just the once. With 3 kids and a busy job I know it wouldn't go down well with She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed if I started spending several more hours a week out on the pavement. So my question to experienced marathoners is where do you think the low-end of an acceptable number of weekly training miles lies for someone who is looking to just get to the finish? My recent half pace on a hilly route was 1:49 so I'd be hoping for 4 hrs for the full.
Many thanks for any feedback.
After getting off the couch in January last year I have run three half's and a super tough 10mile cross country hilly mudfest and as you'd expect I've improved with each.
Training is 4 or 5 days weekly comprising a long run of 16-20kms, one or two easy pace 10kms and one or two intervals/fartleks or hill sessions, typically about 5-6kms of distance each.
I really, really like the half. It's a distance that feels like a challenge worthy of the race fees, the logistical effort to travel to the locations and the training is at a level that is family friendly.
I have a massive respect for those who run the full and I think I'd like to experience it just the once. With 3 kids and a busy job I know it wouldn't go down well with She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed if I started spending several more hours a week out on the pavement. So my question to experienced marathoners is where do you think the low-end of an acceptable number of weekly training miles lies for someone who is looking to just get to the finish? My recent half pace on a hilly route was 1:49 so I'd be hoping for 4 hrs for the full.
Many thanks for any feedback.
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I am in sort of a similar situation and I am a firm believer in family first. Although it is not ideal I ran my first marathon maxing out at about 55 km a week (watch the by-the-book runners rip that one to shreds...). I sort of lost my sense of humour, but not my sanity and endurance, at 6 km to go but I survived. But, you will have to increase the distance of your long run. If you have a solid base (like you do) you should finish.0
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The low end is something like the Galloway "Marathon to Finish" program. It is three days a week with long runs up to 26 mi. That will get you to the finish line but you won't be setting any speed records.0
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......or "how little training can one get away with?"
After getting off the couch in January last year I have run three half's and a super tough 10mile cross country hilly mudfest and as you'd expect I've improved with each.
Training is 4 or 5 days weekly comprising a long run of 16-20kms, one or two easy pace 10kms and one or two intervals/fartleks or hill sessions, typically about 5-6kms of distance each.
I really, really like the half. It's a distance that feels like a challenge worthy of the race fees, the logistical effort to travel to the locations and the training is at a level that is family friendly.
I have a massive respect for those who run the full and I think I'd like to experience it just the once. With 3 kids and a busy job I know it wouldn't go down well with She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed if I started spending several more hours a week out on the pavement. So my question to experienced marathoners is where do you think the low-end of an acceptable number of weekly training miles lies for someone who is looking to just get to the finish? My recent half pace on a hilly route was 1:49 so I'd be hoping for 4 hrs for the full.
Many thanks for any feedback.
great question!
The marathon 'plans' ( of which there are many) are just suggested plans..they can be modified to suit your time constraints, ability etc.
I am training for my first marathon, and whilst the temptation of a 'quick fix' for the demanding ( and believe me, I am finding it very demanding) training, there isn't a short cut or a quick fix. I am fast realising that completing the training required is just a big an achievement as the race it's self. I know form my own ability and experience that if I looked for a quick fix to training, there is every possibility that I wouldn't be able to run 26.2 miles on race day.
If you enjoy half marathons and clearly you have a very respectable time for a hilly half, then perhaps you can modify one of the many galloway/higdon plans out there?
I run halfs as training runs and they are a TOTALLY different animal to the longer runs that push beyond 15 miles.
Good luck!0 -
Well, Mr. Rumpole,
Back in the day, when training was not so sophisticated, I ran a marathon after doing 10 mile runs, four days a week, with a couple of 15-16 mile runs. In those days, they thought there was the "wall" at about 19-20 miles and they did not recommend you train beyond that. It was your hurdle for the race.
But, I suspect that if you want to run the race in under 4 hours, you are going to need to do more than that.
My wife follows a strict training program, and I think, she has about four weekends in a row in the program where she runs 16 miles, 18 miles, 20 miles, etc. That is on top of a base of running four other days a week.0 -
I'm doing 3x a week running and am in marathon training. I followed the same program last year and set a PR (took 14 minutes off my old marathon PR) so I'm back at it again this year. I usually lift weights 2x a week, do yoga 2x a week and do some sort of cardio cross-training that's pretty intense (like spin class) once a week.
http://apbrwww5.apsu.edu/matthewsf/running/first to the finish.htm0 -
You are asking for an opinion, so I'll gladly give you mine.
I wouldn't even think of attempting a marathon on any plan that tops out at less than 40 miles per week. Sure, there are many who have probably been successful running fewer miles, but I think 40 is the right number. That gives you the ability to have a 20 mile run without your long run exceeding half your weekly mileage (still too high, should be between 1/3 and 1/4 of total mileage).0 -
Carson has clearly identified the subtext here, I suppose I am really looking for validation to do something I already know isn't very wise. :-) but I do value every experience shared and I will spend some time thinking it over properly.
Thanks everyone for sharing.0 -
While it personally doesn't work for me, nor do I recommend it, it can be done! I have a few friends who've done the Lazy Man's No Training Plan and they've been able to knock out a sub 4 on their first try. Of course, they were either lucky enough to be naturally athletic or have the biomechanics, or they also crosstrained heavily. You may be able to do it on a low mileage plan but just imagine how much better you'd do if you actually work your *kitten* off! Depends on if you just want to finish or actually perform your best.0
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I'm a total half-asser.
You can do it by training 3 days a week, with the two days being about an hour or hour and half, but those have to be hard speed work, super quality runs. I do tempo, farleks, mile repeats on Tues, steep hill sprints on Thurs. You have to take THOSE seriously.
Long runs Saturday. here's the thing: if you don't have time for one long run (b/c it will be way slower than your marathon) you can either do a two-a-day for that one, or back to back long runs (Sat/Sun back-to-back is what I use, b/c I run trail ultras). I would try to get in at least one WHOLE 20 miler 3 or 4 wks before the goal race (20 miler is what I call anything between 18-22 miles)
If you're going to half-*kitten* the training, you have to be super careful to make your long runs easy enough to not hurt yourself. There are TONS of successful (winning) ultra runners who don't run more than 20 miles a week. Granted, these people are gifted and do some hardcore gym work during the week, so don't be so slovenly that you don't run more than 20. My peak is 40, but that's right before I taper, the weeks previous are 30 ish. So, for a marathon surely it could be done.
You can google that "low mileage ultra training" "low mileage marathon training" (they're not THAT diff but reading both will help you understand how to apply stuff to your own situation.
Welcome to the world of crazy pants running! In Feb I ran a 50 miler with no training whatsoever. I signed up 6 days before the race on a whim.
I didn't win, but I finished, had a great time, and wasn't injured at all. Wasn't even sore the next day. 0 -
There will always be outliers given any situation. I'm don't happen to be one of them. I have no natural gifts for speed or running. I'm what Coach Jack Daniels calls his type-3 runner - "Those who lack much ability but have great motivation to achieve success". Any little bit of it I do have came from hard work developed over time.
I'm in the middle of a cycle right now where I did a 50k (training pace), two weeks later another 50k (race pace and got a PR), two weeks later a marathon (training pace - this weekend) and two weeks later a 50 miler (race pace - shooting for a time goal/PR). I'm performing and recovering well. I have no injuries or problems to speak of. My ability to successfully do this didn't come from me half-assing anything.
If half-assing something works for you then more power to you.0
