Half Marathon to Full Marathon-- big difference?

camibadman

I haven't been a runner my whole life, but have been an avid runner for the last [approximately] 1.5 years. I've completed many races ranging from 5k to half marathon, but can't get the courage to jump to the full. There are times where at 13.1 miles there is NO WAY I'm going to be able to run any farther, and other times I feel like I can push myself. Why can't there be a half + a quarter marathon? LOL

For those of you who have taken the plunge and completed a full marathon, first of all, I applaud you. It's people like you who inspire me. Secondly, how did you get from a half to a full? It's not like you can practice every day by running 13+ miles to amp yourself up (training for a half already takes up all my time). I've looked at many many many training plans, but they don't seem realistic to me in terms of really being prepared to run 26.2 miles.

Any advice, insight, training plans, etc. would be of great help. I've worked really hard and would love to be able to run a full marathon someday!!!

LMurrieta540

I have done a few 1/2 marathons, 1 3/4 marathon (about 19.5miles) and 2 full marathons, the training is hard but so worth it, I got my full marathon training schedule from marathonrookie.com and I also run using the Galloway method, I personaly run 4 mins and walk 1 min. I can honestly say that i following that to a tea during a 1/2 marathon and on the 2 fulls that I've done, I did it for the first 1/2 and then the 2nd half I just left like I will run when I want too, I was very blessed to have met people on both of my full marathons that encourage me to get to the finish line. In the end as long as you finish you get the same medal as very one else and the same braging rights as to becoming a Marathoner.

ThickMcRunFast

There is a big difference, mainly because a marathon will definitely deplete your glycogen stores (you will hit "the wall"), while a half won't. Truth me told, i only ran a half en route to a full, and that was back in 2005. It's been the full 26.2 since then. I would say that, even in the peak of training for a 3:20 marathon, I still don't train more than 8 hours a week. I may bump that up to 10 hours to try to PR this fall, but it isn't *that* time consuming. Sure, there are days I have to say no to going out and having a beer, and I have to get up early on Sundays in the summer, but it is more than worth it.

My plan is a 16-18 week schedule (depending on my base going in). It goes in a 4-week cycle, of 3 weeks on training and then one week stepped back. I will only run up to 20 miles in training, but I will do it 3 times. Trust me, that is more than enough. Adrenaline will get you the last 6.2.

Walberg1960

Hi
It’s a tough one… You will have to need some more time, training for at full marathon, IF you do things the way you do now! OR you must take a close look of your previous training and preparation. Analyze: The quality of your training, how is your weight, do you eat the right things, do you rest the right way, do you get enough sleep… You can ‘tweak’ your body in many ways physically… AND mentally! When I run a marathon I never set out for 26.2 miles. No way! I break it down in achievable pieces (1. Mile, 5 miles and so on).
But to give you a little on the practical :-) … When you have analyzed your previous training, there might be room for improvement: For instance, how about interval training? Is that on your schedule now? In the “old days” (when I trained for my first marathon), the lecture was: “Put on more mileage!” but now it’s been shown, that the quality of the training is more important! So your job now is to find/make a plan, maybe something like: Starting 12 weeks before your marathon, every week train 3-5 times, should incorporate: Tempo/speed run, intervals, tempo/steady run and a long run. Let the mileage gradually increase (max 10%, each week) until 4 weeks before the big M, and then taper, gradually down the same way. The “long run” is your mental training! It’s here, you push your limits! :-)
Now this is off course not a complete plan, but just to give you a bit of inspiration. You are more than welcome, to get back to me.
Good Luck with your first marathon! I know you can do it!

sharfisher

Hi, very wise question. I did 2 half's and then my first full last fall. I have done 2 more 1/2s this year now my next full is in 11 days (Vancouver). I made the leap to the full for 2 reasons: my training buddies were doing it, and the shirt for the marathon was way nicer than for the shorter concurrent races. That's it. It was pretty thin motivation and I found that I couldn't execute my pacing strategy. It was too scary not knowing how hard it was going to get... as you say there's a lot of miles between 13.1 and 26.2.

I also max at 3x20 milers on my long runs, only managed to log about 8 hours a week. I should come very close to qualifying for Boston -- but if I don't, I honestly don't know if I'll do it again. I haven't had have any consistent training buddies for this race and I that's made it more of a chore. On the other hand, I am super crazy excited to race. Nothing like it. Sort of like childbirth, you say never again but the pain subsides and next thing you know...

I say find some training buddies. You've got your eye on Everest. You climb it because it's there. happy trails!

vmclach

Are there any 30ks in your area? I ran one last summer (about 18.65 miles)... Training before that I only ran 13.5 miles. I believe that race gave me the confidence to train for a marathon. It will be 11 months later (after my 30k) that I am attempting my first marathon! It did taker a lot of training. I spend probably 10-15 hours a week working out between running and lifting (and I'm not slow). It just comes down to decided you will do it then making yourself train. lol..

I will be running my first next Sunday, and I still don't feel 100% prepared. It's all G tho! I know i'll finish!