Switching from half to full marathon at 8 weeks out?
sarahz5
Posts: 1,363 Member
Hey all! I'm new to the group, looking for some feedback. My running friend has been twisting my arm to do the full Philly marathon with her instead of the half. Wanted to get thoughts on whether it would be possible to train safely for the marathon from where I am now.
I have been training very well for the half, feeling great, no soreness, no pain, no injuries. My pace is continually improving on all my distances and I have been continuing to lift at the same time. I've been running at least three times a week, usually 3 miles speedwork, 4-6 mile easy run, and then a long run. I started about a month and a half ago with 7-9 mile long runs, did a 10, then 8, then 12 yesterday. So I've been averaging around 16 miles a week or so.
If I switched to the full, I would quickly work my weekly total up to 25, then 30, then 35. I am thinking I would jump into Higdon's Novice 1 at Week 11 with some small tweaks to ramp up. I feel like I am basically a month behind the plan - like I'm around week 7 as it is. I would end up with 15, 18, and 20 mile long runs under my belt, with the rest of my long runs between 12-14 plus 8 miles the taper week.
Thoughts? Is it unsafe to try to train for a marathon from where I am now? I don't want to go for it and just end up sidelined before the marathon or crushed for months afterwards. If I switched and wanted to back down, I wouldn't be able to switch to the half after Sept. 30. I guess I would be officially DNF even if I finished the half (the half and full run together). Which wouldn't be the end of the world, but not very fun either.
Thanks!
I have been training very well for the half, feeling great, no soreness, no pain, no injuries. My pace is continually improving on all my distances and I have been continuing to lift at the same time. I've been running at least three times a week, usually 3 miles speedwork, 4-6 mile easy run, and then a long run. I started about a month and a half ago with 7-9 mile long runs, did a 10, then 8, then 12 yesterday. So I've been averaging around 16 miles a week or so.
If I switched to the full, I would quickly work my weekly total up to 25, then 30, then 35. I am thinking I would jump into Higdon's Novice 1 at Week 11 with some small tweaks to ramp up. I feel like I am basically a month behind the plan - like I'm around week 7 as it is. I would end up with 15, 18, and 20 mile long runs under my belt, with the rest of my long runs between 12-14 plus 8 miles the taper week.
Thoughts? Is it unsafe to try to train for a marathon from where I am now? I don't want to go for it and just end up sidelined before the marathon or crushed for months afterwards. If I switched and wanted to back down, I wouldn't be able to switch to the half after Sept. 30. I guess I would be officially DNF even if I finished the half (the half and full run together). Which wouldn't be the end of the world, but not very fun either.
Thanks!
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Replies
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I would focus on the half for now. I don't know how long you have been running - if this is your first half do not switch. Even if it's your 2nd or 3rd half I still would not switch. Do a marathon when you have devoted the time to run a complete training plan. You could be setting yourself up for a miserable time and possible injury if you switch and start ramping things up.0
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It is possible but getting marathon ready from 16 miles a week is going to be challenging. You should really only be adding 10% per week to your mileage; I think you could get through a marathon following your plan but you will be miserable both during and after (assuming you don't get injured).
If you insist on trying this I would recommend not upgrading your race entry to the full for a couple of weeks while running the marathon training plan distances.0 -
Hey, I've heard of crazier
[link]http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1095551-5k-jogger-to-ultra-runner-in-14-weeks?hl=ultra&page=4#posts-16917629
I would stay with what you have signed up and have been mentally/physically training for. Not sure if your friend has run a full before, but I would never pressure anyone into doing one at the point in the game you are at. A 5K or HM is one thing, but a full? Not so sure.0 -
Just because you can doesn't mean you should. And frankly, I wouldn't suggest increasing your miles that much that fast unless you are a very season runner. Not sure what you have been running up until now, If you have been doing halfs already, I think you'd be OK to just increase your long run. ALso depends on does your friend plan on you sticking with her and keeping at her pace and has she ran a full before. What are expectations. Also what are your goals in the next 6 months. If you train for your half, and signed up for the half, I'd stick with it - then do a full with her in the next few months with just upping your training after you've raced. If your goal is only to run - the half not race it - then you may be able to easily push onto a full. If you have trained to race the half, I'd say look at your miles. I train up to 16 for a half marathon and 20 for a full, but do 20 5x prior to the race. So I think it depends on how YOU feel about where you are at. The big problem with running that causes stress fractures are increasing speed and/or distance too fast.0
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Hey, I've heard of crazier
[link]http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1095551-5k-jogger-to-ultra-runner-in-14-weeks?hl=ultra&page=4#posts-16917629
I would stay with what you have signed up and have been mentally/physically training for. Not sure if your friend has run a full before, but I would never pressure anyone into doing one at the point in the game you are at. A 5K or HM is one thing, but a full? Not so sure.
Snort. I was thinking of that thread the whole time I wrote my post. :laugh:
I know you all are right. She has NOT run a marathon before, and she hasn't trained any more than I have. So maybe it's the crazy leading the dumb, or vice versa.
I realized I didn't include my background here, only in my intro. I have been running seriously for only a year, running not-seriously for about five years. Last spring I ran 19 miles over about 30 hours in a Ragnar relay (one 8 mile leg), but other than that, my longest sustained running race (not including triathlons) is a 10k.
I can't even put my finger on why I am so drawn to doing this. Up until this summer I thought I had no desire whatsoever to ever run 26.2. Half training has been so exhilarating! I guess it's because this may be my last chance to do it with a good running friend? Not sure. Hopefully I have decades of running ahead of me to tackle a marathon!0 -
Hey, I've heard of crazier
[link]http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1095551-5k-jogger-to-ultra-runner-in-14-weeks?hl=ultra&page=4#posts-16917629
I would stay with what you have signed up and have been mentally/physically training for. Not sure if your friend has run a full before, but I would never pressure anyone into doing one at the point in the game you are at. A 5K or HM is one thing, but a full? Not so sure.
Snort. I was thinking of that thread the whole time I wrote my post. :laugh:
I know you all are right. She has NOT run a marathon before, and she hasn't trained any more than I have. So maybe it's the crazy leading the dumb, or vice versa.
I realized I didn't include my background here, only in my intro. I have been running seriously for only a year, running not-seriously for about five years. Last spring I ran 19 miles over about 30 hours in a Ragnar relay (one 8 mile leg), but other than that, my longest sustained running race (not including triathlons) is a 10k.
I can't even put my finger on why I am so drawn to doing this. Up until this summer I thought I had no desire whatsoever to ever run 26.2. Half training has been so exhilarating! I guess it's because this may be my last chance to do it with a good running friend? Not sure. Hopefully I have decades of running ahead of me to tackle a marathon!
Take it from someone who just winged it on their first full 2 weeks ago - it ain't nothing like a 10K, a HM, or even a tri (done them all this summer). If your friend hasn't even done one yet but thinks you should go with, perhaps she should step down to the full with you
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I would definitely not do it. You might finish, but the experience might be so negative you never want to do another. You have lots of years ahead of you to finish one after proper preparation, resulting in a fun (well maybe not exactly fun) experience.0
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Too much too soon. Stick with the half.0
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I vote Half also. You don't realize how different those two distances are until you run your first full. Lots to figure out about how your body responds while running longer distances. Wait and do a full standard training schedule for a marathon.0
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Stick to the half. You're training for a half, and this is just asking for an injury.0
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Hey all! I'm new to the group, looking for some feedback. My running friend has been twisting my arm to do the full Philly marathon with her instead of the half. Wanted to get thoughts on whether it would be possible to train safely for the marathon from where I am now.
I have been training very well for the half, feeling great, no soreness, no pain, no injuries. My pace is continually improving on all my distances and I have been continuing to lift at the same time. I've been running at least three times a week, usually 3 miles speedwork, 4-6 mile easy run, and then a long run. I started about a month and a half ago with 7-9 mile long runs, did a 10, then 8, then 12 yesterday. So I've been averaging around 16 miles a week or so.
If I switched to the full, I would quickly work my weekly total up to 25, then 30, then 35. I am thinking I would jump into Higdon's Novice 1 at Week 11 with some small tweaks to ramp up. I feel like I am basically a month behind the plan - like I'm around week 7 as it is. I would end up with 15, 18, and 20 mile long runs under my belt, with the rest of my long runs between 12-14 plus 8 miles the taper week.
Thoughts? Is it unsafe to try to train for a marathon from where I am now? I don't want to go for it and just end up sidelined before the marathon or crushed for months afterwards. If I switched and wanted to back down, I wouldn't be able to switch to the half after Sept. 30. I guess I would be officially DNF even if I finished the half (the half and full run together). Which wouldn't be the end of the world, but not very fun either.
Thanks!
You know, the very first thought that came to my mind when I read your post was - "she is training, not been injured, is doing so well and it would be a damn shame if she upped the training only for niggly little aches, pains or God forbid an injury to suddenly develop"
Turn the whole thing around, tell your friend that you think SHE should do this HM with you and then next year, all going well, you can both do the marathon then. That way, you can continue with your excellent training and as for the marathon next year, you will then have a whole year to prepare.
Give yourself the best possible chance, don't scupper it on the whim of a friend's wish.
Wishing you all the very best, I bet you will kill that HM if you decide to go ahead with it and then who knows where it will all lead!!0
