anyone training for a marathon?

I'm training for a marathon this year. I've flirted with it a couple of times before, but this time I signed up early for one in May so I'll hopefully actually do it this time I've done a couple of half-marathons in the past. I get knee problems when I run really frequently, so if this is my first and only marathon I'll be okay with that, haha.

My goal is to finish under 5:00 as well. Some days I think it's totally within reach, other days, not so much. I am not a natural runner, and speed is not something that comes easily to me.

I'm loosely following the Hal Higdon plan, too! I used it for my first half-marathon and thought it was really good. I also started it the last time I was training for a marathon, and made it up to the 17-mile long run before I quit. Looking back I really should've just finished ...

His plan has a bit too much running for me though, because I like doing other kinds of exercise and my knees don't love running so much. I'm going to be a little more flexible this time, though still trying to do the same long runs on the weekends. flvsusandy, sounds like your schedule is a week ahead of mine good luck!

I definitely think training for a half-marathon is just as important no question there. I just looked up Jeff Galloway's training plans, thanks for the info! His Magic Mile idea is really interesting and I might figure out some way to incorporate that.

I noticed that Galloway's plans have you running the full distance (marathon) or even further (half-marathon) as part of the training. Higdon's plan doesn't worry about that (you do a max of 10 miles for a half, and 20 miles for a full). I thought running 10 miles as training for the half was definitely enough, and was surprised at how the additional 3 didn't feel bad at all on actual race day. Anyone else have any opinions?

I am going to start training for a half as well. I love in Wisconsin and it was less than 5 degrees out today. I was gonna do my half in May...but I have a feeling I wont have enough time to switch from tredmile to land and train well enough. Our winters never end so only having a few weeks to train on land may not work well. Hoping to sign up for one in July-ish to give me more Land time. I just cant do the running outside..

I'll be happy just when I can reach a 5k. However, a marathon would be nice to some day. Right now what I'm training up for is to run Tough Mudder this December.

Bellingham Bay Marathon Sept 2011 was my first...on a truly windstormy day! 5:27...felt like I was standing still on some of those miles.

Doing the BMO Vancouver marathon in May 2012. Did the half in Vancouver last year. Should be fun, in my hometown. Hopefully will make it under the 5:00 mark this time.

I run so slowly that cardio's not an issue, but the wear and tear on my joints is what gets to me.

Good luck!

First time or experienced marathoners? I am not new to running but this will be my first marathon. I'm building back up to training after an injury. Would love to know some other people who are training for a marathon this year also... :-)

Best suggestion I received that works wonders.

Get your body used to the foot time. This also confirms everything feels great.

So estimate how long you think the marathon will take you, realistically.

Design a training session that will take that long, starting with super long warmup and cooldown (45 min), a middle break of walking too (30 min), and 2 jogging sessions at whatever pace you currently are at.
You can add in another set of walk/jog if more time is needed and that would be too much jogging at once.

Don't worry about the distance, you just want to get your body used to being on the feet for this long.

This will show up socks that don't work, lace tightness, clothes rubbing wrong, hydration, what you can eat, ect.

As you increase your long runs or your pace, you can do this several times leading up, and change those middle parts.

I'm running one in May. Best is 3:55 and going for 3:30. Although last couple races I was 20 lbs overweight, and I'm already down 15 lbs for this race. We'll see how it goes.

I am! I just signed up to do the 5k Rugged Maniac in May. EEEK! I hate running...lol

I am going to start training for a half as well. I love in Wisconsin and it was less than 5 degrees out today. I was gonna do my half in May...but I have a feeling I wont have enough time to switch from tredmile to land and train well enough. Our winters never end so only having a few weeks to train on land may not work well. Hoping to sign up for one in July-ish to give me more Land time. I just cant do the running outside..

I hear you! I'm in Minnesota, and I've got the same problem, it's hard to get outside consistently. I tried to do a spring marathon one year, and I was behind in training right from the start.

I'm training for my first full in June! I've completed 3 half marathons to date. I'm working on improving my half time but for the full I'm just aiming to finish!

Training for my first but haven't registered yet. The one I'm shooting for has a time limit so I'm going to do late registration to make sure I get through some of the longest runs well under time. Add me if you like! Always nice to have runner friends.

I'm on week 3 of training for the Cleveland Half Marathon in May! I am super nervous because this is my first race. I am following higdons novice training plan. I usually run more than what it says on the plan, is this bad? I don't want to burn out since I still have months before the actual race.

I'm on week 3 of training for the Cleveland Half Marathon in May! I am super nervous because this is my first race. I am following higdons novice training plan. I usually run more than what it says on the plan, is this bad? I don't want to burn out since I still have months before the actual race.

No, there is no de facto standard on marathon training. Trust your body more than anything. If you can do more than the training plan says and you feel good, go for more. If your running ability is above novice, there's no reason to hold yourself back just because the plan says so. You just gotta be careful when you stray that you understand what you're doing so that what you do isn't counterproductive. Running a few miles longer each time probably won't hurt you, but adding another 20 miler might be a bad idea if you get what I mean.

I'm training for a marathon! I was training for the Nashville Rock and Roll, but I won't be able to go since the Navy has decided I'm going to Japan, so I'm going to continue on my training plan, then move into the 50 mil training plan and hopefully find a marathon in Japan in the fall I can run.