Hypothetical marathon training question....

2 watchers

Mrsbridgewater Feb 2012 10:30am, 27 Feb 2012 96 posts	0 Mrsbridgewater If I were to enter a marathon in October (for which I may or may not already have a place!) should I follow a beginners or an intermediate training programme? I've run half marathons before (finish in around 1hr 51mins) but nothing longer, so while I am not a beginner runner I am a beginner at marathons. My main aim for this year is to keep my training at a level where, if I was told there was a 10mile or half marathon tomorrow I would be able to run it, the marathon is sort of in the diary, but I haven't really committed to it.
ultracollie Feb 2012 10:34am, 27 Feb 2012 1,084 posts	0 ultracollie intermediate def, you can already sustain constant running for 1:51 which is a very respectible time. so def not a beginner, get some good base training in and build up over 16 weeks or so with a target half around 8 weeks out. which Mara are we hypothisising about
Mrsbridgewater Feb 2012 10:37am, 27 Feb 2012 97 posts	0 Mrsbridgewater A flat one, which has excellent Fetch support - or so I am led to believe! But 26.2 miles is a heck of a long way. Seriously - why would I run it when I can get a bus? I think I stand a better chance of doing an October mara as I can use my (excessively long!) summer holiday to get some serious training runs in. I worry though, as I have some halfs already booked that I still want to do - and they are around the same time.
Ted Feb 2012 10:47am, 27 Feb 2012 10,893 posts	0 Ted Intermediate. Your mileage recorded is reasonable although you don't have much of a training history on here. When was your 1/2? Recent or some time back?
Mrsbridgewater Feb 2012 11:24am, 27 Feb 2012 98 posts	0 Mrsbridgewater October was my last half race, done a few of ten mile races since then (most recent on 11/2/12) , am on track for 1000 miles this year. I only joined Fetch mid January - so I guess it will take a while for the training record to build.
DeeGee Feb 2012 11:28am, 27 Feb 2012 11,141 posts	0 DeeGee Dammit, I forgot to enter Abingdon, and now I'm too late!