Training for a first marathon. Any help/advice/tips greatly appreciated.

[Jaynew01]

I have decided to sign up for my first marathon to raise money for charity in memory of a relative, who lost his battle with the big C. I decided if he could fight that and deal with it in such a dignified way I could run a few miles. I am a fairly accomplished runner with various race distance experienced and go out regularly but now the thought of 26+ miles has me quaking in my nikes!!! I've set myself a 12 month training period, (I'm not one to rush these things, I want to finish on my feet, not on a stretcher) and have been reading various training plans for the pre race period of 12-16 weeks. Anyway, as I say, please feel free to make suggestions and give advice. Thank you

[notbad Graduate]

Jayne I don't have any tips, never ran any distance like that, but very much in awe of those who do. Just wanted to wish you the best of luck!

[Jaynew01]

Thank you for your wishes, they are very much appreciated and just as helpful to assist in the mental prep for moral and increasing confidence.

[Hidden]

If you are a competent runner, then you should be fine in 12 months. You will find that you have doubts and worries, as we all do, but on the day you will be pulled along by the other runners and the sheer emotion of the day ~ or at least that's what I am being told by a former marathon runner and good friend who lost his wife to the big C too.

I am in total awe of you, and wish you every success for the training and the run.

Keep us posted on the training and your charity page.

[Masaike]

Well done, Jayne. The absolute key is break your goal down into small achievable steps. Have you got a good training schedule? I'm not sure what distances you've done, but I recommend finding some fun runs of varying lengths and a training schedule that leads up to that event. So find a half marathon in January, for example, and a three month training schedule that leads up to that. (With Christmas Day off!) I did the Great North Run a few years ago and found that the 3 month schedule began with a 1 hour walk and two 20 minute jogs in the first week and had me jogging for an hour by the end of the month. The schedule built up from 3 times a week to 5 times a week, with varying distances and times to keep it interesting. Your biggest challenge will be mental; and I think giving yourself a whole year might mean you get bored occasionally, so variety is important; and other events in between will both build your confidence and make the running more interesting.

[Jaynew01]

Thank you both Sallycycle and Masaike. I've run HM distance and distances in between along with tough trail runs. I'm giving myself 12 months as I'm recovering from two lots of surgery over the summer one of which was on my left knee. My original plan is to increases mileage and the from early next year begin to really lengthen my distances ultimately using one of the two schedules I have looked at. I always vary my runs and plan new interesting ones, I prefer off road to road and plan to enter the Coombe 8 again in November, a challenging trail run. That will be my first race for over a year due to my knee injury, although I have continued to run throughout. I regularly complete 10 k distance but do vary for speed. I also use kettle bells for strength. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again