5k 10k in the bag

[paul1960]

Right got my 5k medal and my 10k medal booked Manchester half marathon in October but am really really thinking of a another medal yes you quest it the big one the marathon but how hard is it really am thinking 5 hours is that about right are is it me being to slow give me plenty of training advice I think am going to need it help please

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Loads of advice here Paul..my first HM took me 2 hrs 54...slow and steady..but no Marathons for me

There are so many really experienced folk here who will give you great advice and support..

Go You!!

[paul1960 Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

I have done 13miles once and it took me 2hours 45 mins so am thinking over 5hours it alot and I know I need plenty of training but I want the medal

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to paul1960]

You have done amazingly and I know with your determination you will achieve anything you set your heart on

I was just happy to do the HM. 13.1 miles.. before I was 69... my birthday was 4 days after !

It was a long way to run, especially that last mile... but a lot of fun... and, as roseabi told me... you never know what will happen on the day either. We had a headwind on the outward leg going uphill... but no tail wind on the return leg

The support you will get on here for your first HM will be tremendous..from folk who know what they are talking about... it got me through mine and gave me a really enjoyable run at the end of the training

So.. get started on a HM plan... Roseabi is about to start another one soon and then see where you want to go next...

You have done so brilliantly so far.. you are going to do this

[misswobble Marathon]

Oooh how exciting! Allow four months to train for it. There's a really good training plan which I found. It gives you times for six hour marathon, five or four hours etc I used the five hour one last time - along with myasics app - and found them to be practically identical.

marathonbasics.com/content/...

Good luck!

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

That isn't a training plan it's a race strategy...

[misswobble Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Well, whatever, you call it, it was useful 😃

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

No, I mean maybe you linked to the wrong page? 😊

[misswobble Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Ha ha, well that doesn't surprise me.

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

🤔 How hard is it really? I think it's fair to say... it is hard.

You're contemplating doing double the furthest distance you've done (once, I think it was). It really is about the endurance and stamina. About how your body copes with the continued plodding along hour after hour.

Can you do it? I'm sure you can with the right plan and time in training. 👍

I'm up to 15 milers and I can do more than one over HM distance in a week with no issues. I'm planning to be at 20 milers by Sept. All trail based mind you so very different stresses to road/flat runs.

The biggest issue I have found with road running over greater distances is the RSI type of overuse of muscles once locked into a pace, where the "robot legs" almost take over. I've found it important to watch for this and vary stride/pace/ trajectory to ensure that I'm not placing too much strain on the same areas over and over. If needs be I'll run in zig zags or even pause for a couple of squats before carrying on.

In my view it really is knowing your body and being in tune with it and learning how to understand what it's telling you. Having overdone things last year by pushing up from 10k to over 10 miles too fast and not being able to walk a mile in comfort I can say that it can be tricky to read the signs.

My greatest help has been regular sports massages every 4 weeks. My therapist is able to check everything that I think is happening or not and able to guide me to ensure that my body has the best support, both for my running and my job which is very physical, often meaning that "rest" days are not that restful 🤣

I would definately say "go for it" just make sure you give yourself enough time to progress at a rate that is right for you.

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Knowing your body and being in tune with it... exactly!!!! Got me my fastest 1K yet this week... doing just that. xxx

[C3PO Marathon]

I met an 81-year-old lady a few weeks ago who told me she had done 113 marathons. She didn’t event start running until she was in her 50s, and did her first marathon when she was 55. She assured me that marathons aren’t only for the speedy. So I think we can all do it we’re motivated enough.

[misswobble Marathon]

I did my first one on my 60th birthday. A later starter but never mind.