Time or distance?

[Pippa49]

I did a 9.33 mile run this morning in the pouring rain in 3:13:47. I went out with the intention of seeing how far I could get in 3hrs. The extra time got me back home. It was a good run possibly because I was not pressured by a distance yet I feel like I have failed in my objective this week to do 14miles. I know that you have to do 26.2miles on the day but what's better being able to run at least 20-23 miles or being prepared for being on one's feet for longer than 5hrs. There is so much confusing advice about marathon long runs it's hard to know what to do. Do other's do what they feel comfortable with or is that just for more experienced marathon runners?

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Are you sure those statistics are correct Pippa, that's over 65 minutes for a 5k, 9 hours for a marathon, hmmm, I think you should recheck them.

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

I always run slower in training. That is what Runtastic said the distance was for the 9.33 miles. In my defence I had done 3.5km in the River Trent with friends yesterday so possibly tired legs.

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

👍 🏃

[UnfitNoMore Metric Marathon]

Is that both the longest and furthest run? In many ways that’s exactly what your long run should be.

Are we looking at a first marathon here? The target for you to have in mind at the start line of any event for the first time, be it 5k or all the way to marathon, should be to complete the job... some walking in there to help achieve that target is a good thing. Second event, in the case of a marathon maybe 6 months later, then maybe that target becomes to run the whole thing with a year or so of training behind you.

What’s going to matter when you’re on that marathon start line is knowing why you are there... and that will be a question you’ll also need to be ready to answer around 21 miles in... take the pressure off, it’s a massive distance and you can do it, and yeah, maybe first time (or first few times) you’ll walk some... will that take away from the achievement for you? It certainly wouldn’t for me. The big thing for me with first 5k, 10k and the HM I’m training for is I’m going to enjoy that run, I’ll probably walk some though... but I’ll run over that line... and at that moment I’ll remember the journey to it and be damn proud myself.

Due to injury and illness I’m behind on my HM plan, I’m resigned to probably having to walk more than I’d have hoped... but none of that will detract from the achievement of running over that finish line.

Hope this helps.

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to UnfitNoMore]

It's the longest so far. I l just want to finish it (didn't finish Brighton Marathon in April)

[UnfitNoMore Metric Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

I find 5k walk 5k is a lot easier than 10k, so the same could well apply to you. How long is there to race day?

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to UnfitNoMore]

10 weeks to Cardiff Half and the Yorkshire Marathon is 20th October so two weeks after

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

Well done Pippa 💪😃. I don’t run behind three hours in training ! I don’t want to be wrecked before race day so I take care

My first marathon took me a gnat’s under six hours I ran/walked it. My second one was 52 minutes quicker but I still walked when I felt like it I always walk when I need to anyway - in training or in a race

Don’t worry! You’re doing it 😃👍🏃‍♀️

I have a marathon plan as I’d be useless without one. I have a mortal dread of over-running so a plan ensures I do enough,but not too much

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Thanks miss wobble. A friend says I have enough time to get back on track if I miss a few runs but I have 10 weeks to Cardiff Half and two weeks after this is the Yorkshire Marathon but I am not doing a long run next week when on holiday or in September so that is two weeks lost. I am going to try the cross road method ie run 4 miles out and back, 3 out and back etc however I am just going to do it to feel so it may be four sets of 2miles out & 2miles back to get 16miles done. It might be the best way for me personally to get the mileage done up to 22-23 miles. I will be running on holiday always do, exploring Teignmouth next week early.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

Oh that’ll be lovely 👍😃

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Can't wait. Finished work now. Have decided that I am not going to say anything about doing long runs from now on and if I do not say how far I am going to go. Feel this is putting pressure on me. I am going to try out the cross road method Friday. Hope to run three times on holiday and use the pool at the hotel a couple of times. Hope if it's warm enough to try a dip in the sea as like open water swimming

[Clairecandothis Marathon Half Marathon]

Hiya. I'm training for my marathon following my heartrate zones and my training runs make me slower too. My aim is to reach 30k if I can for my own reassurance but I will probably run the first half in zone 2/3 and then speed up just to avoid running for too long to reach the distance. It's also good practice to try out a race pace for the day itself rather than just my training runs. I guess for you the half marathon will give you a great idea of what pace you will run at on your marathon too.

There is such a lot of conflicting advice isn't there. Mostly it is time on feet and endurance as much as distance I think. It's also a mindset thing isn't it.... keeping going when we just want to stop! I haven't gone further than 21k yet so I'm just thinking positive rather than knowing anything. The guys who have ran a marathon know best. Taking whatever walk breaks are needed and just looking to finish are all great advice. I need to remember this too lol as I have an idea of a time I want to run it in but finishing it will be the biggest achievement. Are you following a plan or just extending your long runs?

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Clairecandothis]

Extending my long runs. I haven't ran further than half marathon. My half marathon pb is 4 :10:00. My biggest gripe or bugbear is when people know what my pb is for half marathon start doing calculations and say that I am going to struggle to finish the marathon etc. How do they know? Anything can happen on the day. I have run better in my half marathons than in training. The Yorkshire Marathon have reassured me that if I need more than 7hrs they will not take me off the course unless I am ill or injured, that I will be moved onto the pavements and supported by a back marker to the finish line and over. This is my fall back but hope I will be able to finish under 7hrs.

[Clairecandothis Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

Then it doesn't matter what pace you run on the day apart from finishing. You're not up against time so you can run/walk it if you need to. If you do it again you could look into different training ideas to improve your pb. I think the only thing that seems hard to me is staying on your feet for so long. Even walking it is a lot to do. There was a guy on here who recently did his marathon in a similar time and that was what he found the hardest. But it's all mindset mostly. Everyone has a tough moment in any run so you will do it if you want to.

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Clairecandothis]

Thank you. I want to finish it especially as I am in the ballot for London and have a back up place in the Brighton marathon in case I don't get into London next year.