Preparation for Manchester marathon and suggestions

[Tessie66]

Basically at parkrun this morning I was talking to this guy who's done loads of marathons and he's said for your first run 1k the walk 1k, for me it's sounds great and less daunting doing it that way. Love to know what the community think about this and how you did your first marathon. Also he's said it's a about walking more running more and time on feet but not to worry about times. So he's told me to go out running for 1 hour ( already doing over a hour) then gradually move it up to 1hr 15 or 1 1/2 hours and so on.love any feedback on this I'm currently following the NRC but the jumps seem quite high

[Cmoi Marathon]

As previously indicated, fixed run walk intervals aren't my thing. I'm also useless re training plans as I basically don't use them or enter évents.

But one thing strikes me: if Manchester Marathon is at the start of April 2025, and you're just starting to run double figure distances, why not scrap the marathon training plan for now and follow a HM plan instead? That might make things physically and mentally easier for you.

And eight months to do a HM plan and then a marathon plan should be plenty.

[Tessie66 Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Been running 10k regularly since February but personally when it comes to the Marathon I'll probably go run 1k walk 1k

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Tessie66]

Entirely your choice re run-walk, as indeed on everything else. I was simply thinking that if "the jumps seem quite high" on your current marathon plan, and you want to follow a structured training plan, a gentler build-up initially with a HM plan might be useful, especially since you have so much time ahead of you.

It would also fit with the gradual increase in running time that you said you were considering.

[Tessie66 Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

I'm definitely using the NRC but adding a little twist to it. I will be doing all the distances and different runs hills sprints Fartleks etc. Last couple of weeks done an 11.2k another 10k and it goes upto 13k I think next but might do 12 instead. What the NRC doesn't know is I'm going to the gym playing 6 a side and the parkrun

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Tessie66]

I'm a bit confused: you say you're doing all the distances - so are you doing all the runs in the plan?

I assume so, because gym (though great as strength training) and six-a-side won't replace actual runs. As for parkrun, that could replace or be incorporated into one of your other runs in the plan, you'd just need to run it at the pace indicated by the plan.

Re finding flat places to run, I notice that in previous posts you've mentioned running by the canal, so would that be an option?

I live in mid-mountain France and prefer off-road running, so it's very unusual for any of my runs from home to come in under 90m elevation gain, generally it's rather more. For me the only real disadvantage is that I'm used to varying pace to suit different gradients and surfaces, so find it challenging to maintain a constant pace (and motivation) on flat terrain, which I personally find monotonous and boring.

Enjoy your training.

[Tessie66 Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

DEFINITELY following the plan but like tonight should be a long run but with the weather I'm going to change it to one of the shorter runs and do the long run tomorrow. Yes the canal run is basically next to work I don't mind that but one of the major roads is shut so I like to get home but will run the canal again soon

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

My first marathon was a last minute decision so I hadn't enough time to get from HM ready to running the full marathon in 5 or 6 weeks. Instead, we adopted a 'run 1.2 kms, walk 400m' approach. A totally made up ratio which happened to suit us at the time!!! each rep was effectively one mile ticked off. We also walked the first couple of kms which got us gently warmed up, and left us with just a 40k run. Our finish time wasn't fast by any means, but it was decent, it was a PB and we were delighted with it. It worked for us.

I agree with Cmoi , you have plenty of time to follow a HM plan first and then a marathon plan after that if that would be less intimidating. The only thing I would say is that, if you stick with NRC there are marked differences between the two plans: the HM plan has two speed runs, two recov and one long, every week whereas the marathon plan has one speed, three recov and one long run every week - in a way the marathon plan is more relaxed running.

How many runs a week are you doing from the plan? Another option may be to stretch out the runs so you do all five, but spread them over a longer time. That way the long run doesn't come round as quickly.

[Tessie66 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I'm doing 1 long run a week Parkrun

Sprints hills or Fartleks from the app

6 a side

I go to gym once a week.

What's bothering me is finding places to run that are flat because I live in a really hilly area.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Tessie66]

Manchester is a flat course isn't it.

Hills will add an extra effort to your training so you can afford to dial back the pace a bit to compensate. Having said that, it's definitely useful to try to train on similar terrain to the actual race, at least for some of the long runs if you can. Of course, having to travel for a training run adds an extra level of difficulty and time that isn't always possible.

Better hilly training and a flat race, than flat training and a hilly race!!!

[Tessie66 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Yes definitely flat apart from one little hill I think

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Tessie66]

Hills are great for building everything up aren't they... as you will have found... I had to find a flat park run to practice on before my first HM, because I was so slow on the flat!