Not been on for a while, however I’m now needing advice.
I have a FM booked in 2 months (Manchester on 27th April). However for what ever reasons, ok Covid followed by another similar virus a couple of weeks later - not got rid of it yet - my training and cardio fitness has bombed. Really think I’ll be struggling at 10k once I can get out again.
I really wanted this to be my last full for a while as want to look at improving my shorter run pace and a bit of trail later in the year.
I know what all the training plans say, but realistically what’s the minimum long run I can get away with - thinking if I can get back up to Metric Marathon long run and 40+ km weekly, and drop any expectations of time other than not to be last/finish ahead of the 6hr cut-off. I may be able to do it?
Seven weeks assuming I give it a minimal taper. Gulp!
I’ll defer if I have to, but not my preferred option however it beats killing myself trying to get up to FM fitness in a short time.
Thanks all.
Written by
Reggit
Marathon
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I'm certainly no expert, but I did catch Covid 6 weeks out from my one & only marathon & that virus always smashes me. I only did three long runs, with the last being 18 miles in my training block. I had a base of around 30 miles weekly. I reckon it probably helped me as I had zero expectations on the day apart from having fun and finishing.
Edit to answer your question. I reckon you will be absolutely fine if you want to do it especially if you can get back to metric. I watched Nedd Brockmann's documentary on running across Australia & he ran multiple back to back double marathons day after day. We can do alot more than we think we can. Cheering for you!
Hi Reggit, to caveat this, I am absolutely not in your league, but I do have a little experience of running a race having had a virus which may or may not have been Covid.
It left me with awful post viral fatigue which floored me for several weeks, and any running I did felt like my legs were made of spaghetti. No pain, but no power whatsoever.
But even being a floppy rag, I ran the entire Great South Run (10 miles), at snail’s pace. But run it all I did (my goal) and it was as great of an achievement as if I’d run a PB!
Sooooo, if you’re happy to drop your pace (and distance too if necessary), you might well be ok. Just give yourself permission to walk, or even stop, if you don’t feel ok.
For what it's worth, I had 5 weeks training for my marathon; but I was starting at HM distance. I ran/walked as it was my first ever marathon and I had no idea what to expect. In those 5 weeks all the training was run/walk so I didn't extend the running much beyond MM, rather concentrated on increasing time on my feet. It worked OK.Of course the other difference is the post viral effect; I'd say it really depends on how you can bounce back from the illnesses. Sometimes it's better to make the difficult decision to defer; the disappointment doesn't last that long and the peace of mind that follows is valuable.
It's a tough call, but whatever you decide I do hope you're feeling much better very soon.
Well at least that's one way to make your mind up! Time to decide on your get-round strategy. Personally mine would be to mix running and walking, but I'm far too lazy and ill-disciplined to attempt proper jeffing, so I'd just run when I could and walk the rest.
For MM24 I did a block in March where I did a minimum of 10k running every day! Pace was irrelevant as I focused on heart rate instead, and occasionally this meant walking for a minute to bring it down.
The challenge then is to find a pace that allows you to extend the time running to reduce the occasions of walking.
See you at the MM25 start line at the end of April 😎👍
My only marathon came after an extended period of illness and injury. I managed 9 weeks of training, the first 2 were all run/walk intervals. I did no speed sessions, tempo runs whatsoever and just focused on building a big enough base to get round. I managed a longest run of 18 miles and two of 15-16 miles. All done at a VERY leisurely pace. I got the 26.2 miles done but had plenty of walk breaks.
I had only been running for just over a year before this. You have the advantage of having done the distance before and presumably a lot more miles in your legs over the years. I really think you can do the distance. It probably won't be a PB day but it can still be a fantastic, triumphant day. Very best of luck with it, I hope my very limited experience gives you some hope.
Have really struggled getting up to 10k, however it’s started to get better this week (and that naughty Garmin is no longer saying ‘strained’ for the first time since . Managed 42k over this week, most of it in the last 3 days, 12, 7.5 and 16km. Not as relaxed as it should be but getting there again.
6 weeks to the marathon, to say it’s not going to be a traditional build up won’t be far from the truth.
Hoping to push out to around HM distance next week, and take a rest day beforehand.
If I can get up to MM rather than the traditional 32km long run I should be ok. I have absolutely no doubts the marathon will be RWR, however I’ve still got it in mind to try and run with the 5.15 pacer did 5.23 last year with a lot of walking as I set off too fast. I’ve no issues in revising that downwards if I’ve not built up a large enough base fitness by then.
As said above, I’ve done the distance previously, so that’s one less gremlin to consider.
who can tell when I was poorly this year from this Strava graph ?
Not managed to pass 10 miles yet, but overall a lot happier with my weekly distance. If I can average 40-55km weekly for the next few weeks, I’ll hopefully have built enough base to have a darned good go at this marathon.
Been running mostly on the flat (or as flat as I can make it round here) going to start adding hills from next week.
Strava graph of the last 3 months training distances
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