Question:Should I commit to run, knowing that it might be the Broom Van for me, or let
common sense prevail and watch on it TV?
If you recommend going for it, any ideas of a crash training program to get me
round.
How about if I rescheduled my training diary to 5 day weeks rather than 7 days
to get more long runs in?
Or is that just a novice in search of an injury?
Answer:
Here's some small comfort then, maybe.
Between my first marathon (Apr 96) and my second (Sep 96) I did only
_one_ run of >60 mins.
OK, I had a marathon under my belt, and I was still running regularly,
but I just didn't manage to get the long runs in.
And guess what, that 2nd marathon has been my PR up to now!
I would suggest get at least 2 or 3 runs of ca. 2hrs (or longer of
course) in.
So you have a base. And you're about my pace.
Go for it. Don't go out too fast. You will anyway, but fight it.
What I do (I run in Europe where each k is signed) is I have a target
for every 6k. [this makes sense, since a mara is 42k]. Just think
about the next target, not the finishing post or when the wall will
come. Focus on one target at a time.
Take loads of water/fluids. Force the stuff in, it really helps.
Exactly. More long runs, but don't forget to schedule in rest days too.
And I would say make your last long run no closer than 10 days b4
the mara.
Might happen anyway. Treat the whole thing as an experience, if
you feel unable to finish, just stop. There's always another marathon.
I don't know about you being a complete novice - a half is an
achievement in itself. Anyway, you're right a crash training program is
aiming for an injury. The focus of the training is the long run (almost
spelt ruin there...) to get the full benefits you need to do them
consistently. To do them consistently you need to be able to last the
schedule. Doing a 20miler this week and not being able to do it for 6 more
is not a good idea.
The solution to your problem is simple -have a good strategy: don't aim for
a race time, run slowly, pacing yourself and consider walk breaks to keep
the pace down for the first half.
Now, 3 weeks off from training is not too much - I had 5 weeks off through
December/January (another thread: *never* train hard when ill, I have paid
the price). The point is that in just 3 weeks of training, I am
approaching my old fitness levels and aiming high for the year. You have
plenty of time and every reason to be OK about a blip in training.
