Training for London marathon

[xafier]

OK, I've just randomly decided that I'm going to train for next years London marathon, would like to do the Great North Run in October but I doubt I'd be ready in time...

 

this idea isn't new to me, I've been thinking of doing it for a few years but I've just decided that I'm really going to do it now, I've nearly finished at University, I have no girlfriend, and besides my computers and music/guitar I dont have no other main hobby's so I've decided since my gym subscription has run out that I'm going to start training myself for this feat...

 

has anyone here run a marathon? or a half marathon? any advice on training for one? at the moment I'm not at my fittest, but I'm only like 20, I'm not totally unfit, I have a partially good physique and I've been working on improving it the last few months...

 

my current plan is to get my ass down to Decathlon, get myself a nice new pair of running shoes cus my current trainers are getting a bit knackered... buy myself some dumbell weights, they've got a nice set at £50, probably buy a cheap bench too...

 

then get my ass running every morning (got my alarm set for 7am to go running tomorrow!) slowly increasing the distance as I improve my fitness, got some ankle and wrist weights I bought a bit back that I will slap on once I'm improving... come back, work on my upper body a bit with the weights I'm going to buy...

 

make sure I'm eating plenty like I have whilst I've been working out at the gym...

 

anyways, thats my current plan... but any advice from others that have done it, are doing it... would be greatly apprechiated... want to do this for myself, and hopefully to train so I can try and raise some money for a charity too... most likely for one of the cancer related one's, or maybe for the hospice who looked after my grandad in his last few weeks

[mr craig]

Originally posted by xafier

any advice on training for one?

 

Do loads of running.

 

Good luck.

[jayjay]

Well pat yourself on your back

Go boy!!!

I`ll sponsor ya

wish I could help with training

[JoeP]

When I used to do road-running one of the biggest problems I had was due to me being flat-footed and rather heavy footed.

 

I ended up with painful shins form the repeated impact on the road of my feet, so watch for that. And toe-nails - clip them short because as you increase the distance you run they're likely to take any opportunity to cut your toes and cause problems.

 

Good Luck.

 

The only question I have is why didn't Phidippides(?) get given a horse to ride back to Athens from Marathon? That way he would have got there faster and wouldn't have died after telling the Athenians to watch out for the surviving Persians.... Oh well, just wondering.

 

Joe

[stelps]

I've just recently started running again (for the first time in about 4 years since having my 2 children) and have been using a training guide similiar to the one here http://www.serpentine.org.uk/advice/training/couch.htm

 

take it slowly at first or you might be at risk of getting an injury after the first couple of month's (because your fitness level will improve faster than your muscle will - iyswim).

 

I love running but am finding it really frustrating that I am so much slower/can't run as far as I used to be able to.

 

If you join a running clun you will get lots of support and encouragement too and it can help give you motivation to keep at it.

 

Have fun!

[vidster]

Originally posted by JoePritchard

When I used to do road-running one of the biggest problems I had was due to me being flat-footed and rather heavy footed.

 

I ended up with painful shins form the repeated impact on the road of my feet, so watch for that.

 

Joe

 

That's my problem too Joe

I start running but within a couple of weeks my shins and knees are knackered

Over the years i have tried building the distance gradually, running on soft ground (grass) etc.. but the same result every time. It doesn't help when your over weight to start with, the extra weight just makes the heavy footed impact even worse.

[Jamie]

I've done a half-marathon before xafier, and it's tuff going!

[Lickszz]

You don't have to be super fit to run the marathon, it just depends what time your aiming for. The key is longevity and stamina. As long as you put the mileage in beforehand you should be ok.

 

I've ran a fair few in my time including the London Marathon. If your going to start preparations this early just make sure you take it easy, you don't want to over do it as it's a long way off until next year and you don't want to sustain any long lasting injuries.

 

When I used to run them I used to put in 4-5 months preparation and put in about 50-70 miles a week, which was adequate. I already had a decent fitness level before I started prep though so you might need a bit more time. The furthest I ran on a training run was 18 miles but I knew I had plenty left in the tank and that run consisted of a few nasty hills that took a bit out of me that I knew put me in good stead as there was no hills like that on the course.

 

The crowd are very lifting on the day and I found that this also encourages to run easier and take your mind of things and enjoy the occasion.

 

it's not that easy to get places for the London Marathon, but going through a charity is the best way because they get given a certain amount of places.

[MTheo]

dont bother with decatahlon.....get to a specialist runners shop...keep on running in attercliffe and tell them what you plan to do and they will give you advice and best shoes for what you will do.

 

i mean...wud u go to argos to buy a amp for ur guitar? i think not

[Fareast]

With all the agony running involves to legs and feet and all the time it takes up , surely it'd be better to have a brisk walk to the pub and back ------and maybe eat less.