Just ran a 10K: full in autumn, or a couple o halfs?
May 23, 2017 5:03 AM Subscribe
Ran a 10K last Sunday. Have done 3 half marathons in past couple years. Can I train for a full by October/November, or should I stick to a couple of halfs? Priority: comfort.
I stopped running last October ish to this February, started up again in March, ran the 10K last Sunday. I've run 3 half marathons and a couple 10ks before that, and the last half marathon I ran was in 2015.
I felt good about the 10K, and am now wondering about a full marathon. *ominous music*
If I continued training from now, could I get to a full marathon that is not totally unpleasant by next October or so? Should I just stick to a couple of half marathons this year? I guess my priority is whether it's possible to run a marathon distance comfortably by then, keeping in mind that I'm pretty good about sticking training, have no desire to push myself for a better time, and don't mind taking walk breaks. Or just, like, walking. I'm looking at races with 6-7 hour limits.
(Everyone talks about "building a base" but the climate here makes running too cold and difficult from November to early March. If I run only half marathons and take the winter off, am I back to square one the next year? How long is the expiration date for a "base?" Do I still have a "base" from my half marathons 2 years ago?")
I stopped running last October ish to this February, started up again in March, ran the 10K last Sunday. I've run 3 half marathons and a couple 10ks before that, and the last half marathon I ran was in 2015.
I felt good about the 10K, and am now wondering about a full marathon. *ominous music*
If I continued training from now, could I get to a full marathon that is not totally unpleasant by next October or so? Should I just stick to a couple of half marathons this year? I guess my priority is whether it's possible to run a marathon distance comfortably by then, keeping in mind that I'm pretty good about sticking training, have no desire to push myself for a better time, and don't mind taking walk breaks. Or just, like, walking. I'm looking at races with 6-7 hour limits.
(Everyone talks about "building a base" but the climate here makes running too cold and difficult from November to early March. If I run only half marathons and take the winter off, am I back to square one the next year? How long is the expiration date for a "base?" Do I still have a "base" from my half marathons 2 years ago?")
Best answer: In my experience excess ambition inevitably equals injury. Which is both common and devastating for runners.
Find treadmills for the winter to maintain your fitness - it is not as terrible now that you can use a tablet/phone to binge watch your favourite TV or movies though it is difficult to maintain a steady pace while Liam Neesan saves his incredibly abductable family.
posted by srboisvert at 6:15 AM on May 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Find treadmills for the winter to maintain your fitness - it is not as terrible now that you can use a tablet/phone to binge watch your favourite TV or movies though it is difficult to maintain a steady pace while Liam Neesan saves his incredibly abductable family.
posted by srboisvert at 6:15 AM on May 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Nthing ftm's certainly probably maybe for a full marathon. I started running long-distance way back in the 1980s, and our coaches were all pretty darn good about teaching us to run to our physical capabilities/talents as opposed to "of course you can anyone can no pain no gain". The latter philosophy is not, in fact, a healthy philosophy. For a full marathon in fall, it's very much "certainly probably maybe" because it all depends on what's good for you, and all sorts of variables go into that, many of which you're likely to discover along the way. For further perspective, those same coaches of ours would look at us quizzically if asked about a marathon. Those were the days when you only trained for a marathon if you really really really wanted to do one. I'm pretty uncomfortable with how marathons are presented as a thing anyone can do with enough willpower nowadays. It's simply not true on several levels.
Also nthing that yeah, you lose your base after a couple of months. I love to run in cold and rainy weather (including below freezing) and encourage anyone put off by it to try – it's not much different from skiing – but there are indeed also treadmills.
posted by fraula at 6:22 AM on May 23, 2017
Also nthing that yeah, you lose your base after a couple of months. I love to run in cold and rainy weather (including below freezing) and encourage anyone put off by it to try – it's not much different from skiing – but there are indeed also treadmills.
posted by fraula at 6:22 AM on May 23, 2017
Agree with everyone that it depends - age, experience, overall fitness, genetics, etc. I knew a guy that ran a half marathon having not trained a lick (age 30ish, an avid rock climber and might have worked out at the gym, but literally no running training), just because his brother was doing it and decided to roll out of bed and do it. He didn't get injured and ran it in an hour and 40 minutes. I knew another woman who trained for a marathon entirely by doing pool running. Also didn't get injured.
Most of us are not that guy or woman, but in my experience the level of "base" each person needs varies - and I think overall fitness and experience matter more for some than others. So, doing the elliptical all winter and having run marathons in the past (so knowing your thresholds, abilities and weaknesses) might really help for some and not be that important for someone else starting from scratch in March.
posted by Pax at 6:58 AM on May 23, 2017
Most of us are not that guy or woman, but in my experience the level of "base" each person needs varies - and I think overall fitness and experience matter more for some than others. So, doing the elliptical all winter and having run marathons in the past (so knowing your thresholds, abilities and weaknesses) might really help for some and not be that important for someone else starting from scratch in March.
posted by Pax at 6:58 AM on May 23, 2017
Best answer: I agree that a marathon is doable by the fall. In terms of expectation, your realistic time will likely be about 5 times your 10k time. Marathons, however, are rarely comfortable. I've run six road marathons. I think the only one that was comfortable was run about 6 weeks after I did a 50k trail race. I had no expectations and had a pretty rich dinner the night before.
I also agree that a fitness base disappears very quickly if you don't maintain it. My most recent (and more than likely last) marathon was an hour slower than that one.
posted by TORunner at 6:58 AM on May 23, 2017
I also agree that a fitness base disappears very quickly if you don't maintain it. My most recent (and more than likely last) marathon was an hour slower than that one.
posted by TORunner at 6:58 AM on May 23, 2017
Best answer: Half half half half half. Marathons are a lot more work than you think. You are very, very likely to get injured.
Signed, a five time marathoner.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:42 AM on May 23, 2017
Signed, a five time marathoner.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:42 AM on May 23, 2017
I get to a full marathon that is not totally unpleasant by next October or so?
My wife is a runner, and is VP of the local running club. You can totally do a marathon by October. Depending on your age and fitness/activity level, you might not even need to train that particularly hard for it. Some of the younger members of the club aren't particularly diligent about training and do alright at races. As you get older, the more it matters - I ran a half on a lark and zero training with a friend when I was 25 and it wasn't terrible. I couldn't even think to do that now, even though I routinely ruck 10-15 miles. You'll have to be your own judge on how much training and time you will need.
When we lived in WI, with the long cold winters, she would dreadmill during the winter, but also combined that with other aerobic activity (swimming, elliptical, etc) that wasn't so boring. The base diminishes within weeks, so just doing something is far better than nothing. Other friends did snowshoeing or skiing to stay in shape, so you've got options.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 7:58 AM on May 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
My wife is a runner, and is VP of the local running club. You can totally do a marathon by October. Depending on your age and fitness/activity level, you might not even need to train that particularly hard for it. Some of the younger members of the club aren't particularly diligent about training and do alright at races. As you get older, the more it matters - I ran a half on a lark and zero training with a friend when I was 25 and it wasn't terrible. I couldn't even think to do that now, even though I routinely ruck 10-15 miles. You'll have to be your own judge on how much training and time you will need.
When we lived in WI, with the long cold winters, she would dreadmill during the winter, but also combined that with other aerobic activity (swimming, elliptical, etc) that wasn't so boring. The base diminishes within weeks, so just doing something is far better than nothing. Other friends did snowshoeing or skiing to stay in shape, so you've got options.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 7:58 AM on May 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You can do a marathon by October but if comfort is your priority, I don't think it's a great idea. Running a marathon is not like running two half marathons. When I was in better shape, I could run a half marathon and enjoy myself but the marathon is just different (source: finished three marathons, started four).
posted by kat518 at 9:01 AM on May 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by kat518 at 9:01 AM on May 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: A 6:33 marathon is 15 minute miles. I suspect you could probably literally do this tomorrow, if you can jog at all for any part of it, and the weather isn't too hot. It's up to you to know how uncomfortable that would feel. If you train up for a 2:30 half and it feels awesome, then you can decide then to do the full, and you would be looking at a 5:30 full.
Consider taking a 90 minute walk run sometime soon and seeing how it feels.
Base for me is about giving a lot of time on feet so my little muscles don't get fatigued and my big muscles have endurance to keep me in good form.
Why you should discount everything I say: couch to marathon in 9 weeks (finished but injury), and I have run 50k+ a lot lately so marathon sounds nice and short to me :). And I am slow as heck.
posted by gregglind at 4:28 PM on May 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Consider taking a 90 minute walk run sometime soon and seeing how it feels.
Base for me is about giving a lot of time on feet so my little muscles don't get fatigued and my big muscles have endurance to keep me in good form.
Why you should discount everything I say: couch to marathon in 9 weeks (finished but injury), and I have run 50k+ a lot lately so marathon sounds nice and short to me :). And I am slow as heck.
posted by gregglind at 4:28 PM on May 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: All righty! This is all very good and helpful input.
Considering that I do want to have fun, and *dont* want to get injured, I'm going to go ahead and train for some halfs this year and maybe try for a longer distance than half on my own to see what it feels like. Ideally somewhere cool and pretty in the fall.
posted by sacchan at 7:56 PM on May 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Considering that I do want to have fun, and *dont* want to get injured, I'm going to go ahead and train for some halfs this year and maybe try for a longer distance than half on my own to see what it feels like. Ideally somewhere cool and pretty in the fall.
posted by sacchan at 7:56 PM on May 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Hello from April 2018! I was just about to post the same question. Out of curiosity, what did you decide and how did it go?
posted by roger ackroyd at 10:03 PM on April 9, 2018
posted by roger ackroyd at 10:03 PM on April 9, 2018
Response by poster: Hellooo! Before I signed up for that half marathon I did a complete 180, stopped running and started swimming because the summer was too hot! Now I'm back to training for a 10k and then a triathlon. I do really like having added biking and swimming to my training for variety.
If I did want to try running a longer distance this year after building up to the 10k, I think I'd find a flat course and do it by myself when it's cool.
posted by sacchan at 1:19 AM on April 21, 2018
If I did want to try running a longer distance this year after building up to the 10k, I think I'd find a flat course and do it by myself when it's cool.
posted by sacchan at 1:19 AM on April 21, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
Do I still have a "base" from my half marathons 2 years ago?
Nope :( Taking a break of a couple months is enough to knock most of us back severely. YMMV a bit but that's a long break.
posted by ftm at 5:49 AM on May 23, 2017 [3 favorites]