New to this: HELP PLEASE!!
Wed, 19/05/2010 - 08:49
Hi everybody, I'm a complete novice to runing and have just found this site. It seems excellent and I'm really hoping I can get some advice from all you experienced runners out there. Am I mad in even trying to do the Dublin Marathon in October this year? I started running last November and completed a 10k in just under 54 minutes at Xmas. Probably nothing to get excited about but I was ecstatic! I then had to stop running until a month ago but am back with a vengence now!! At the moment I'm trying to follow a plan that I got off the internet and its going ok, I'm up to 5.5km in 37 minutes - is that good? I'm really just not sure if I can complete it or if what I'm doing is the way forward? Also does anybody know where I can get one of those ipod running armbands? My ipod is a weird shape, the square Nano one! Anyway, thanks for reading, any tips, help, advice greatly appreciated!!
Thu, 20/05/2010 - 08:02
#2
Hi sunny80,
We sell these armbands on this site shop and they are at sale price for only about another week or two. :)
Thu, 20/05/2010 - 10:58
#3
Thanks so much for replying and for the advice. I signed up for the Adidas series this morning!! Just another quick question if you don't mind, I probably sound like a right idiot but what does this whole 'faltrek' thing mean? Its down on my programme alot and I'm a bit lost! Also, some days it says 'short 3 miles' and then other days 'long 3 miles' - am very confused!!
Thu, 20/05/2010 - 13:21
#4
Sunny, there are a lot of terms around different types of runs but when you are starting out I dont think you should worry too much about them. You will hear/read about interval, fartlek, tempo...etc running, but essentially they boil down to two types....runs where you will be running fast and runs where you will be running slow. To answer your direct question, fartlek training is a training session where you start out slow, go fast for a short period, recover by going slow , then fast, slow etc. These 'fast' runs are designed to help you (naturally enough) go faster by getting your body used to being under pressure, but I wouldnt worry about going faster, just about going longer, because thats the main focus of a marathon.
Now when it comes to running a marathon, I think you just concentrate on two runs, your 'ordinary' run and your long run. Every week you should do one long run as I outlined previously and for the rest of your days try and run somwhere between 5 and 15K. That will certainly get you over the line. You can do more research on the various types of runs and they will help you improve, but I'd focus first on completing the marathon, you can always beat your time afterwards!! The long run is what will count when you are coming to the business end of the marathon, your ability to do the distance and push through when you feel tired.
Thu, 20/05/2010 - 16:37
#5
Hi Sunny,
Here's a glossary that explains some of the terms used in the weird and wonderful world of running.
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-238-267--439-0,00.html
Good luck with the training!
Mon, 24/05/2010 - 19:23
#6
Hey, thanks again for all the advice. Am just wondering in relation to my running, is it ever ok to take a walking break mid run or should you be running the whole distance? So many people have given me mixed opinions so am a bit confused to say the least!
Tue, 25/05/2010 - 09:35
#7
Hi Sunny,
Jeff Galloway (US Olympian) has made a coaching career out of the run-walk method, where he recommends adding walking as an integral part of marathon training. You can find his marathon training plan here
http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/marathon.html
Here's an article from Runners' World, which supports this view
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-380-381-386-236-0,00.html
I've never run a marathon, but I have done almost a dozen half-marathons. In a few of them, I had walked hilly sections or parts where I was just beat and needed to regroup. If you want to walk, then go for it! It's not at all uncommon, and if your aim is to complete the marathon, then I say go for what works for you :)
Best of luck!
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First thing I would say is time doesnt matter, what you are trying to do is complete a marathon, so you need to focus on building the ability to run the distance. Whatever time you do it will be a PB, so you can worry about beating it the next time you run out.
I don't know the details of the plan you are following but almost all of them try to build up the mileage you are doing gradually, with increasing long run distances culminating with a training long run of somewhere between 18-22 miles. If you get to that point the marathon distance is (almost) guaranteed. I'd make sure that whatever program you are following to ensure that it fits into the rest of your life. If it requires you to run 5 days a week and you cannot due to other commitments then I'd adapt it to suit. Main thing is to put distance into the legs, organise your long run to start from 10K say and add 1.5-2K a week, which will have you around half marathon stage in 6-7 weeks or so. I only said 10K because you already have covered that distance, if you need to scale it back then do so.
I'd highly recommend the Adidas Series in the Park for target races before the big day, its a 5mile, 10mile and half marathon and is great preparation and good value considering. After that its roll on Dublin and 26+ around the streets
As for running bands, I just carry the mp3 player in the hand, it allows a quick fast forward when needed and you get used to running with something in your hand (helps when you are carrying water/sports drink bottles from station to station during the marathon)