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Dublin Marathon 2016 - Mentored Novices Thread
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I think the consensus would be do the race series if you can. If nothing else it gets you experience of running and/or racing in a race environment which helps in many ways including keeping you more relaxed on the big day.
They're also great opportunities for socialising - we had some pretty successful mentored novices get-togethers after the races last year
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Battery Kinzie wrote: »I know I said earlier that this would be too soon, but every time I see this thread I think 'maybe...' So I'm going to give my bit, my thoughts on where I stand in terms of doing it, and hopefully get some advice and second opinions on whether it's a good idea.
I suppose some background first. I'm a 22 year old guy. Have been 'running' for about a year at this stage overall, but realistically only 9/10 months considering how stop-start the first few months were (I would do 15k one week and nothing the next). Since about July/August last year I've had more structure in the form of a couple (usually 2) runs during the week and a longer one on Sunday. However, I was still going too fast at this stage and trying to beat my previous time with each run. I would say it’s only been since mid-September that I’ve started to properly train, by actually having different paces for different runs, rather than just full pelt every run.
For some reason, in October 2015 I signed up to do a half marathon at the end of November having done little over 10k previously. Anyway, I got through that in just over 1:50 and was extremely happy (though looking back I may have been able to go under the 1:50 – I went out very conservatively). I then did a 5 mile in January in 33 and a half minutes, which again I was happy with.
Basically, my worry is that I don’t have that much lifetime mileage in my legs (less than 1000 miles) and would worry that the increase in mileage needed wouldn’t go down well. I figure that I will have plenty of opportunities to run one, so I don’t fancy the idea of struggling through it this year if I could do a lot better next year with a bit of patience. I also have a lot of PBs that I still have to set/break. I want to go under 20 for 5k, put in a good 10k time, and go way lower in the half. So I’m thinking that maybe I’d be better doing that this year and having a good stab at the full next year with a full and proper year of training behind me before I start training for this. I've also been having a tiny bit of an injury recently (though that is pretty much gone at this stage). Having said all this, I'm very eager to do my first marathon, and the thought of having to wait 17 months isn't great.
Anyway, below are my answers. Cheers for any replies and good luck to all taking part.
Have you raced before? If so what are your PBs? (Date and distance please!)
Half Marathon: November 2015, low 1:5x (Very soft PB)
5 mile: January 2016: 33:2x
Do you still need to take walk breaks in your training? (No problem if you do)
Nope.
How much training do you currently do ? Distances, how many days a week, cross training - whatever you think is relevant to your current fitness level.
35-40k a week over 4 days for the last month and a half. Was at about 20-30k a week before then. Still building up, trying to get to at least 40k a week and up to 50k on good weeks and running 5 days a week. Mostly slow mileage with the odd tempo run in there. No cross training and minimal strength - something I should really fix
What do you want to achieve? Dream finishing time and realistic finishing time? Or just complete it in no specified time?
Dream: Sub 3:30
Realistic: Don’t really know. I think under 4 hours is very realistic, so perhaps 3:45 here? Not sure…
How many days a week can you train? And what plan do you intend to follow?
5 and could probably stretch to 6 towards the end if needs be.
Ps: What's generally the latest date that signup is still possible?
Hey Battery Kinzie, welcome to the thread!
I agree that you might be a little light on life-time miles / kilometers, but that doesn't mean it's not achievable. You've already started varying your training paces (essential once the mileage increases) and it seems from your 5M time that there'll plenty of progression possible.
First of all, look after that little niggle you seem to be carrying. If it doesn't go away, get it seen to! There's a few other Novices on the thread already who have let a little niggle get out of hand.
The second point I make it that sharpening up your 5k/10k PBs is quite a different goal from finishing your first marathon. You don't have to make up your mind just yet - but at some point, you'll want to commit to one or the other. In your case, I would decide either way as soon as. If you do decide to go for DCM this year, you'll have to start building up the miles - which means starting to structure your weeks like the first weeks of the plans a.s.a.p.
I would recommend picking a 10k race just before the plans start officially, and you'll get a permission slip to race it
. Prep for it with easy runs and one tempo run during the week, and a long run at the weekend. After that, a race report, and then: marathon training.
Good luck!0 -
Mid Life Crisis wrote: »Thanks to Nop98 for volunteering to mentor!! Great input already and really appreciated!
Background..........
I'm a 42 year old male. Did the C25K in April (I had no base and when I look back I wasnt sporty in school) last year and had a real challenge at the latter end. Seems I was trying to run too fast as I had a thing in my head that I needed to do a certain pace. I went for a couple of weeks where I couldnt get past 4K!! A friend told me to slow down and just get the distance... focus on speed after that... I ran slower on my next run and had such a sense of achievement when I completed the 5K in 31 minutes...
Have you raced before? If so what are your PBs? (Date and distance please!)
5K - 21.40 (3/5/16)
8K - 38.30 (2015)
10K 46.05 (Feb 2016)
10 mile - 1hr 15 (Feb 2016)
1/2 M - 1 hr 45 (Connemara half 2016)
Do you still need to take walk breaks in your training? (No problem if you do)
No
How much training do you currently do ? Distances, how many days a week, cross training - whatever you think is relevant to your current fitness level.
I run 3 or 4 times a week, between 5 and 16K, no structure, looking forward to a plan
What do you want to achieve? Dream finishing time and realistic finishing time? Or just complete it in no specified time?
Under 4 hours will be my core goal, I think I can do it in 3:45
How many days a week can you train? And what plan do you intend to follow?
Think I'll follow the boards plan... I'm determined!!!
Why are you running this marathon?
Many reasons!
My Dad passed away couple years ago and he is my motivator through this. Want to make him proud as I was always the 'non athletic' one.
I want to prove to myself that I can do it. My wife is a Gym bunny and laughed when I told her last year that I was going to run a 5K...After I finished the Connemara half last month, she said 'if you can do it so can I!' She is now doing the C25K....
Hey Mid Life Crisis - welcome to the thread!
Well done in CNM, one of the more memorable half marathons I've done. It sounds like you're pretty determined and that can only be good thing.
I don't have much other feedback than to simply go for it. Don't wait for the plans to start, you can quite easily design a few pre-plan weeks, similar to the boards plan. I did the same last year, slowly increased mileage so that by the time the plan started, I was ahead of the curve. I personally was glad having done that, as the mileage increases quick enough and I needed that little breathing space.
Your better half can accompany you on an easy run or two, and might even target DCM'17!
Looking forward to seeing how you progress!0 -
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Hi... I am planning on doing the marathon. Hopefully I can. 'Terrified' of the training but let's see...
ME: a little roundy 46 y.o girl. Started running 3 years ago
Have you raced before? If so what are your PBs? (Date and distance please!)
I have done as far as half marathon:
5k - March - 27.32
10k - April - 58.40
10m - Feb - 1.48.xx
Half - 2.18.xx
I love runs/races... motivates me
Do you still need to take walk breaks in your training? (No problem if you do)
Depends on the distance but 'long' ones yes... a little bit... if it is Conyngham road always (I hate that stretch! ;o)
How much training do you currently do ? Distances, how many days a week, cross training - whatever you think is relevant to your current fitness level.
Usually 3 to 4 days. 2 of them are training so about 5k max, and on Sat long distance. At the moment we are doing 10 k or so, but recently we did 10 miles, etc... I started going to the gym twice a week... somehow after 3 years of more or less running/jogging don't feel fit but I do it (not sure if it makes any sense)
What do you want to achieve? Dream finishing time and realistic finishing time? Or just complete it in no specified time?
Anytime is good, I just to finish it... ideally would be around 5hours, but I doubt it.
How many days a week can you train? And what plan do you intend to follow?
I can train 4... and another 2 for gym... Regarding plans ;o) I saw the Asics one and I liked it... as well the Runners one from David Carrie in the Irish runner magazine. However I am very open to suggestions...
Why are you running this marathon?
Because I can ;o)) Never been sporty, or fit.. but when started running I really enjoyed it. At least I would like to do one... eventhough I am already I am thinking of others. My biggest fear is injuries.
Hello there kabuxa,
Ah yes, Coyningham road. You'll be delighted to hear that it is no longer part either the FD 10-miler or the DCM Half Marathon in September.
Great to see you have a good routine going already. What do you do in the gym, if I may ask? 4 days running and 2 days cross-training sounds excellent, but do consider swapping on of your cross-training days for a 5th day running, once the plans start.
As for plan, HHN1 may appeal to you (4 days running) but you can probably cover a bit more mileage. Maybe Mrs Mc or FBOT01 can comment on your suitability to the other plans your considering? For the boards plan, you want to commit to 5 days a week.
Injuries are obviously everyone's fear. There is no magic formula to avoid them, but common sense can help a lot. Run slow (I should get a keyboard shortcut for that). Only increase your weekly mileage slowly (10% per week, max). If you feel a niggle during your run, and it doesn't go away, stop. If you feel your body needs an extra rest day every now and again, take it. Stretch, foam-roll, and "have your physio on speed-dial", as the great DG said last year!
Really looking forward to seeing your progress!0 -
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Hey Battery Kinzie, welcome to the thread!
I agree that you might be a little light on life-time miles / kilometers, but that doesn't mean it's not achievable. You've already started varying your training paces (essential once the mileage increases) and it seems from your 5M time that there'll plenty of progression possible.
First of all, look after that little niggle you seem to be carrying. If it doesn't go away, get it seen to! There's a few other Novices on the thread already who have let a little niggle get out of hand.
The second point I make it that sharpening up your 5k/10k PBs is quite a different goal from finishing your first marathon. You don't have to make up your mind just yet - but at some point, you'll want to commit to one or the other. In your case, I would decide either way as soon as. If you do decide to go for DCM this year, you'll have to start building up the miles - which means starting to structure your weeks like the first weeks of the plans a.s.a.p.
I would recommend picking a 10k race just before the plans start officially, and you'll get a permission slip to race it. Prep for it with easy runs and one tempo run during the week, and a long run at the weekend. After that, a race report, and then: marathon training.
Good luck!
Cheers nop! I'll take that into account.
Ah the niggle isn't that bad really, pretty sure it's all in my head, lingering from when I did have an actual injury there.
I'm going to add an extra day of training over the next week or two to make it 5 days a week and up at around 30 mile/week and see how I react to that. I'll also be on the look out for a 8/10k around mid-June. Depending on how all that goes, you may be answering a lot more of my long posts over the next months;).
Cheers.0 -
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Moderators, Category Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 18,493 CMod ✭✭✭✭
Join Date:Posts: 17215
First post-injury run in 5 weeks. GP said I might experience some tightness. I took it easy. Going to read back over the thread for general tips. Felt good to get back to out there. Thanks for the encouragement. Moderator: Television, Psychology and Dublin County North.
CMod: Entertainment
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Hello there kabuxa,
Ah yes, Coyningham road. You'll be delighted to hear that it is no longer part either the FD 10-miler or the DCM Half Marathon in September.
Great to see you have a good routine going already. What do you do in the gym, if I may ask? 4 days running and 2 days cross-training sounds excellent, but do consider swapping on of your cross-training days for a 5th day running, once the plans start.
As for plan, HHN1 may appeal to you (4 days running) but you can probably cover a bit more mileage. Maybe Mrs Mc or FBOT01 can comment on your suitability to the other plans your considering? For the boards plan, you want to commit to 5 days a week.
Injuries are obviously everyone's fear. There is no magic formula to avoid them, but common sense can help a lot. Run slow (I should get a keyboard shortcut for that). Only increase your weekly mileage slowly (10% per week, max). If you feel a niggle during your run, and it doesn't go away, stop. If you feel your body needs an extra rest day every now and again, take it. Stretch, foam-roll, and "have your physio on speed-dial", as the great DG said last year!
Really looking forward to seeing your progress!
Ooooohhh really? No Coyningham road??? I can't do the 10 mile as I am away but the half... hum...
This year I am going to do the R'n'R and 3/4... a friend said it a highly recommended. As well tomorrow Wings for Life :eek:
The gym only started 2 weeks ago. I thought it would help. It is a 30 min circuit. A dif exercise every min... It is great because it is on the way to home from work. The idea is M-Gym, T-Running, W-Gym, T-Running, F-Rest-Sat-Long run, Sun... depends prob Rest but could be slow and short run ;o))
Run Slow... I always thought there is no problem BUT the people I run with they are usually faster, so their slow is my ok-ish... but I will try to do slow runs.... problem is you feel ok so keep going ;o))) Surely won't be the same in the loooooooooong runs.
Thanks a lot for all this. I really appreciate it!0 -
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Just back from watching the Wings for Life event (which is currently still ongoing!). My son and I took up position just before the 10k mark (he quickly lost interest and wandered off to watch the soccer matches in the park).
Great running by hundreds of runners - despite the quite warm circumstances. The top 3 came through in just over 30 minutes - at startling speed. We stayed until the catcher car caught up, about 40 minutes later. The 10k mark was a clear goal for many of the later runners and it was nice to see so many just about making it! Well done if you ran in it .
Watching all the runners stream by, I noticed a couple of things I thought I'd share:- Prepare for, and adapt to the day that's in it! We'll talk a lot about this over the coming months, but I estimate about 40-50% of runners were well overdressed, wearing jackets, hats, long tracksuits, etc. Today was a warm day but that was well forecast. A rule of thumb is to dress like it's 15 degrees (C) warmer than it actually is.
- Get proper running gear. I saw several folks running in cotton t-shirts and shorts - which must be very unpleasant for the runners (as well as the spectators ).
- Don't wear headphones during any race. Don't do it. There was a lot of talk early on the 2015 thread about this - and we should get this dialogue going here, too. Since all races specifically forbid racing with headphones on, I recommend all novices to start running without for the majority of their training runs, and certainly not on DCM day itself. I am firmly in the Dubgal-school on this one: I never run with headphones and never miss it. I do acknowledge that for some, it is part of the enjoyment and combats boredom. But you won't be tuned into your surroundings (and your body) as well as you should be when you are running with headphones. And not being able to hear other runners / cyclists, etc, can be downright dangerous. During race-day, you'll miss what's most amazing about the whole event: the encouragement from the crowds.
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10k this morning along the Royal Canal avg pace 6:44/km which would be close enough to what my training 'easy pace' should be for this adventure. Today was grand, cause was warm and I am only getting back into it after being ill BUT think I might find it hard in the future when I am back to full energy. Of course as the training increases I'll have many demands on my energy so perhaps this will work 0
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10k this morning along the Royal Canal avg pace 6:44/km which would be close enough to what my training 'easy pace' should be for this adventure. Today was grand, cause was warm and I am only getting back into it after being ill BUT think I might find it hard in the future when I am back to full energy. Of course as the training increases I'll have many demands on my energy so perhaps this will work
Lovely to meet you today SL, you're absolutely right, when you start to increase the mileage you'll be grateful for the lovely slow easy (enjoyable) paces 0 -
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