Marathon question

With a long run of only 6 miles and a weekly average of 12 - 18 I would definitely recommend one of the beginner programs out there if you wanted to pursue a marathon plan.  See www.halhigdon.com for a nice simple beginner plan.

Now, would I recommend going for a Fall marathon based on the information you gave us?  That's a tough one ....... but my gut says "no."  I'm sure if you trained smart and stayed injury free that you could do it well enough.  But I would probably err on the side of caution and set your sights on a 1/2 marathon to start with and building your long run mileage up to a point where a 10 - 12 mile run can be considered an "easy" day.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do! 

Jeff Galloway also has really good training plans with very low rates of injury.  I strongly recommend getting his book entitled MARATHON.  Nearly every general population marathon training program uses his methods.  If you want to continue tri training, it will definitely take some adjustment and careful planning (that's what I'm doing right now--marathon in Nov, Oly in Sep), but it's possible.

What's your current 10K PR or what pace can you comfortably (e.g., Zone 2) run several miles at?  That will determine how realistic your time goal is (offhand, sounds fine to me).  Sorry, everything's in miles 'cause I do live in the U.S.!

VERY CAUTIOUSLY (I can already hear the feathers fly!) I offer here a possible Galloway-style long-run mileage (assuming you've done 10k/6mi long runs in recent history).  This assumes you'd take the long runs very nice and slow, at least a minute or two slower than what you could run a marathon at (for your time goal, marathon = 11min/mi, so here, 12-13min/mi).  Of course this isn't hard and fast--just to give you an idea of what a Galloway program might look like.  And yes, it's enough miles--more than enough.  The trick is to do them slowly.

Week 1 -- 7mi.  2 -- 8mi.  3 -- 9mi.  4 -- 10mi.  5 -- 12mi.  6 -- 6mi.  7 -- 14mi.  8 -- 7 mi.  9 -- 17mi.  10 -- 9mi.  11 -- 20mi.  12 -- 10mi.  13 -- 23mi.  14 -- 8mi.  15 -- 8mi.  16 -- MARATHON!!!

Heartily disagree with that planned long run build-up.  A 20 and a 23 for a beginner 2 weeks apart in a 16 week build-up going from 6 miles as a long run??

Yes, feathers will ruffle with that recommendation ........

I couldn't disagree more that it takes "years of >50 miles per week to be properly trained for a marathon".  Does it take years of training to complete a marathon competitively?  Absolutely.  Does it take years at the mileage you recommend to complete a marathon?  Heck NO. 

I've complete 9 marathons.  2 of these are Boston qualifiers, which I consider running fairly well (i.e. sub 3:10).  I've been running about 8 years.  Of those 8 years of running, I'd say no more than 8 - 10 weeks have been at 50 or miles in a week.   52 weeks per year x 8 years = 416 weeks.  At  8 - 10 of those 416 weeks, that means I've run 50+ ~2% of the time.

 I say go for the marathon.  You can definitely go from 10K to the marathon in 4 months.  Just take it easy and plan on simply finishing versus being competitive.

No offense, but if someone told me I could "do it," but that it would take 5:04 and I would "hit the wall at about 16 miles and (not) recover," I'd have to rethink my plan, probably even shoot for one a lot later down the road.

Funny how if you go in with a long run of 15 miles, you "hit the wall" at 16.

Double post:

To the OP, if you have a sufficient running background, four months of proper training will get you to the finish.

LOL I knew the feathers would fly. Remember--it's Galloway's program (not mine, although I've done five marathons on it), and yes, he has his critics, but most of the criticism comes from high-end marathoners/athletes, for whose training his methods may be less suitable (I wouldn't know).

Anyway, I will add (again) that nearly every beginner/gen pop marathon program follows his methods (about 200,000 runners have gone through them to date), which are predicated on training VERY, VERY SLOWLY ... I know Galloway's run/walk and mileages may sound weird, but the programs who use him have paying members they don't want to drop out, and others are charities like Team in Training who have a very vested interest in making sure every runner gets to the finish line.

So just IMHO--but do check out the evidence for it--there's no better program to get beginners to the end, injury-free.

Rob, or anyone else, if you decide to do a marathon, by all means definitely buy the book or make sure the program you're considering is reputable (Hal Higdon is good, too).  In fact, use the sources to decide if you want to do the marathon at all.

Good luck!  

Believe it or not, the satisfaction for many is simply completing the marathon.  Obviously not the case for you.  But most are accomplishing a life goal simply by crossing the finish line, whether thats in 3, 4, 5, or more hours.

Ummmmm, couch to 3:12 BQ in less than 2 years thank you very much ....... average weekly mileage was in the 28 mile range (when averaged out over the whole year .... yes I had 3 months of 200+ in that build-up).

Train smart and you can do a lot of things .......

You're absolutely right--the "VERY CAUTIOUSLY" suggested and modified Galloway program I put up there is a truncated one, based on the fact that our querent already has long runs just over 6mi.

Galloway's full programs are based on 26 weeks, with a long run of 26mi.  The "at least one or two minutes slower than marathon pace" is an absolute minimum; G. recommends adding an EXTRA minute/mile for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit, if you feel tired, etc.

That's why it's so important if you are going to do a Galloway program, to buy "Marathon" and THEN make decisions about whether to do the marathon or 1/2, if/how to modify, etc.

Interesting thread... good, but conflicting suggestions so far... there are no easy answers it seems.

Every month or so, Runners World puts out a new newbie to marathon, FIRST marathon, or other kind of plan.  I clip and save many.  Differences are subtle, but at least 16 weeks of lead time is standard and some would go for 26 weeks.  A lot depends on your background and experience.  You just have to read through them, consider your own running history, and see what makes sense to you. 

Keep posting, say more, and get better advice, but in the end...it's all you and 26.2

I've run just a 20 miler so far and wondered "how the hell do people tack on a 10K to this misery" but I'm seriously considering running the Philly Marathon this fall...crazy, eh?   Yup, yup.

A few more tidbits.  I am more of the go for it type of guy.  Once my wife asked me to do a long run with her when at the cabin (she has several marathons under her belt).  I had done a few "long" runs of 5-6 miles.  I say "sure, how far are we going?"  Reply; 20 miles.  I think how hard can it be, she's a girl after all. (I'm going to get flamed for that one). 

Well at mile 12 I started to think I might have a problem.  At mile 14 I knew this was in the really bad idea category.  At mile 16 knees, ankles were really starting to stiffen and running was very hard.  At mile 17.5 I had to succomb and tell her to go ahead and COME BACK AND GET ME.  I made it another mile before she got me. 

I could barely move for several days and could not run for about 3 weeks.

I'm so smart I did the same thing again the next year with her but was able to make it back.  Injured for several weeks.

To me the long and short is you risk injury. I for one would do it.  I do agree with others that you are likely to get hurt and may not make it.  But if the risk is worth it to you, you could be a marathon finisher.  BTY, I have never done a marathon so consider that in my opinion.

If you start training now you should be able to do a late fall marathon.  Your goal of finishing in 4:30-5:00 hours seems like a reasonable one assuming you use one of the beginner programs out there (runners world or running times have them online) and stick to it (including rest days).  I would recommend you test the waters with a half marathon about 3/4 into your training program.  If that goes well you will feel better about accomplishing the longer distance. 

Equally important will be good nutrition, lots of stretching, and rest.

I started running in '02 and ran Chicago, my first in the fall of '03. It was no picnic, but it gave me a lot of things to work on and a sense of accomplishment.

Best of luck,

Suzy