"Impossible" Goal (Read 1052 times)

When I first started running, I had the impossible goal to run a marathon 5 months later when I couldnt even run a single mile. The goal seemed impossible--but it was very, very meaningful to me. Pretty much ever since the 2nd one, Ive cut big-time corners on training. Ive had a goal of 5 hours, and really I should have obtained that by marathon 2 or 3. Breaking 5 hours would feel good..but not OMG I cant believe I did it, good. Breaking 5 hours would mean only that I didnt have to stop and walk the last 3 miles. (Ive run a total of 9 marathons since the first in October '06 - My PR was my 2nd race in December 06 5:06x) My goal for next year is to break 4 hours. If I can go from couch to marathon in 5 months, I can go from 5:15 (my latest time) to 3:59:59 in one year. I can use all the pushing and encouragement you guys got. I will run 40-50 miles a week, and lots of long runs. I enjoy the long runs, but dont get enough in. Run/walking the long runs in training feels great, and I feel that strategy will help me log much more miles. Ive found that somehow my body is very resiliant. I hurt like hell after my marathons because I havent completely trained for them, but almost always feel perfectly fine 2-3 days later. Time to push myself again, and not just on race day. Ran 6 yesterday after my marathon on Sunday and felt great. Going longer tonight. Next up is Vegas on 12/7--my goal will be more modest for that one. Any words of wisdom from the experts would be appreciated. Or a swift kick in the pants when I need it. Basically, I know I just need to run more..and the results should come.

Thanks Dakota. Yeah, my log is accurate. Thats why I am annoyed with myself. That was my 2nd marathon in a month. The training before the first was worse. Thats why Im setting this goal. And posting it here. Its exactly that kind of motivation that got me to run a marathon in the first place. I told everyone I knew what I was going to do..and that motivated me to get it done. Once I get in the habit of running, its easy for me to get out there every day. I was on a great roll early this year but did allow myself to get sidetracked after a cold--my problem is once something like that happens- is getting back out there. I agree that not ramping up to quickly and avoiding injury is key. I **think** Im very resiliant and so far have avoided any foot/knee pain in the 2 years Ive been running. But the kind of running I will need to do is uncharted territory for me..thanks for bringing that up.

It looks like you enjoy running marathons, you just don't like training for them.

OK, I'll jump on the grenade. Not because I like to stir controversy but because I want to see you reach your goal. Do what you need to do to eliminate the walk breaks. If this means cutting your mileage for awhile then working back up, so be it. You have a year, so you have time. Do it right. I'm not degenerating walking in a marathon, but pointing out that your adaptations to training will be sub-optimal if you walk. The speed required for a 4hr marathon is very different from a 5hr marathon. The increased speed you have to when when you are running to make up for walk breaks gets more and more exaggerated. Good luck!

More miles More days per week Fewer races

Increasing miles by adding another day is a slippery slop in my opinion. From personal experience adding in an extra day was difficult because it reduces the time for you body to recover.

Depends on how you go about doing it. Adding a 30-40 min recovery run the day after a tempo or long run instead of taking the day off helped me out a ton.

Depends on how you go about doing it. Adding a 30-40 min recovery run the day after a tempo or long run instead of taking the day off helped me out a ton.

agreed... reduced intensity to balance increased frequency...

early update. Started back up after my Vegas marathon and the holidays. Have run each of the past 5 days. Feeling good. Have my training plan and my general race plan maped out. Cutting down on the # of marathons this year. Just doing the Pig in May and Vegas in December. Will likely do 3 halves. Signed up for National in March, and will do USAFM in September and Columbus in October. Im 17 weeks out for the Pig--so training formally has begun for that. Not sure how I will train after the Pig before Vegas training starts. Have from May-August to fill in on my training plan. Should that be maximum miles, easy pace..or a good time to maybe do some speedwork? I had it kinda planned out at steady mileage, but I think that will only maintain my fitness.