How did you know you were ready for a marathon?

[violetbaudelaire]

Hi ladies!

I'm new with a marathon question. I've run three half marathons, two since April. My most recent time and PR is 2:21, which is pretty good for me! I swore I'd never do a marathon as I'm on the slower side and long runs take me forever, but since my last half felt so good I'm toying with the idea of a full.

When/how did you know you were ready for your first marathon? Did you have a certain number of races (maybe half marathons) you wanted to run first? Was there a certain time or PR you wanted to hit? Did you *just know*?

[joenali]

I think I had done 2 halfs before I signed up for a marathon. Was I ready? I guess it all depends on how you define ready? I could already run 13.1, so I thought why not try for the full.

To be honest my first and only (so far) sucked ass! It was a hard course, I did not train enough, did zero speed training, barely got in all my runs, ran more on my long runs than I did during the week, cried the last painful two miles.

What I know now is that you need to commit to your training schedule, you need to have the right mental mindset, and again just commit! I've done two half-ironmans and about 9 half marathons since that marathon and I would say that I am more ready now than I was then. But maybe it's because I learned so much.

You are ready when YOU are ready! I don't think there is a magical answer or time frame!

[al320]

I didnt really want to do a marathon. I was mostly nervous about how much time training would take up and how long id be out of the game with recovery.

One day, i realized that my weekly mileage was basically as high as it would be if i was marathon training, my long runs for half training were up to 15 miles, and i could do that comfortably. So i just figured id go for it. I ran 7 HM before my first marathon. I think i was ready.

[stingsharkruns]

Ive been on the anti-marathon boat for a while, but after this last season I decided that I was "ready." ... every day as the heat sets in I question that decision, but I'm going to go for it. By time I run my full i'll have been running 3 years, and at least 12-13 halfs (i've already run 11 and i plan on running at least one during full training.) FOR ME, i felt/feel like I've put in a lot of good miles over the last 3 years, and I'm "ready" to tackle 26.2

[gumi]

I have not run marathons since before I had kids (my last was Oct 07). Back then, I wanted to do one and didnt think anything about it. I did 5 and I was okay at them but I was also always injured.

Now, I dont feel ready for a marathon AT ALL. for me, it will be after I master the 10k distance and master the half marathon - all without injury.

This is obviously personal preference. Anyone can do a marathon. For *me* personally, I think really owning the shorter distances makes you successful in the longer distances. That is why people like Ryan Hall can switch from track to marathon - and win on their first one.
In hindsight, I wish I did not do marathons - but shorter distances. I would have been injured a lot less, and probably a lot faster.

[foundmylazybum]

Jun 2, 2012 13:26:31 GMT -5 violetbaudelaire said:

Hi ladies!

I'm new with a marathon question. I've run three half marathons, two since April. My most recent time and PR is 2:21, which is pretty good for me! I swore I'd never do a marathon as I'm on the slower side and long runs take me forever, but since my last half felt so good I'm toying with the idea of a full.

When/how did you know you were ready for your first marathon? Did you have a certain number of races (maybe half marathons) you wanted to run first? Was there a certain time or PR you wanted to hit? Did you *just know*?

Eh..I think it's great you felt so good during your 1/2 marathon.

What's your weekly mileage?

How long overall have you been running?

As Gumi said--what's your ability level at the other distances?

I also agree that anyone can get through a marathon, but is it often a good performance?


a 1/2 marathon isn't the same race as a marathon. In fact I've heard the second half of the marathon described as entirely different race, mentally and physically and so it is hard to judge based off half marathons your 'readiness' factor.

Personally, I've been running since 8th grade and still haven't done a marathon.

[grk2012]

It didn't have anything to do with how many shorter races I'd done, or how well I thought I could "perform." However, it was a good number of years after I started running that I felt I was ready for the challenge of training and the extra mileage.

I wasn't in it to win it, just to finish injury-free with a smile on my face within a reasonable (self-imposed) time limit. The group I run with is incredibly supportive, and I trained for my first with them and a friend--and then ran it side by side with her. It was a fantastic experience, which only confirmed the fact that, although I'm not competitive with anyone but myself, I *love* long distance running.

After that first one, I thought I'd be one-and-done, but since then I've done two others and am always prepared for the fact that I'm just not "done" with them.

[Bob Loblaw]

Looking back I was probably stupid about it, haha. I had never run more than 7 miles and I signed up for my first marathon about 6 months out. I joined a running group, and at that point I couldn't quit beause I had already signed up for the race.

This worked for me, but I had zero commitments - no kids, no weekend work obligations. I think if you have the time to train, if you give yourself the proper amount of time to train, and you WANT to do it, anyone can be "ready".

[gt7301b]

Runner's World has a good article about this:
www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-244-255-13763-0,00.html

I recently (last week) signed up for my first marathon. The main reason I decided to run one this year is we want to TTC next year and I figure it will easier to find the time to train before we have a baby.

I always thought 13.1 would be as far as I run, but more than anything I want to say I am a marathoner.... even if that means I have to walk those extra 13.1 miles.

[psyri]

Ha! I am drafting a blog post on how I knew I was ready for a marathon. Maybe I'll get around to finishing it sometime soon.

I had been thinking about it for a while (over a year), did some training runs with friends who were training for marathons, and was pleased with my half marathon performances. It was time.

Like others have said, there is no magic answer. A marathon is a much different beast than a half marathon in so many ways ... the motivation, the time commitment, the race itself, etc.

[cinco]

Ummm, I was 22 and it sounded like fun? I put no deep thought into it at all. I think my longest run before I started training was 10 miles. I survived. Barely, haha. Fast forward 10 years later, and I decided to give it another shot. I started training for a small, local marathon a year post baby 2. I followed Hal Higdon's novice plan and finished a whopping 1 hour and forty minutes faster than the one in my early twenties. After that one I was hooked. I kept increasing mileage and adding in speed work to improve my times. Yeah, I could have waited until I was better trained and then had some solid times from the start, but I didn't and I can't say I regret it. I love the marathon and will probably continue to do them, even when I know a PR isn't likely (like this Fall!)
I guess I'd say you are ready when you have the time and the desire.

[aeroluv327]

I have no idea if I'm really "ready" but decided to give it a shot this year. I feel like I can commit to the training (no kids, no huge work commitments outside of normal working hours). Two of my friends are doing the same race so I'll have training buddies even outside of the training class I've signed up for.

I am still feeling intimidated by the sheer distance-- it's twice as far as I've ever run! But I just bit the metaphorical bullet and decided to go for it.

[katinthehat]

I've been running off and on since jr high, but have been a "runner" really only for the past 18 months. I've done three halves and a 25K and am no where near being ready for a marathon.

[violetbaudelaire]

Thanks everyone! These are great responses. To answer some questions, I'm running on average 25 miles a week. 5k time = 29:40, 5 miles = 50 minutes ish. I've been running for two years.

My half marathon experiences went like this... 1st: I'm never doing this again!! 2nd: I feel strong and can make it through my next one, but then I'm done. 3rd: omg I love running forever! I have to stop at 13?!

I'm running 10/12 miles on the weekends regularly, now for enjoyment more than training for anything. I think the switch flipped when I actually felt strong and wanted to keep going at the end of my last half. I know marathon training won't be the same but I feel like I'm in a better frame of mind.

So thanks - you guys have given me a lot to think about!

Also, as pp said, I have no kids or other commitments right now and one of my girlfriends is also ready to take the jump to a full. I would love love love to train and run it with a friend!

[foundmylazybum]

Jun 3, 2012 10:05:21 GMT -5 violetbaudelaire said:

Thanks everyone! These are great responses. To answer some questions, I'm running on average 25 miles a week. 5k time = 29:40, 5 miles = 50 minutes ish. I've been running for two years.

My half marathon experiences went like this... 1st: I'm never doing this again!! 2nd: I feel strong and can make it through my next one, but then I'm done. 3rd: omg I love running forever! I have to stop at 13?!

I'm running 10/12 miles on the weekends regularly, now for enjoyment more than training for anything. I think the switch flipped when I actually felt strong and wanted to keep going at the end of my last half. I know marathon training won't be the same but I feel like I'm in a better frame of mind.

So thanks - you guys have given me a lot to think about!

Also, as pp said, I have no kids or other commitments right now and one of my girlfriends is also ready to take the jump to a full. I would love love love to train and run it with a friend!

You honestly seem like you are in a good place physically and mentally to do a marathon. The social support of your friend is also a good sign.

To me personally, as a small suggestion, I would not only focus on building mileage on your long runs (but you have an excellent base set up already--so that is great) but also building your overall weekly mileage. You don't want the long run to comprise so much of the total--it looks like right now you have almost half your weekly total as long run mileage, and that can lead to injury.

Set a realistic yet challenging goal for yourself--and really, your attitude is great! It's nice to hear someone say they are enjoying running so much. That really comes through in your post.

[violetbaudelaire]

Thanks! I do love it. I feel out of sorts when I go too long between runs.

Good point about the weekly mileage - and I was JUST thinking to myself this morning, "wow, I haven't gotten injured this year!"

[agrippa]

Jun 3, 2012 19:10:27 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

Jun 2, 2012 19:15:12 GMT -5 cinco said:

Ummm, I was 22 and it sounded like fun? I put no deep thought into it at all. I think my longest run before I started training was 10 miles.

Lol, pretty the same except I was 19. I cringe to think that my longest run during training was 9 miles. Ah, being young and crazy.

For the other three, more training was involved. I was in grad school, with lots of free time. I haven't had the desire to train for another full since having a baby two years ago. I've been enjoying shorter distances.

I haven't run one, and am in no way ready for a marathon, but you two reminded me of my brother's one and only half marathon. He was 19 and randomly signed up the day before it. He wasn't exercising at the time (and still isn't). He ran it in Sketchers in 2:45. My only goal for my first half is to beat him. :-P