The non-runner's marathon trainer

[elynne2012]

Has anyone used this training book? My concern is the longest training run is 18 miles. I just started reading the book.

www.amazon.com/Non-Runners-Marathon-Trainer-David-Whitsett/dp/1570281823

[Wines Not Whines]

Huh. Based on the description, I'm opposed to the entire concept of this book. LOL. Sorry, I'm no help.

[mrshandy]

Not quite my cup of tea. I don't understand why someone who doesn't like running would want to run a marathon.

[Susie]

Oct 21, 2014 11:07:59 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

I don't understand why someone who doesn't like running would want to run a marathon.

Yeah, I'm here.  It's pretty antithetical to my entire approach to running.

Although I am jealous that a university has a marathoning 101 class!  That is right up there with Wine Tasting (which I actually did take for 2 credits in college) on my roster of awesome college classes.

[labbie]

If you're asking whether you can run a marathon with only doing a long run of 18 miles during training, I would say it's possible. Without knowing anything about this book I can't speak to it's plan specifically. I assume it's speaking to folks who may not be running regularly today, but have a dream of completing a marathon "some day"- in which case I hope all the appropriate precautions are laid out in terms of health, proper training, injury prevention,etc. prior to building up the mileage to the 18, then 26.2

[clseale]

I don't know, it seems okay to me for a beginner. To address the responses above, it doesn't seem to only be for people who hate running, it's for people who have never identified as athletes or runners. They describe it as people who are busy w/regular jobs, day to day lives, have self doubt, but admire the accomplishment, and want to see if it's possible for them. I don't love only one 18 mile run, but it's 4 days of running on a 16 week plan, and it looks like there is also a 10 week pre-training plan. It also says that it puts a high emphasis of the psychological aspect of endurance events, which, quite frankly, everyone on this board has admitted that they could benefit from.

[bostonmichelle]

I just threw the book on my waiting list at the library. I think it is definitely set more towards people that have never been runners or athletes and have dreams of running a marathon but don't know where to start. From the summary it describes me as of a year ago before I started running. I'll read it when I get it from the library and report back my thoughts from a non-marathoner's trying to turn into a marathoner's point of view.

[Wines Not Whines]

I think the part that got to me was a sentence that said something like, "You can run a marathon even if you hate running!" Maybe they need to scratch that part out. I mean, you can, but WHY?

[AAM2012]

Oct 21, 2014 9:49:05 GMT -5 elynne2012 said:

Has anyone used this training book? My concern is the longest training run is 18 miles. I just started reading the book.

www.amazon.com/Non-Runners-Marathon-Trainer-David-Whitsett/dp/1570281823

My longest run is 16 miles (Hanson model) but I'm also running 6x week.

[clseale]

Oct 21, 2014 22:33:14 GMT -5 AAM2012 said:

Oct 21, 2014 9:49:05 GMT -5 elynne2012 said:

Has anyone used this training book? My concern is the longest training run is 18 miles. I just started reading the book.

www.amazon.com/Non-Runners-Marathon-Trainer-David-Whitsett/dp/1570281823

My longest run is 16 miles (Hanson model) but I'm also running 6x week.

Is this your first time using this plan? Please report back after your race! I've heard really great things about this plan, but haven't had the guts to test it out yet.

eta: And yeah, there's a clear science and reason behind the Hanson model....aren't they basically saying that they're training your body to run the final 16 of the race (based on their method of cumulative fatigue)? I think this is more of a "run up to 18 & pray" sort of plan. LOL

[AAM2012]

Oct 22, 2014 5:21:18 GMT -5 clseale said:

Oct 21, 2014 22:33:14 GMT -5 AAM2012 said:

My longest run is 16 miles (Hanson model) but I'm also running 6x week.

Is this your first time using this plan? Please report back after your race! I've heard really great things about this plan, but haven't had the guts to test it out yet.

eta: And yeah, there's a clear science and reason behind the Hanson model....aren't they basically saying that they're training your body to run the final 16 of the race (based on their method of cumulative fatigue)? I think this is more of a "run up to 18 & pray" sort of plan. LOL

No it's not the first time. Used it last year and felt great after my race (when some of my friends who were using other plans couldn't walk the next day...) and ran a 4:10. My goal/I was training for 4:15 so it worked.

It is intense and running 6x week does get extremely difficult both mentally and physically so it's not for everyone especially those with limited time.

I think OP's training book teaches someone to finish the race not necessarily do well in the race.

[memenee]

Oct 21, 2014 11:23:49 GMT -5 Susie said:

Oct 21, 2014 11:07:59 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

I don't understand why someone who doesn't like running would want to run a marathon.

Yeah, I'm here.  It's pretty antithetical to my entire approach to running.

Although I am jealous that a university has a marathoning 101 class!  That is right up there with Wine Tasting (which I actually did take for 2 credits in college) on my roster of awesome college classes.

Clearly I went to the wrong college!!!

[secretlyevil]

Oct 21, 2014 11:07:59 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

Not quite my cup of tea. I don't understand why someone who doesn't like running would want to run a marathon.

right?

[al320]

Oct 21, 2014 11:23:49 GMT -5 Susie said:

Oct 21, 2014 11:07:59 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

I don't understand why someone who doesn't like running would want to run a marathon.

Yeah, I'm here.  It's pretty antithetical to my entire approach to running.

Although I am jealous that a university has a marathoning 101 class!  That is right up there with Wine Tasting (which I actually did take for 2 credits in college) on my roster of awesome college classes.

Did we go to the same school? I wasnt able to take wines, it conflicted with something i had to take im bitter.

[Susie]

Oct 22, 2014 12:14:15 GMT -5 al320 said:

Oct 21, 2014 11:23:49 GMT -5 Susie said:

Yeah, I'm here.  It's pretty antithetical to my entire approach to running.

Although I am jealous that a university has a marathoning 101 class!  That is right up there with Wine Tasting (which I actually did take for 2 credits in college) on my roster of awesome college classes.

Did we go to the same school? I wasnt able to take wines, it conflicted with something i had to take im bitter.

No idea.  Did you go to Cornell?

[al320]

Oct 22, 2014 12:17:26 GMT -5 Susie said:

Oct 22, 2014 12:14:15 GMT -5 al320 said:

Did we go to the same school? I wasnt able to take wines, it conflicted with something i had to take im bitter.

No idea.  Did you go to Cornell?

Yep. You too?

[Susie]

Oct 22, 2014 12:24:25 GMT -5 al320 said:

Oct 22, 2014 12:17:26 GMT -5 Susie said:

No idea.  Did you go to Cornell?

Yep. You too?

I didn't know that!  Yes.  '04.

[al320]

Oct 22, 2014 12:39:49 GMT -5 Susie said:

Oct 22, 2014 12:24:25 GMT -5 al320 said:

Yep. You too?

I didn't know that!  Yes.  '04.

Too funny!

We werent there at the same time though, im '98 (Ag school, was a bio major)

[Susie]

Oct 22, 2014 12:49:28 GMT -5 al320 said:

Oct 22, 2014 12:39:49 GMT -5 Susie said:

I didn't know that!  Yes.  '04.

Too funny!

We werent there at the same time though, im '98 (Ag school, was a bio major)

Lol, twinsies.