Marathon training advice

[claudiakishi]

More like - for those of you who are training/have trained for a marathon, how the heck do you do it timewise?

I’m doing Hal Higdons Novice 1 plan for a marathon in May. It calls for 3 runs during the week and the long run on the weekend. The weekend run isn’t an issue, it’s the runs during the week, especially as they increase in mileage.

I don’t have a treadmill or access to one and I work full time til about 4 PM. I run on a local trail but it’s not lit. My neighborhood is small and very hilly.

I know the point of the short runs is to build mileage week by week, and I don’t want to risk injury, but is it ok to drop one once in awhile?

I do take a boot camp class a few days a week and would love to keep with it since it helps my endurance and overall strength, but I feel like I might have to drop it until after the marathon.

I can always drop to the half but I had a goal of running a marathon before I turn 40 and this would be the ideal one to do.

Those of you that have done it or are doing it - how did you fit it all in? Any advice for me?

[mrshandy]

I run early morning or lunch time usually because that is what works for my schedule. What does the rest of your day look like? I've run 4 marathons and work full time with 2 kids so it's doable. You just have to get creative.

For early morning runs, I have reflective gear and a headlamp. I run in my neighborhood or around town on well lit sidewalks. Is there a nearby neighborhood you could drive to that would get you the mileage you need?

Have you ever thought about getting a treadmill? You can usually pick them up decently cheap on craigslist. Could you join a Planet Fitness type place or a rec center for a few months?

I probably wouldn't drop down to less than 4 runs a week for a marathon. I usually run 5-6 times a week so I'm not much help with that. The FIRST plan does have one that does 3 runs a week, but I've never tried it.

[wambam]

I've only trained for marathons May-October, but I've been able to get my weekday runs in after work and I work until 5:00. I did yoga and strength in the early mornings. That being said, marathon training is life consuming for me. Everything else is put on the back burner. Last time, I printed out a detailed training calendar and it was on my bulletin board at work, so I had no choice but to stare at it HA.

[scm1011]

I think training for a spring marathon is trickier when you have to contend with shorter daylight hours. Can you run during your lunch break? What about directly after work? If you live close to your job, can you run commute home? I live about 4 miles from my office and I found that to be a really time effective way to get a run in (since I take public transportation and it was pretty much a wash time wise).

That said, I did a 3 day a week plan for my last marathon (Run Less, Run Faster) and it worked really well for me. All runs have a purpose (intervals, tempo, long run) so no "throw away" runs for lack of a better term. My only other marathon I used HH Novice 1 and I felt equally prepared come race day.

[al320]

You fit it in. Marathon training can take over your life for a while (be prepared that the weekend long runs can kill your entire weekend). Ive done spring and fall amd agree that spring is trickier, i do pretty much all weekday runs in the dark and if its icy, on the treadmill.

[claudiakishi]

Thank you everyone. It definitely feels like a full time job!

I can’t run on my lunch, but I can run immediately after work on most days.

I live in straight up suburbia in a very hilly area so running in neighborhoods is not really an option.

I didn’t even think of joining a Planet Fitness or Anytime Fitness for treadmill access - they are both close to me so that’s a great option!

Another thing I can do is become a morning person 😂 and do my strength training then.

I appreciate the advice!

[lilypad1126]

The weekday runs are a pain in the butt. I have a solid enough running base that if I miss a weekday run here or there, I don't panic too much. But, I also know myself well enough to know that I couldn't run a spring marathon due to how dark/cold/icy it is here in the winter.

I prefer to run in the morning, which means in the winter, weekday runs on a treadmill. Even if I go after work, it's not light enough until April-ish for me to run outside. There are very few sidewalks where I'm at and people drive like crazy here, so I don't want to run on the narrow winding roads.

As someone else said, marathon training becomes all-consuming. For as excited as I am about my fall marathon, I'm already dreading fitting it all in.

[wambam]

Jan 9, 2019 14:11:36 GMT -5 claudiakishi said:

Another thing I can do is become a morning person 😂 and do my strength training then.

It sucked so much getting up at 4:30 to go do strength, but it really, really helped me for my second marathon. 

[labbie]

I'm an early morning runner so not much help there, but like others said you fit it in when/where you can.
To specifically address your mid-week run question I will throw out there that I have occasionally skipped a mid-week run for spin class or other cross training. During one training cycle I was out of town on vacation and didn't run for that week at all (but I biked and walked over 50 miles during sight seeing).
It definitely can take over your life, we can only do what we can!

[ditzydi]

Marathon training is pretty time consuming and I've had friends drop CG in order to make training a priority. If you insist on continuing to go to bootcamp, what about dropping it to once a week or trying to find a session on one of the HH rest days? I've run first thing in the mornings and after work. I wear a Noxgear trace to make sure people see me. What about joining an early morning running group? If you don't have well lit areas to run, running in groups can provide some safety. A head lamp can help with visibility. Good luck. I started HH again too. The last time I tried to train I got a concussion, was working and going to school full-time and I was never able to finish.

[gt7301b]

I stick to fall marathons mainly cause my husband is a teacher and I have more flexibility in the summer (not helpful to you, I know.)

During the summer I try and get in a run or two before work during the week. I would run with people from my local MRTT chapter on the trail near work, shower quickly, and go into the office. I also would squeeze in my longer midweek runs on days when I worked from home. I also did some runs after work if I needed to squeeze them in. It also helps get the speed work in, cause some days I need to run faster to beat the dark.

There were also a few weeks where I couldn't fit it all in and I took leave or got a babysitter so I could get the runs in. Some weeks there just wasn't enough time to fit it all in without taking some time off.

[sadlebred]

If you can run right after work, bring all of your stuff to the office. Change as soon as you get off, run, and then drive home after traffic dies down.

[luckystar2]

I think if you want to do a spring one you will have to be ok with running in the dark or use a treadmill. My marathon was fall because I much prefer summer running. I’d run in the evenings and often did my long run during the week. I’ve been known to be out running till 10:30 at night. So even in the summer I was running in the dark. But I’m fine with that and luckily have ample area around my house to run.

But as others have said it really does become all consuming. I really wanted to do it so I just made the time and knew that those months were going to be super focused on running and not much else. But some weeks I didn’t get every short run in. And I got injured so lol by the end I wasn’t running I was just cross training. It still worked out.

Is there somewhere better lit/less hilly that you can run?

[gt7301b]

Jan 9, 2019 17:02:12 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Jan 9, 2019 14:11:36 GMT -5 claudiakishi said:

I live in straight up suburbia in a very hilly area so running in neighborhoods is not really an option.

I ran PGH in 2016. There were hills. Lots of them. One of them was multiple miles long. You may want to rethink your options here. 

Also, running hills is going to make you stronger even if you don’t run a hilly race.

[campermom]

Would getting a cheap used treadmill be an option, just to mix it up?

I did my first full this year (HH plan) and I mixed up after dinner runs on my own, strength at the gym right after work, group runs at night, and solo treadmills before work. As much as I hated getting up for them, I did feel like I was ready to conquer the world before I even got to work.

[emilyj]

Jan 9, 2019 17:18:06 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

Jan 9, 2019 17:02:12 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

I ran PGH in 2016. There were hills. Lots of them. One of them was multiple miles long. You may want to rethink your options here. 

Also, running hills is going to make you stronger even if you don’t run a hilly race.

I’m not doing a marathon anytime soon, but I attribute my performance at Kiawah (where I absolutely was NOT trained to peak at that race) to the fact that all I can run in my areas are hills. Do they suck? Yup. It’s going to pay off big time for you though. Especially if your marathon has hills.

[Wines Not Whines]

I agree that marathon training can take over your life, so that feeling is completely normal. I run early in the morning. I wear reflective gear and a head lamp. It’s not always fun, but you gotta do what you gotta do. My neighborhood is also hilly, but I figure the hills make me stronger.

[claudiakishi]

Jan 9, 2019 17:02:12 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Jan 9, 2019 14:11:36 GMT -5 claudiakishi said:

I live in straight up suburbia in a very hilly area so running in neighborhoods is not really an option.

I ran PGH in 2016. There were hills. Lots of them. One of them was multiple miles long. You may want to rethink your options here. 

Oh yeah, I’ve run the half a few times and I work in the city so I know what I’m in for. I guess my complaint is the small size of my neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods. It’s one giant hill so I’d have to run in circles like 20 times which just kind of drives me nuts.

[claudiakishi]

Thanks everyone for the advice and feedback. This is something I really want to do so I am going to just have to make some sacrifices - namely getting up earlier in the morning and getting a run in or strength training, and getting more comfortable running in the dark as long as it’s safe or possibly getting access to a treadmill.

[claudiakishi]

Jan 9, 2019 17:58:47 GMT -5 campermom said:

Would getting a cheap used treadmill be an option, just to mix it up?

I did my first full this year (HH plan) and I mixed up after dinner runs on my own, strength at the gym right after work, group runs at night, and solo treadmills before work. As much as I hated getting up for them, I did feel like I was ready to conquer the world before I even got to work.

There’s just not room in our house for one unfortunately. I wish there was.

[campermom]

Jan 9, 2019 19:40:30 GMT -5 claudiakishi said:

Jan 9, 2019 17:58:47 GMT -5 campermom said:

Would getting a cheap used treadmill be an option, just to mix it up?

I did my first full this year (HH plan) and I mixed up after dinner runs on my own, strength at the gym right after work, group runs at night, and solo treadmills before work. As much as I hated getting up for them, I did feel like I was ready to conquer the world before I even got to work.

There’s just not room in our house for one unfortunately. I wish there was.

understood. I’d still try to mix it up with road/trail etc and check out a running group! I love mine!!

[al320]

Jan 9, 2019 19:35:32 GMT -5 claudiakishi said:

Jan 9, 2019 17:02:12 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

I ran PGH in 2016. There were hills. Lots of them. One of them was multiple miles long. You may want to rethink your options here. 

Oh yeah, I’ve run the half a few times and I work in the city so I know what I’m in for. I guess my complaint is the small size of my neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods. It’s one giant hill so I’d have to run in circles like 20 times which just kind of drives me nuts.

Why do you have to stay within your neighborhood? My neighborhood is a 1/3 mile loop, on a hill. I never run only there.... My 20 mile route takes me through 7 different towns.

[wawa]

Jan 9, 2019 21:13:58 GMT -5 al320 said:

Jan 9, 2019 19:35:32 GMT -5 claudiakishi said:

Oh yeah, I’ve run the half a few times and I work in the city so I know what I’m in for. I guess my complaint is the small size of my neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods. It’s one giant hill so I’d have to run in circles like 20 times which just kind of drives me nuts.

Why do you have to stay within your neighborhood? My neighborhood is a 1/3 mile loop, on a hill. I never run only there.... My 20 mile route takes me through 7 different towns.

This is my question too.  I live in burbs too, but anything over 3 miles I leave my neighborhood and loop through as many surrounding neighborhoods as I need to.  Are the connecting roads totally not an option?  (If you're outside pgh, then...yeah, I could see that.)  Or I meet up with people elsewhere at 5 AM.  

otherwise ditto sadlebred, run where your work is if that's easier to get a decent distance in without too much looping.  Then drive home all sweaty and gross.

[shauni27]

I have never run a full, but for me, even running for a half, I would run right after work, from work (or nearby). Then drive home after. In fact, even not training I do that.

I also regularly drive to different places to run. There is only so much I want to do in my neighborhood. I get sick of the same runs. And I live on a literal top of a mountain, so I sometimes also get sick of having to run back up it to get home

Again, not having run a marathon, but I am in a similar boat for the half I am trying to run this spring--I have run 8 halves, but this will be the first training with a baby and a basically absent husband (crazy work schedule). I am adjusting to the fact that I will have to spend less time with my kiddo which is hard, but I REALLY want to do this for me. It will mean instead of just doing quick 20 minute runs after work (so I can get my kiddo before daycare closes) that I will need to spend close to an hour running and have someone else pick him up. It will mean hiring sitters on the weekends to watch kiddo so I can get in 2 hours out there. I will probably occasionally need to leave work a little early so I can get in runs on days that no one else can pick up my kid, etc. It is going to suck, but it is temporary and it will be worth it!

[claudiakishi]

Jan 9, 2019 21:29:19 GMT -5 wawa said:

Jan 9, 2019 21:13:58 GMT -5 al320 said:

Why do you have to stay within your neighborhood? My neighborhood is a 1/3 mile loop, on a hill. I never run only there.... My 20 mile route takes me through 7 different towns.

This is my question too.  I live in burbs too, but anything over 3 miles I leave my neighborhood and loop through as many surrounding neighborhoods as I need to.  Are the connecting roads totally not an option?  (If you're outside pgh, then...yeah, I could see that.)  Or I meet up with people elsewhere at 5 AM.  

otherwise ditto sadlebred, run where your work is if that's easier to get a decent distance in without too much looping.  Then drive home all sweaty and gross.

So my neighborhood is off of a four lane road with no sidewalks or bike lane. And then that leads to two major highways. It’s really not safe at all for me to run out of my neighborhood and into the next. Maybe some would but I’m not that hardcore 😂

[wawa]

Jan 12, 2019 15:05:55 GMT -5 claudiakishi said:

Jan 9, 2019 21:29:19 GMT -5 wawa said:

This is my question too.  I live in burbs too, but anything over 3 miles I leave my neighborhood and loop through as many surrounding neighborhoods as I need to.  Are the connecting roads totally not an option?  (If you're outside pgh, then...yeah, I could see that.)  Or I meet up with people elsewhere at 5 AM.  

otherwise ditto sadlebred, run where your work is if that's easier to get a decent distance in without too much looping.  Then drive home all sweaty and gross.

So my neighborhood is off of a four lane road with no sidewalks or bike lane. And then that leads to two major highways. It’s really not safe at all for me to run out of my neighborhood and into the next. Maybe some would but I’m not that hardcore 😂

Yeah, don't do that. I had a feeling.