Marathon on average 32 Miles per week Crazy or Just Do It

do not go out at 7:15 pace if you decide to do it. Maybe start off at 9 minute mile pace especially if you're doing it "for fun" With an 18:50 5k season best I doubt you;d be able to hold that pace for 26 miles.

I'll share with you my similar experience, both as a warning and to give you hope:

Just after I turned 30, I ran an impromptu marathon on 16 weeks of "training" after 10 years of no running at all. I didn't average nearly 32mi week, that was probably more of my peak week. Most weeks were in the 20-25mi range. Along the way, I raced a 1:33 half.

I tried going out at ~8:00/mi pace the first half of the marathon and died big time, splitting 1:43/2:01 for a 3:44 finish. But I was also about 20lbs overweight and had a much more limited buildup than you.

5 months later, averaging about 30-40mpw, and with a 1:29 half during the buildup, I ran a 3:12 off much more consistent pacing. And I only had like an 18mi and 22mi long run along the way, otherwise most of my long runs were in the 13-15mi range.

FWIW, I have far less natural talent than you: I was a 4:30s miler, 9:50s 2 miler, 16:10s XC runner in high school.

If you are doing it for fun, I might run the first couple miles closer to 7:45-8:00/mi, try to lock into 7:15-:30/mi thereafter for the first half, and then try to keep an even effort from there, making sure to fuel properly along the way. Your odds aren't great for a fantastic experience, but it can be done.

Good luck.

Why risk it? Why not build for another 5 months and race in March when you're much more likely to have a satisfying finish?

Valid points from everyone :)

A WARNING :

I tried that, 32MPW. I went out, blew up, developed PF and Achilles issues and was never the same again. I ran a PW and have cursed myself many times since that day.

IF I HAD A CHANCE TO, I'D NEVER EVER(!) HAVE RUN A MARATHON.

I dearly wished I'd stuck to 10KM races and under.

I SERIOUSLY regret my decision.

Honestly.

Just one view.

Do what you will, however be prepared for the possible consequences.

^^^^^ That is major league issues. Sorry that happen to you. They have a half-marathon and 5K, I better do some thinking

You probably have enough mileage to run a marathon, but not race a marathon. If I were you I would go no faster than about 7:45-8:00 pace until at least 15 miles before I gave any thought to picking up the pace.

Hi Joe 1976

I'm Dan 1964. When I was 37 I was able to run again after 18 years off. I ran 4:29/9:55 full mile/2 mile in high school.

I ran for 3-4 months running every other day and averaging 21 miles a week. I ran 347 miles in 16 weeks. I got down to a 18:36 5k. I got the same injury I had in college in February after turning 38 but found out the cause and only needed 6 weeks off. (psoas muscles) I started back running March 20. I decided to start running every day so I ran 17 miles the 3 days of that week. The next 6 weeks I ran 49,56,56,61,50,and 57 miles. At the beginning of the 57 mile week, I ran 12 miles at 6:59 pace and decided I should do a marathon the following week. After deciding to run the marathon, I did another 12 mile run on Wednesday at an effort I figured I could keep up for a long time. That pace was 7:21. That is a total of 693 miles running in the last 18 years.

I picked the Pittsburgh marathon because they let me sign up for it the day before at the expo. I found out they had pacers and decided to start with the 3:15 group to be safe. I stayed with the group for about 16 miles when I decided it was time to speed up a little. I ended up running 3:11:50 with the last 3 miles around 7 minute pace.

I thought this marathon thing was so easy I signed up for another one 5 weeks later. I won that one but that is another story.

Just go do it. Just make sure it feels pretty easy the first half and don't "race" until after 18-20 miles.

I wouldn't do it: Too much risk incurring an achilles injury (or something) that would have you waylaid for a long time. By the way, this goes for both trying to race a marathon or just treating it like a long run, in both cases it sounds like you'd be on your feet for more than twice as long as you had been in training.

Prefontaine+Vail=PREVAIL wrote:

it sounds like you'd be on your feet for more than twice as long as you had been in training.

Anybody can do a one off run successfully if they pace themselves properly. If you happen to cramp up, just walk/jog to the finish. No big deal.

I am 46 YO female and typically run 3:25:00 to 3:35:00 marathons averaging about 20 miles week training for the last 7 years. Completed maybe 20 marathons in that time. 3-4 days a week of running w/ 2-3 days of circuit weight training. I usually max mileage at 40.

As others said If you go out conservatively you should be fine. I had a solid endurance base from rowing for 20 years but also had three kids - nowhere near the running experience you have.

Good luck!

My 30 year old son just ran his first marathon with about 10 weeks of training and not much more mileage then that. He was shooting for 4hrs at 9 minute pace but felt good and came in at 3:50. I know all will say "hobby jogger " but I was proud of his time. Maybe the fact that he was in the army airborne for the last 5 years helped.

Gonzo wrote:

A WARNING :

I tried that, 32MPW. I went out, blew up, developed PF and Achilles issues and was never the same again. I ran a PW and have cursed myself many times since that day.

I assume you got treated for pf and your achilles issues.

The marathon is not the kind of thing that you should run underprepared, because it will be a very long and painful slog the last 10M or 10k and you want to gradually build on your training until you are ready. I waited two and a half years after starting training again after a many years break, despite the fact that I could have run well under 3 a year earlier, and so it went well and I ran 2:46 the first time out without any wall and improved six minutes the next year.

I have done one on 35/week and another on just 24/week. Unlike when I had 45/week, the lower two cases required some walking the last ~5 miles. And that was basically the story - with only 35 miles, my body was ready to race 21 miles at around 7/mi pace, but the last 5 was run 600/walk 300 then repeat (maybe 12 minute miles). When I only had 24, the breaking point was more like the 18 mile mark. When I had 45/week, I did not need to walk and ran my only slow (8 minute) mile on mile 25.