I am a fifteen year old girl and I really want to run a marathon. I have been a competitive runner for 5 years and average 35 miles a week. As far as my speed, my most recent half was in 1:37. I understand that a marathon is no easy distance but I have a gradual 18 week plan to follow. Any thoughts will be appreciated :)
Why are you so eager to run a marathon? Most marathons won't allow you to run one at such a young age.
It has been a goal of mine for quite a while. The race I have in mind does allow it, I just want to know what other runners think :)
runthistown wrote:
I am a fifteen year old girl and I really want to run a marathon. I have been a competitive runner for 5 years and average 35 miles a week. As far as my speed, my most recent half was in 1:37. I understand that a marathon is no easy distance but I have a gradual 18 week plan to follow. Any thoughts will be appreciated :)
I wouldn't exactly encourage it, but if it's something you really want to do, go ahead and get it out of your system. What is important is to be careful -- do the build-up and don't be so locked on that you get hurt.
Go for it. It won't hurt your development if that's your concern.
Haile Gebrselassie ran his first marathon at 15. Cathy O'Brien ran the Olympic Trials Marathon when she was 16 and later went on to make 2 Olympic teams.
Isn't Hadley only like 16? She just ran 2:4x, right?
Yep
I ran one at 14 when my half time was about 1:24 on 20mpw. It zapped my leg speed for several weeks afterwards, but was crushed all of my prs when I recovered.
I ran two marathons as a teenager, one when I was 16 and one when I was 17. I was doing about 45 miles a week the first time with no real long runs, and was doing 55 miles a week the second time, plus a few 18-22 mile long runs. I ran about 20 minutes faster the second time. It was reasonably fun, but didn't make me a better track or XC runner. In fact it probably hurt my track training the second time around because I was sneaking in 20-milers on Sundays.
runthistown wrote:
I am a fifteen year old girl and I really want to run a marathon. I have been a competitive runner for 5 years and average 35 miles a week. As far as my speed, my most recent half was in 1:37. I understand that a marathon is no easy distance but I have a gradual 18 week plan to follow. Any thoughts will be appreciated :)
If you are a member of your HS track and/or XC team limit road races to the 1/2 until graduation.
asfadsfads wrote:
I ran two marathons as a teenager, one when I was 16 and one when I was 17. I was doing about 45 miles a week the first time with no real long runs, and was doing 55 miles a week the second time, plus a few 18-22 mile long runs. I ran about 20 minutes faster the second time. It was reasonably fun, but didn't make me a better track or XC runner. In fact it probably hurt my track training the second time around because I was sneaking in 20-milers on Sundays.
Why would you do this? You should worry about track season and competing against your peers, not some old 45 yr old joggers and house wives. Plus by doing this you hurt your team, disrespected your coaches and wasted everyone's time. It's a totally A-hole move.
College coaches will not give 2 $hits about your marathon. They will care about your 1600 & 3200 greatly.
selfishrunner wrote:
asfadsfads wrote:I ran two marathons as a teenager, one when I was 16 and one when I was 17. I was doing about 45 miles a week the first time with no real long runs, and was doing 55 miles a week the second time, plus a few 18-22 mile long runs. I ran about 20 minutes faster the second time. It was reasonably fun, but didn't make me a better track or XC runner. In fact it probably hurt my track training the second time around because I was sneaking in 20-milers on Sundays.
Why would you do this? You should worry about track season and competing against your peers, not some old 45 yr old joggers and house wives. Plus by doing this you hurt your team, disrespected your coaches and wasted everyone's time. It's a totally A-hole move.
College coaches will not give 2 $hits about your marathon. They will care about your 1600 & 3200 greatly.
Wow dude, chill. The guy was a kid who felt like running a few marathons. You think the high school track team owns him? Like he should have organized his life around making sure that he ran his best for his HS team at the expense of other things he felt like exploring at that age.
Dude, you take HS sports WAY too seriously. (either that or you're a pretty good, reasonably subtle troll).
Guys that would emphasize running road races over track or cc are usually looking to duck competition.
Selfisrunner wrote:
Guys that would emphasize running road races over track or cc are usually looking to duck competition.
I doubt it. I think that they are just looking to have fun and explore some other options - exactly what 16/17 year-old kids should be doing.
Selfisrunner wrote:
Guys that would emphasize running road races over track or cc are usually looking to duck competition.
Yeah those high school races are a lot easier to win than marathons
-100 troll
Back in the day it was commonplace for children to run marathons for fun. Historically, kids are adults by the time they are 14. Quite coddling. High school running is just that.
I did one at age 12 because my brother was doing it (he was 16). He ran 3:21 and I ran 3:25. No big deal, really.
i did my first at 19 (also female) - when i was out of high school. take advantage of xc/track opportunities you have now! i don't know if you are planning on running in college, but if you aren't/can't, as i did not, i REALLY missed running on a team. that's when i started doing longer distances. so i'd say enjoy that while you have the option to. (assuming you go to a hs with track/xc teams..)
Bad idea. Wait. at least 4 years.
HS kids racing mom's and old men at road races are dodging competition vs their peers.
As far as marathoning at that age it's a total waste of time and effort. You only have 4 years to run in HS. You have the rest of your life to jog a marathon.