Marathon training for HSrunners?

This is simple. Don't do it. You have your entire life to run marathons but only four years to run in high school. There is no reason what soever to run a marathon in high school.

Don't listen to the naysayers. You'll get all sort of good old boys coming on here and telling you to give it your all for your team three seasons a year. That's crap and won't help you in the end.

Do the training. Race if you want (you didn't indicate whether you actually would or not), but don't expect an amazing time in your first marathon.

Is your goal to run a marathon or a 5k?

Question Person wrote:

Is your goal to run a marathon or a 5k?

Does it matter? Real Marathon training is immensely helpful for a 5k - probably moreso than a half azzed 5k plan.

I mean wrote:

Question Person wrote:

Is your goal to run a marathon or a 5k?

Does it matter? Real Marathon training is immensely helpful for a 5k - probably moreso than a half azzed 5k plan.

Agreed.

Of course it matters. If you want to run a marathon you need to build up to long runs of 20-22 miles, and run long sustained efforts at marathon pace. Your efforts are better spent developing other areas if you want to run a good 5k. Training 70 mpw for a marathon should look entirely different than 70 mpw for a 5k.

I mean wrote:

Question Person wrote:

Is your goal to run a marathon or a 5k?

Does it matter? Real Marathon training is immensely helpful for a 5k - probably moreso than a half azzed 5k plan.

Then it's a 5k training plan that has a lot of miles. It's not marathon training unless you actually are intentionally preparing for a marathon. You can do lots of miles and it still be 5k training.

OP, 26.2 miles probably wouldn't be smart if you want to still have a cross country season if that's you end goal. But doing lots of miles is fine--assuming you have enough of a base to handle that many miles. If your goal is to run a marathon, then it's a different story.

Don't Don't do a marathon until you are 30.

Now if you mean marathon phase aka base phase then yes do some solid mileage in the build up to track.

Good schedule for 75 miles a week:

Sun 90 to 120 min steady

Mon 60 min

Tues 10 x 1k

Wen 60 mi

Thurs fartlek + strides

Fri 60 min

Sat 60 min

theJeff wrote:

I mean wrote:

Does it matter? Real Marathon training is immensely helpful for a 5k - probably moreso than a half azzed 5k plan.

Agreed.

Jeff isn’t a runner (or even a running fan), so when he agrees with a running-related claim, it’s a good bet that it’s wrong.

For a 15-year-old HS kid racing 5ks, it’s immeasurably better to just train for a 5k than do some half-cocked kiddy marathon plan.

I can name a runner --but won't-- who did a marathon as HS Jr/Sr and

he'd be a pretty good case study. He was heavily recruited and is at a PAC school. We'll see--career wise-- how things go?

I don't think one 26mile race will affect him either way but it certainly wasn't necessary and I think most would not rec' for one so young.

..to all these jokers telling you NOT to do it. DO IT! What reason is there to run a marathon? Ask everyone who does one. Making money is a good reason, but for everyone else, whatever your own personal reasons are is enough. That's enough for all the MB naysayers. They run marathons too. All this talk about Kenya being so far ahead, etc., etc. then when someone actually wants to get with the program instead of waiting until they're 30 (and a few years older by the time they've gotten used to the training and learned the event, missing their prime years) there is uproar in the streets. Who says your actual goal is 5k? The MB trolls, that's who. Not you. YOU want to run a marathon and should.

These same posters who scoff won't be on the NYC starting line trying to stop 20,000 people who 'have no reason' from running. They're just hassling you be cause you're on the Board talking about it. You don't need a reason that is meaningful to them. As long as it is to you.

I did one (under 3 hours) my first year of HS. 5km was not my main event - I only ran one ever. My training consisted of 70 miles a week or a little more. You have a better idea than I did what to do. Run up to 23 total. Do a fair amount of race-pace training up to 15-17 at a time. Ignore those who don't approve because they would never do it. ESPECIALLY ignore those who feel they have the right to but you don't.

So to clear up some questions:

1. This would be my base phase for XC, but with marathon-type training (20+ mile long runs, etc.)

2. I do not intend to run a marathon until 3 weeks post-XC season, so the marathon is not my goal event.

I may run a half pre-season, but my main concern was whether or not this type of base training would be more beneficial than our team's typical base phase, with our longest run being ~12 miles, and with less high mileage.

Thanks for the helpful responses!

Hahahal wrote:

theJeff wrote:

Agreed.

Jeff isn’t a runner (or even a running fan), so when he agrees with a running-related claim, it’s a good bet that it’s wrong.

For a 15-year-old HS kid racing 5ks, it’s immeasurably better to just train for a 5k than do some half-cocked kiddy marathon plan.

lol

I coached a HSer who actually was a road racer and ran a decent marathon before he ever ran for our HS team. The training did not help him develop the speed and muscular strength to prepare him to run fast in HS. He never broke 65 in the 400 or 2:15 in the 800 but he was able to run 10:00 in the 3200. He didn't have injury issues and enjoyed both experiences.

Brooklyndan wrote:

I coached a HSer who actually was a road racer and ran a decent marathon before he ever ran for our HS team. The training did not help him develop the speed and muscular strength to prepare him to run fast in HS. He never broke 65 in the 400 or 2:15 in the 800 but he was able to run 10:00 in the 3200. He didn't have injury issues and enjoyed both experiences.

This is an interesting story.

Would you suggest some ways to build/maintain my speed while still doing consistent marathon training?

I generally do a speed session each week and strides after easy runs, but would that be enough?

Early to the party wrote:

Brooklyndan wrote:

I coached a HSer who actually was a road racer and ran a decent marathon before he ever ran for our HS team. The training did not help him develop the speed and muscular strength to prepare him to run fast in HS. He never broke 65 in the 400 or 2:15 in the 800 but he was able to run 10:00 in the 3200. He didn't have injury issues and enjoyed both experiences.

This is an interesting story.

Would you suggest some ways to build/maintain my speed while still doing consistent marathon training?

I generally do a speed session each week and strides after easy runs, but would that be enough?

I dont know if what you're suggesting will work, I would however do weights to get as strong as possible. This runner's younger siblings ran for another school and were injured often while the one I coached who was in the weight room often did not get injured. It might be just a coincidence but I'd still get as strong as possible

theJeff wrote:

I mean wrote:

Does it matter? Real Marathon training is immensely helpful for a 5k - probably moreso than a half azzed 5k plan.

Agreed.

Yep. I'm run some great 5k races within a month of running a marathon (which I obviously did marathon training for). Increased blood volume is a powerful thing. Who knew.

I basically did marathon training between Junior and Senior years. Never ran a marathon. It worked out well. I say go for it. With that base you should do well once you get into the season. Just be careful you do not over train. Strides would probably be enough to maintain speed.

Do it

I ran a marathon my sophomore year of HS and ultras my junior and senior year, and I'm still able to develop in the 5k/mile during the winter 3 years later

Do what makes you happy!