Marathon, Am I over estimatig my abilities??

I would love to do a marathon next year but am I over estimating my abilities? I started running about 3 months ago in the gym and decided to do some fun runs and mini marathons I have run a 6 k and a 10k and will run another 10k before this month is out. I really enjoy it but I really want to push myself further. At the moment I train monday to friday twice a day, on my lunch I do my weight training and maybe 15-20 mins cardio work. After work, in the evenings I run at least 5k mostly on the treadmill. I also do at least one 'long' run each week, maybe around 10-12k (outdoors).

When I first started running I thought I'd never achieve this and now I can run it quiet comfortably, so it has got me interested in doing a marathon next June? If I start training seriously in Jan that will give me about 6 months? I have been doing some reading and some say 6 months is loads of time but others disagree and feel you should have a more gradual build up? Whats your take on it, should I go for it or will I aim for a half marathon first?? Thanks guys 

Original Post by cpa_pfs:There is much to learn during training.  You need to learn about pacing  ...  and what pacing works for you.  You need to learn about hydration and fueling  ...  and what works best for you.  For instance, I tried a different fuel last Sat on my long run  (24 miles) that I now know is not one that works for me.  You have to learn why we say the first half of a marathon is 18 to 20 miles  ...  and the second half is the balance.  Your body can only carry so much stored fuel  ...  and at some point you will bonk if you don't fuel it along the way with fuel that it can convert quickly into energy.

 

 Thank you for your response you obviously really know what you are talking about, whan you say fuel what do you reccomend it is obvious I have much to learn!? I would really appreciate any info u ave to offer!!

Original Post by marhar24:

When I first started running I thought I'd never achieve this and now I can run it quiet comfortably, so it has got me interested in doing a marathon next June? If I start training seriously in Jan that will give me about 6 months? I have been doing some reading and some say 6 months is loads of time but others disagree and feel you should have a more gradual build up? Whats your take on it, should I go for it or will I aim for a half marathon first?? Thanks guys 

6 months is adequate time  ...  if you train consistently.  At some point, running will no longer be a chore  ...  it will become addictive.

But, running one in June?  Hmmmm.  Where?  Heat is a killer when you exert yourself for several hours continuously.  Think of it like this.  Playing golf in 60 or 70 degree weather  ...  perfect.  Running a marathon in that same weather  ...  tough.  The hotter it is the more your body spends its energy on cooling  ...  instead of running.  The more your body sweats and loses electrolytes  ...  then it starts cramping.

Granted, everything is relative.  I've been training in 90 degree weather for months  ...  and now 60 or 70 feels great.  Great for training but not great for a marathon.  It is better to have 30 and 40 degree weather for a marathon  ...  especially your first.

Last month was the Chicago marathon.  Perfect conditions  ...  in the low 30s.  But 2 years ago the temps rose into the 80s.  Dangerous.  They actually had to stop the race because it was too dangerous.

Bottom line.  Most marathoners train during the summer to compete in the winter.  You are going to do it backwards  ...  train in the coolest months and compete in the hotter ones.  I wouldn't.  I will run 6 events from the fall to the spring  ...  and none in the summer.

Original Post by marhar24:

whan you say fuel what do you reccomend it is obvious I have much to learn!? I would really appreciate any info u ave to offer!!

 

 Generically we refer to them a GUs  (GU, Power Gel, Accel Gel, etc.).  Yeah, that is a brand but that is like saying "coke".   They are small packets of energy  ...  typically some sort of paste or semi-liquid.  They are full of carbohydrates and electrolytes that are easily converted to energy.  They come in a variety of flavors.  Many contain caffeine.  Usually you take water shortly after eating a GU.

There are also energy bars.

Everyone has their own preferences.  Also, what tastes OK at the kitchen table may not taste too good when you are actually running.  I do not know why.

I like to have 2 energy bars just before the start of a long run  ( over 15 miles ).  Then I take a GU roughly every 45 to 50 minutes thereafter.  Late in the run/race I like to put a couple of Energy Beans (basically the same stuff made into a jelly bean) in my cheeks and let them slowly dissolve. 

Original Post by marhar24:

I would really appreciate any info u ave to offer!!

Shoes, shoes, shoes!!!  The most important piece of equipment to train/run a marathon is the shoes.  Running 26 miles in shoes is different than walking around in a pair of shoes.  In fact, my running shoes are uncomfortable to walk a couple of miles in.

Go to a running specialty store. Have them analyze your gait and shoe strike.  Without getting overly technical, running shoes are designed for various gaits (toe strikers, mid foot strikers, heel strikers) and pronators (over pronators, neutral, under pronators).  Pronation is the way your ankle/foot rolls when it hits the ground.

OK, that is way too much info.  Bottom line.  The wrong type of shoe will cause pain and injuries over time. 

Also, shoes wear out.  Yeah, no, not when the sides bust out.  Long before that.  The padding and rubber lose their resiliency.  It is best to keep a log of the miles you  put on each pair of shoes.  I like to replace mine at about 400 miles  ...  which is usually less than 2 months.

Original Post by cpa_pfs:

Original Post by marhar24:

When I first started running I thought I'd never achieve this and now I can run it quiet comfortably, so it has got me interested in doing a marathon next June? If I start training seriously in Jan that will give me about 6 months? I have been doing some reading and some say 6 months is loads of time but others disagree and feel you should have a more gradual build up? Whats your take on it, should I go for it or will I aim for a half marathon first?? Thanks guys 

6 months is adequate time  ...  if you train consistently.  At some point, running will no longer be a chore  ...  it will become addictive.

But, running one in June?  Hmmmm.  Where?  Heat is a killer when you exert yourself for several hours continuously.  Think of it like this.  Playing golf in 60 or 70 degree weather  ...  perfect.  Running a marathon in that same weather  ...  tough.  The hotter it is the more your body spends its energy on cooling  ...  instead of running.  The more your body sweats and loses electrolytes  ...  then it starts cramping

I'm not too worried about heat to be honest!! I live in Ireland and that is certainly not an issue here our past two summers have been the wettest and coolese yet so I don't see extreme heat as a threat unfortunately!  I thought the summer here would be a better time for me to run here as there is more of a chance of it being dry, but going with our past summers I wouldn't be too confdent that this will be the case, rain will be my biggest obstacle, running in the rain? a bad idea?? in Ireland I may have no choice!!

Original Post by marhar24:

going with our past summers I wouldn't be too confdent that this will be the case, rain will be my biggest obstacle, running in the rain? a bad idea?? in Ireland I may have no choice!!

 Running in drizzle or light rain is not that bad. 

The downside  ...  you have to pay extra attention to your feet.  Put a good lubricant on them  ...  wear good wicking socks  ...  wear lightweight breathable shoes.  If you wear glasses (as I do) you just have to deal with that aspect.  Wear a hat also.

The upside  ...  the rain acts as a cooling agent for your body.  It will expend much less energy cooling itself  ...  allowing you to use that energy for the running.

BTW, running in the rain makes for some cool marathon pics.