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Hello runners, I'm tempted by a 38 mile / 3,000ft race in 3 months, I've run marathons and trail races (up to 18/6,000) but haven't done much more than weekly parkruns this year.
I reckon I can do it and even enjoy it but am concerned about building training load too quickly and getting niggles etc.
Any advise or should I just throw some £ at a coach?
Weirdly, I’d be more confident doing an ultra than a marathon. The latter you’re always on the clock, an ultra you can take your time.
I’d just up the mileage, with particular attention to long, back to back runs. 15 miles on consecutive days for instance. I think a coach is more relevant for a marathon.
It can be done. A few years ago I did my first ever marathon (on/off road - Bolton Hill Marathon) and a fortnight later did my first ultra (off road - 4 Passes). It might hurt a bit but if you pace yourself and run/walk then why not?
Hi Al
My brother does this stuff now and threw some money at a coach. He reckons the difference is incredible. One of the main things the coach seems to have done is to improve core strength so when he starts to tire he still holds himself up properly and evenly rather than starting to put pressure on the wrong parts of his body when the niggles will then build up quickly
The coach was these folks Running coach Scotland | Running coach Edinburgh | Improve My Running. The before and after video gives you an idea of the change 🙂
I completed my first ultra a couple of weeks ago after having a crap lead in due to ill health.
Be realistic on what you want to achieve - if it's just finish, then you're in a great starting position. I fast marched 90% of mine and got in comfortably ahead of cut-offs.
It was one of the hardest, but best things i've ever done. I'd go for it if i were you
I did a much shorter trail race, 25km in the Brecon Beacons a while ago, having been doing maybe 5k a week and being nowhere near able to run anything like that on road. It was ok, largely because it was so hilly no-one could run so we mostly just fast-walked it as above. Hardly anyone was running at the end. I think that marching up hills fast aligns pretty well with cycling, whereas efficiently running on flat is a totally different concept. I placed about the top third, mostly because I think most of the fast runners got lost in the snow and low visibility! And run/walking is vastly easier off road because loads of people walks and goes slow on techie bits whereas walking on a road run is failure, depending on your view 🙂
That said, 60km and 1,000m of climbing is not as much, so you'd need to run far more than I did. So on second thoughts, no 🙂
No need for a coach, it's not rocket science. Just up the miles and do back to back long runs as lunge says.
Time on your feet is arguably more important than distance. Just get out for some slow, steady long days and you’ll be fine.
Thanks all, I don't mind it hurting a bit, I'd like a reasonable time and for it not to be horrible. I think it is achievable. There's also Edinburgh - Glasgow which is easy logistically but 56 miles and probably dull.
@leffeboy you may have sold me that before? My issue with coaching is I CBA training particularly seriously or with too much structure...but I suppose one has to, to really improve.
@leffeboy you may have sold me that before?
I was wondering that myself :), I had a vague memory of having had that discussion. He went from dragging himself around a marathon to being able to do 100k and he rates the coach. I'd be tempted if I was still in Burghy
There might be value to talking to a coach or at least getting a training plan ... you've explicitly asked if it's possible, and you need to get some sort of calendar of what to do.
If it was just common sense you wouldn't need to ask the questions!
Mark Lewis
Try and get some decent time on your feet so stuff like long runs and or long days out. Don't go nuts though. Try and train on similar terrain of the course eg if hilly get some hills in. Practice your nutrition - what works and what doesn't plus learning when to refuel. Have a look at previous results and finish times then work out the different paces depending on where you're aiming to finish.
Choose the 3000ft option...you'll be fine...that's not even a mile 😂
If it was just common sense you wouldn’t need to ask the questions!
For someone who's done marathons it pretty much is just common sense. People mystify this sort of stuff sometimes but most people should be able to work it out without engaging a coach.