ON MONDAY OCTOBER 27 (a little over 16 weeks from today) thousands of distance runners of various, shape, size and speed with take to the start line for the Dublin Marathon.
Running 26.2 miles in one session isn’t for everyone, but if it is something that has been on your to-do list, then why not clear all of those non-essential plans from your diary and make room for more running now. Or you could wait another 16 months.
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Presuming you’re already capable of running the odd 5k and your GP has no objections to you taking on longer distances, the important thing to keep in mind when starting to train for a Marathon is to not rush yourself.
There is nothing to be gained by trying to slog through a 20-mile run in one go in the first week. Instead, build up three and four-mile runs to five and six-mile runs. Keep track of your weekly mileage and build that number from the teens into 30s and back before the week of your race
Maria McCambridge, the first woman home in the 2013 Dublin Marathon is hugged by her husband Gary Crossan James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
You can find a 16-week running plan from various sources to help you gradually increase your weekly mileage for 13 weeks and tapering back to keep you in optimum shape for your longest distance day. Not every plan will suit you perfectly of course, but try to stick as close to it as possible particularly in the early weeks as you ramp up your distance.
I agree, the atmosphere is unreal for the last 10km. I always wanted to run the Dublin marathon, and dont regret it for 1 minute, but I wouldn’t do it again. The work load it takes to prepare for it is impossible to imagine until you do it.
Dont forget St John Ambulance is the designated Charity partner of Dublin Marathon 2014. Their 15000 volunteer EMTs Doctors, Nurses, and first aiders treated 12000 Casualties free of charge last year putting in more than 95,000 man-hours. To run on behalf of St John visit Stjohn.ie and they’ll even pay your race fee
Did it 2 years ago. One of the best days of my life. Did it for charity in 6 hrs 18 mins.with feck all training. Most rewarding experience personally. The friendliest marathon – people offering us sweets and drinks and everyone doing it supported each other! Hope to do it again soon. Very well organised and had an amazing day out!
Ran it in 2009 in 3.38. Without doubt one of the proudest moments of my life. I trained so hard for that race, lost every toe nail on the day and couldn’t walk for a week but I loved every second. The crowd and the other runners get you round no matter what your target time is. I go support every year, love to do it again but I think once is plenty! To anyone contemplating it you should sign up and go for it. That bank holiday in Monday in 2009 goes down as one of the best (if not most painful second only to childbirth) days of my life!
It’s in about 4 months! Am I missing something here? I did a 10k last November, signed up for the DCM half marathon this coming September and MAYBE I’ll consider the full thing if I survive that. Maybe it’s just me but there are boxes to be ticked on the way to the full marathon.
I did it in 2010 fergal. I started from 0 training in June that year and followed a hal higdon training programme. Finished it and enjoyed the experience. The supporters are good for a few mile with their encouragement.
Have to disagree there Fergal,I find that marathons are ran in the head and not the legs so if you get your head around it then the legs will look after themselves.You will find this to be true when you hit the wall.On the same note though I will say get as much training in as you can it certainly does make things easier.Another wee trick that helps is to NEVER STOP no matter how tired you are even if it means walking because this stops lactic acid (for the want of a better term) rushing into your legs causing them to cease up.Hope this helps
If you do decide to do it fergal then i strongly suggest the athlone 3/4 marathon and your final long run. Its verh very tough but it sets ul nicely fkr dublin.
You have a point Fergal, it’s very tough to complete a marathon in this short time IF you plan to run it in anything less than around 4 hours. A 4:30-5:00 would be perfectly achievable, provided a hell of allot of training was out in (5 days a week). I would still be on your mental thinking though, I wouldn’t try do my first marathon with only this short time to train for it. In some ways, doing the 5 hours is harder than the guys doing 3:30!
I agree with you Fergal unless you’re planning a walk/run strategy of 5hrs plus or are coming from another sport. I don’t see how someone who can just run a 5km can go on and run a full marathon in 4 months.
@ aishling and fergal… most marathon programmes are 16 weeks and can be tailored for all levels of fitness. It requires training between 5-6 times a week building you up slowly for your desired target. During your training you will do no longer than a 20mile run (once) and if you couple it with a proper diet you will be amazed at what you can achieve. I have ran a few (im 33) and have been passed out by people of all ages shapes and sizes. The dublin marathon is the best one in ireland by a mile (pardon the pun) and is one of the best things you will ever do.
Good luck to anyone setting out on their first marathon – the Dublin Marathon is a brilliant experience. Stick with your training plan, don’t overdo it, rest up for a day or two if you have a slight injury – and definitely do a shorter race during the summer so that you get a feel for the race day buzz and logistics.
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Highly recommend running a marathon.. Great atmosphere around the city and a great feeling finishing in the city centre
I agree, the atmosphere is unreal for the last 10km. I always wanted to run the Dublin marathon, and dont regret it for 1 minute, but I wouldn’t do it again. The work load it takes to prepare for it is impossible to imagine until you do it.
Dont forget St John Ambulance is the designated Charity partner of Dublin Marathon 2014. Their 15000 volunteer EMTs Doctors, Nurses, and first aiders treated 12000 Casualties free of charge last year putting in more than 95,000 man-hours. To run on behalf of St John visit Stjohn.ie and they’ll even pay your race fee
12,000 casualties??? Don’t you mean tired runners?
No 12,000 over many hundreds of events Tony, mostly in local communities like your own!!!!
It’s just one of the designated charities. The other is the Down Syndrome Centre who I’ll be raising money for. It’s also my first Marathon.
Another pint there please when your ready John….
Did it 2 years ago. One of the best days of my life. Did it for charity in 6 hrs 18 mins.with feck all training. Most rewarding experience personally. The friendliest marathon – people offering us sweets and drinks and everyone doing it supported each other! Hope to do it again soon. Very well organised and had an amazing day out!
Ran it in 2009 in 3.38. Without doubt one of the proudest moments of my life. I trained so hard for that race, lost every toe nail on the day and couldn’t walk for a week but I loved every second. The crowd and the other runners get you round no matter what your target time is. I go support every year, love to do it again but I think once is plenty! To anyone contemplating it you should sign up and go for it. That bank holiday in Monday in 2009 goes down as one of the best (if not most painful second only to childbirth) days of my life!
Lads, unless you’re already fit as a fiddle, it’s definitely too late to run the Dublin marathon. This isn’t Couch to 5k that we’re talking about!
Fergal sorry but that’s wrong.Start training with a goal of finishing(forget targeting a sub 3 or 4) and it’s perfectly doable.
It’s in about 4 months! Am I missing something here? I did a 10k last November, signed up for the DCM half marathon this coming September and MAYBE I’ll consider the full thing if I survive that. Maybe it’s just me but there are boxes to be ticked on the way to the full marathon.
I did it in 2010 fergal. I started from 0 training in June that year and followed a hal higdon training programme. Finished it and enjoyed the experience. The supporters are good for a few mile with their encouragement.
Have to disagree there Fergal,I find that marathons are ran in the head and not the legs so if you get your head around it then the legs will look after themselves.You will find this to be true when you hit the wall.On the same note though I will say get as much training in as you can it certainly does make things easier.Another wee trick that helps is to NEVER STOP no matter how tired you are even if it means walking because this stops lactic acid (for the want of a better term) rushing into your legs causing them to cease up.Hope this helps
Fair enough! I stand corrected :) Different strokes.
If you do decide to do it fergal then i strongly suggest the athlone 3/4 marathon and your final long run. Its verh very tough but it sets ul nicely fkr dublin.
You have a point Fergal, it’s very tough to complete a marathon in this short time IF you plan to run it in anything less than around 4 hours. A 4:30-5:00 would be perfectly achievable, provided a hell of allot of training was out in (5 days a week). I would still be on your mental thinking though, I wouldn’t try do my first marathon with only this short time to train for it. In some ways, doing the 5 hours is harder than the guys doing 3:30!
I agree with you Fergal unless you’re planning a walk/run strategy of 5hrs plus or are coming from another sport. I don’t see how someone who can just run a 5km can go on and run a full marathon in 4 months.
Im from athlone and when is the athlone one on id like to do that because I’ve ran about 6 5Ks and Im running another tomorrow and I run two a week.
There’s Flatline Athlone half marathon on September 13.
If you’re already enjoying training and doing two 5ks a week, you could build up to that in 10 weeks…. or a 3/4 Marathon on October 5. http://www.runireland.com/sites/www.runireland.com/files/Half_marathon.pdf
@ aishling and fergal… most marathon programmes are 16 weeks and can be tailored for all levels of fitness. It requires training between 5-6 times a week building you up slowly for your desired target. During your training you will do no longer than a 20mile run (once) and if you couple it with a proper diet you will be amazed at what you can achieve. I have ran a few (im 33) and have been passed out by people of all ages shapes and sizes. The dublin marathon is the best one in ireland by a mile (pardon the pun) and is one of the best things you will ever do.
@Peter…I have also run a marathon and I stand by what I said regarding fitness and where you’re coming from. Its only common sense.
Ran the DCM last year, loved every minute of it but the many weeks of training was difficult to say the least.
It was worth it though.
I did it last year because I got bored knitting.
btw, it was easy.
Doing my first this year really looking forward to it !!!!
What channel is it on?
Good luck to anyone setting out on their first marathon – the Dublin Marathon is a brilliant experience. Stick with your training plan, don’t overdo it, rest up for a day or two if you have a slight injury – and definitely do a shorter race during the summer so that you get a feel for the race day buzz and logistics.
And get a check-up from the doctor!
There’s a good thread on boards for those running their first marathon
Thread here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057204941