zeuxia wrote:Does anybody have a 30-week marathon training schedule that they use? I have an 18 week one, but I want to give myself a little more time this year.
As a former runner, it is my opinion that anyone doing marathons should be training year round.
Or perhaps you are running year round and only are looking for a 30 week plan to peak at the specific race date.
Generally speaking, I think running marathons is counter productive for virtually all normal non racers. Very little benefit in terms of health to run 26 miles. Too far for joints and bones. There are exceptions but I have to wonder why you would be training to run so far. Are you a competitive racer?
Hope you're not carrying much extra weight as even for light weight folks, it places great stress on the body during the required training.
I've found that most of my fellow former runners are now all doing things like cycling, swimming, and other low impact activities since our knee, ankle, and toe joints are fairly shot from so much running in our earlier years. I realize that younger people never think about what their joints will be like at age 50, but this outcome is so common in former runners that you'd think it would be warned against.
Of course you still see some older runners doing marathons, but if you enquire, you'll find most of them are not people who have been running since high school. Very very few.....begin young and continue to be able to be injury free while running for 40 years. Mostly knee joints.
All that pounding takes its toll. Parts wear out. I'm talking about body parts.
Don't want to sound negative since I loved running and still am a track fan. Its just that I see this over emphasis on doing marathons.
The training for a marathon is nothing like just doing two half marathons.
Its a whole different ball game and the training required to run it rather than just "finish" it is significant.
I don't think a person trying to get physically fit gains anything by "finishing" a marathon.
OK.......Thats my opinion. Ask other former runners you see.
I still exercise hours and hours each week. I just no longer pound my joints since I know that is counter productive for long term health and weight management.