Training for my First Marathon

[WTD]

G'day Gents - Have signed up for a couple of long races (well long to me haha) later this year and early next year in a bid to get fitter and trimmer!

Will be using this thread to detail my training regime and workouts for the Feb 2011 Tokyo Marathon, have also set my target of running the Kawaguchi 27km Race in November..

Am hoping that posting this publicly will shame me into updating it with info, and graphs etc of how my training is going!

Will be updating this as regularly as possible, so please keep an eye on it and hopefully some people may find it interesting and inspiring!

Current Fitness level is can run 5km in around 35 mins, want to be able to run the 27km at an average of 10kmh minimum.

[WTD]

OK completed week 0 as i'm calling it, Seventeen weeks of training until the 27km race!

Week Zero
26-Jul-10 Cycle 7km x2, Evening Jogging 5km @ 33mins
27-Jul-10 Cycle 7km x2, Kickboxing
28-Jul-10 Rest
29-Jul-10 Rest
30-Jul-10 Morning Jogging 6km @ 40mins
31-Jul-10 Rest
1-Aug-10 Cycle 7km x2, Morning Jogging 6km @ 40mins

Have ordered a garmin GPS watch to track my runs/heart rate too - looking forward to that arriving!

[okgo]

Good luck, I can't run at all IMO and
Can do 5k in 25 mins, so if youanage this hats firmly off

[V-spec]

Hi WTD

I'm also training for my first marathon, but in October. Did my first 20km in May.

There's lots of info on the internet, Runners World is a good source too. The basic idea seems to be to build up the distance slowly, max +10% per week, to avoid injury. Don't rush things, it takes a lot of time and effort, much more than I thought. I ran a total of 50km last week (10 + 10 + 30) - I never thought I would be able to say that!

The Garmin GPS will help you - the pace and distance info is a really useful training tool.

Have a look at TJK's Running Thread (http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=169&t=389714&mid=24519&nmt=The Running Thread) - there are some serious athletes on there with much better advice than me

[WTD]

Thanks guys, I'm using the Runners World First Marathon Guide as a basic template to follow (with regard to appx distances/increases)

thanks for the link to tjk thread, hadn't seen that one and will peruse when i need inspiration and advice!

[WTD]

Well thats Week One almost put to bed, plan is to do a long walk on the weekend to increase time on my feet as it were. Pleased with my Garmin, very very neat bit of kit!

2-Aug-10 Cycle 7km x2, Evening - Street Running 9km @ 1hr 02mins
3-Aug-10 Cycle 7km x2, Kickboxing
4-Aug-10 Cycle 7km x2, Evening - Street Running 4.5km 30mins
5-Aug-10 Cycle 7km x2, Evening - Street Running 10.0km 1hr 09mins
6-Aug-10 Cycle 7km x2, Rest

Edited by WTD on Friday 6th August 00:50

[ewenm]

Building up slowly is the best approach. If you can, try to do some running on softer surfaces than tarmac/concrete - I know this might be hard in Tokyo! It will lessen the impact on your joints while your body adjusts to the new form of exercise.

Good luck and enjoy it (if you can )!

[WTD]

Thanks for the advice, its been noted!

End of week 2, got a bit more time running in, finding it a little easier, although feel fatigued in my legs generally. After about an hour running, my right knee is a little achey and a bit of a aching back but guess thats because I need to get used to running for longer times!

7-Aug-10 Rest
8-Aug-10 Street Running 10.0km @ 1hr 06mins http://connect.garmin.com/player/43602860
9-Aug-10 Street Running 6km @ 36mins
10-Aug-10 Cycle 6km x2, Street Running 5km @ 26mins
11-Aug-10 Cycle 6km x2, Street Running 5km @ 36mins
12-Aug-10 Rest
13-Aug-10 Rest

The quicker 5km was me trying to push myself to see how quick i could do it on a flat course!
Am also loving the garmin, really really top bit of kit!