To Run or Not To Run...That is the Question

[dragitoff]

Sorry for the thread title. My little attempt at being clever. I've got a delimma that I need some expert advice on. I'm entering my first marathon/half-marathon in March. I've never run more than a 5k in a race setting. I recently started running longer distances. The past 2 weeks I've been running 12 miles every Saturday. I use a run/walk method (not really following Higdon or Galloway). I run 5 minutes and then walk 1 minute. The first week I ran the 12 miles, I did it in 1:54:58. This past Saturday, I did it in 1:50:01.

My goal was to run the Albany Half Marathon in March, 2012. I'm now thinking of completely skipping the Half Marathon and focusing on the full marathon. I'm already working on nutrition and hydration techniques, and have been utilizing them for my 12 mile runs.

If I increase my mileage 10% every 2 weeks, I'll be running 16 miles by the end of the year.

Physically, I know I could push myself and train and complete the full marathon. The question I have is should I do the half first just to get the experience and then do a full marathon later in the year?

My long-term goals were to:

1. Complete 5k race in under 25 minutes (check!)
2. Complete 5k race in under 24 minutes (close)
3. Complete Albany half marathon in under 2 hours (current pace would do it)
4. Enter Disney Marathon January 2013.

Just seeking some advice. Thanks!

 

[cewait]

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer just the half or or push the the body and legs to the noble distance of 26.2?

Go for it. You are could seriously run a full in March with your current training level. I do understand the need to complete the check on the half but you should be good for either distance.

 

[timmac]

I would agree with going for the full, you should be able to do it!

That said, are there any halves coming up in the next few months that you can "drop in" to your schedule? By that, I mean run them just as part of your ordinary weekend long run (not specfiically train for the race or taper, etc). That way you can at least get the experience of a longer race with larger crowds.

 

[dragitoff]

I would agree with going for the full, you should be able to do it!

That said, are there any halves coming up in the next few months that you can "drop in" to your schedule? By that, I mean run them just as part of your ordinary weekend long run (not specfiically train for the race or taper, etc). That way you can at least get the experience of a longer race with larger crowds.

The experience was the only reason I was still debating on whether or not to do the 1/2 or full. I know I could do the full, but I'm a very competitive person. My first 5k, I had set a personal goal of running in 24:00 (7:44mm), but I was lined up with some faster runners and I ended up running my first mile in 7:06 to keep pace with them causing me to be a little more tired and much slower on my 2nd mile. I finished strong and not far off my goal, but I've only been running on the road since August and was treadmill only prior to that.

I want to make sure I'm not out there trying to run with others as opposed to running my pace and my way. I felt the 1/2 would be a better gauge for that. If I overdo it a little to start with, I can still adjust and not completely give out as opposed to running a full, if I push too hard at any point, I'm afraid I might not have enough left to finish at all.

 

[paxsarah]

I second the suggestion to see if there's a half marathon in the interim that you could fit into your schedule. I think it would help to experience a longer-distance race for a variety of reasons before you do the marathon.

Another thing that might help is if you could find a training group to run with on occasion. For the half marathon here in Athens there was a group run that met about 8 times or so in the three months leading up to the half marathon, and it helped me get used to running near people (some of the group runs had over 100 people) and basically ignoring them with regard to pace. Especially since I was also doing a run/walk, but faster than any of the other run/walkers at the group runs (my final HM time was 2:04:05), it took some getting used to passing then being passed, repeat ad infinitum. By the time the race rolled around, I was used to that and could focus on my race.

 

[dragitoff]

I second the suggestion to see if there's a half marathon in the interim that you could fit into your schedule. I think it would help to experience a longer-distance race for a variety of reasons before you do the marathon.

Another thing that might help is if you could find a training group to run with on occasion. For the half marathon here in Athens there was a group run that met about 8 times or so in the three months leading up to the half marathon, and it helped me get used to running near people (some of the group runs had over 100 people) and basically ignoring them with regard to pace. Especially since I was also doing a run/walk, but faster than any of the other run/walkers at the group runs (my final HM time was 2:04:05), it took some getting used to passing then being passed, repeat ad infinitum. By the time the race rolled around, I was used to that and could focus on my race.

The March race is a Boston Qualifier, but even if I qualified (my 1/2 pace would be borderline now), I wouldn't be able to run in the Boston marathon, so I'm not rushed to run a full marathon. I'm definitely planning to run a full marathon at Disney (preferably Jan. 2013) so I can run through the parks (even though I know it's a small portion of the race). If the general concensus is to run a 1/2 before a full (in some fashion), I'll probably just run the 1/2 in March and then either do the Wine & Dine or Marathon Weekend in Disney as my first full. Maybe by then, I'll have the endurance to do it in that 3:30 range.