Is this a realistic aim for first timer??
Hi, I have just started doing some gentle jogging, and myself and a few friends have decided to do the connemara marathon next year. Im thinking a half marathon is more realistic for our first time?? And im wondering even for that have we enough time to train towards that?....Also is there a lot of climbs in the connemara marathon and would one of the city marathons be a better option?
No, not a marathon for your first race - certainly not Connemara! You really do need to have a year or two running under your belt before you attempt any marathon. There's no rush to run one, they'll always be there for you.
However it's good to have goals if you're new to running. The Conn Half is a realistic but tough target - it is hilly which makes it a challenge even for experienced runners. It really depends on how dedicated you mean to be over the next six months.
If you decide to go for it be sure to enter a shorter race or two beforehand. And good luck, welcome to the mad world of running.
not necessarily true, i ran london this year as my first ever running event, with 6 months training, did it in 3hr 49min... go for it if u want it!
Hi guys,
I ran 2 marathons in Paris 2001 and 2002 (3.45 and 3.30) and decided to train again for the Connemarathon as I am now living in Ireland (and for I enjoyed the Connemara landscapes of course) so it may be like my 1st one ! On the same boat... (I mean I know that during the race I will still feel many times that I still can't do it... and that's why I wanna do it again !).
I was thinking that It may not be the easiest one either for a 1st try or for a come back... I saw that the 1st ones finish it by 2.30 which is more that a urban marathon, isn't it ? Maybe less professionals too ?
Does anyone have an idea about its difficulty ? hills ? up and down... (long false flat ?), and any specific training it would require compared to a urban marathon ? I mean if you run in Phoenix Park, you may suffer in Connemara ?...
Any advice is welcome,
Have a nice one lads.
Guillaume.
Yes there are exceptions, but you need to be fit and really dedicated. Good effort that for a first time btw. And there's the real issue that - once you've achieved your marathon goal, what next?
Better to take it in easer stages, in my opinion of course.
Nellifer I too am new to the running world- I have got it into my head that I really want to compete in and COMPLETE the Connemarathon!!..I'm so excited and nervous!...
Howdy all, it's a while since i saw something i wanted to comment on..so here goes! Roy has a good point about doing Connemara full as your first marathon, a flat marathon like London or Dublin are tough enough for a new runner, exceptions excluded here :-) the Connemara marathon has hills, depending who you talk to the size of the hills changes but i ran the half marathon last year and had to resort to walking 1 minute at every mile marker after 7 mile to let my legs recover a little, now im a chunly chappy so it will be different for other people.
If your going to run a hilly marathon you have to train on a hilly course, they are completely different to flat running, my novice opinion.
i think the most important thing is that you enjoy your run, there will be dark moments on any marathon, flat or not, but just to finish the distance and join the 3% of the worlds people who ever finish one is the most important thing. You can always let the connemara bug bite you with the half in 2009 and come back for the full in 2010 rather than run the risk of hating it because its a tough course and never thinking of running another distance run again???
Peace
Al
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IKwal6Xc_E
I would definitely recommend doing a half marathon before a full one! It's a good way to learn how your body reacts on race day - nerves etc! There is no reason why you shouldn't aim for Conn full marathon but try get at least one race / half marthon in beforehand...
Running is lonely so the more races you do helps with your motivation!
Good luck with it!
J
Spot on Al & Jane - though in fact I believe the percentage of the population who have run a marathon is nearer 0.1% than 3% - a worthy elite to try to emulate - eventually!
Susan, be sure to let us know your progress.
I agree it would be a good idea to try a half before going for the full,but if you train properly there is no reason you can,t go for the full first time out.If you do go for a half first don,t fall into the trap of thinking that a full marathon is the equivelant to two half marathons,it is a very different beast and must be treated with respect.
I'm doing my first FULL marathon next week! After doing every half marathon in the country, I finally felt it was time to brave it! I'm so nervous and excited, I hope I've done enough!
Any tips for the big day??
J
Hi Jane
Jane
Best of luck with your marathon next week. I did the Amsterdam marathon last Sunday (3hrs 46), and Boston marathon (3hrs 48)in April this year. My tips to you are;
Take it easy with your training on this last week, and only do short runs. After all you have all the training miles put in at this stage, so dont worry too much about your runs this week.
Think positive about the marathon and visualise yourself running strong, and feeling fit. When any negative thoughts cross my mind when I am running a marathon I try and keep repeating, "strong stronger strongest", and amazingly it does help!
Make sure you get a good rest on Saturday night, because you will probably feel very restless before the night of the marathon itself.
Drink loads of water all this week, and make sure you are well hydrated.
Good luck!
1 get an idea of how far you have to get to the start from where you are staying and give you self plenty of time to get there. 2 the night before pin your number on your teeshirt and have your running gear laid out and also have your bottle of water ready there will be water every 3 miles round the course. 3 dont wear new runners asyou could get blisters, dont start eating food you are not used to as it could cause upset tummy. 4 dont start thinking i should have gone for that run or the gym you can not turn back time just think postive and dont worry if you cant sleep the night before i never can before a marathon 5 drink plenty of water. enjoy it and let us no how you get on. i am looking forward to it so good luck.
Running the half would be a good idea, not too long to "destroy" you, obviously still with enough training and endurance. You can use it to prepare for a flat full and have a taste of Connemara, I'm sure then you would be very committed to prepare well for the 2010 full marathon in Connemara.
Thanks for the tips Kenny and Margaret!
I'll let you know how I get on!
I haven't run since last Saturday - I'm lacking motivation this week and keep telling myself I need to rest! I supose I should get out just to stretch my legs?
J
Hi Guys.
I started running a few months ago, and was progressing slowly but well for a while, until a holiday and a few other personal events got in the way of my stride.... i found my bad habits were easier to make that the good ones, and i haven't been running for a couple of months now. I'd like to start back again, I'm not that fit, tho i do go to the gym/swimming etc a couple of times a week. Does anyone have any good tips for a beginner, and maybe an idea of what race would be good for me to aim for to be my first? Obviously it'll be a ten k, or even a half marathon if i was feeling ambitious!
Thanks,
CK
Joined: 2008-10-14