Marathon training - for a novice

Take a trip to a shop that will fit trainers - eg Alexander Sports in Portsmouth - they will observe how you walk and run and will prescribe the optimum shoe for you.

Some shops will have tread mills and video your movement

Derek

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I'd second (most of) the advice above, especially about shoes. Do also remember the fact that your body may adapt to the new exercise intensity and some niggles do settle over time without drastic changes in training. You may also try the simple change of switching to softer surfaces-canal towpaths and fields for instance if these are available.

You might get lucky with your GP. Sports medicine/injury are now part of GP training, and many doctors are keen runners too!

I trained for two Marathons with a lot more mileage than that above, (and got injured each time with a few weeks to go-never got to the start line!).

Thanks for the above.

The shoes I have were bought after a fairly hasty visit to a specialist shop in Reading (forget the name - its part of a chain) who had me run across a footplate to gauge whether I was neutral or whatever. I'll take your advice and see if there are better shoes available.

Someone mentioned treadmills - I was thinking of investing in one as there are times through family commitments when training is difficult - any suggestions on these?

I think maybe change the shoes, try another week or two to see if the pain goes away - if not get medical advice.

I'm interested that maybe the Higdon (Hilden!) plan is considered a bare minimum as it's quite a bit more than other plans I've seen. Higdon does suggest the plan will only be enough if you have a running foundation behind you or if you are transferring from another sport. I struggle to compare my main sport (mountainbiking) with running - I am able to go out on the bike in winter and do say 25 miles in heavy conditions and burn up say 3500 calories in three or four hours (according to my HRM). I feel similarly knackered after this to maybe an eight mile run but the fatigue seems to last longer with the cycling.

Thanks again

I thoroughly recommend The Feldenkrais Method. It's like nothing else. You'll be able to find a practitioner locally.

If you want to read about the method (which of course is no substitute for experiencing it), there are books by Moshe Feldenkrais himself or you could try "Running with the Whole Body" by Jack Heggie.

Steve M

I agree with most of this advice apart from one or two sweeping statements!
17weeks training for any long distance race is a tall order and I wouldn't recommend it.Your body takes time to adapt to the rigors of training and it isn't just about aerobic fitness.
I agree entirely about the advice on running shoes.Experienced runners will often get a new pair at least every 6months.For marathon distances it should probably be every four months.I used to have 2 pairs on the go,1 pair well worn in, the other wearing in.
I don't sign up to the notion that you need to run 7 days a week and do miles and miles of running[this gives truth to the old saying that runners run from one injury to another].Rest is very important as are light runs and cross training.The emphasis needs to be on quality miles, but you do need to do one good long run per week.Marathon magazine has some excellent running schedules for different standards of runners.I would also suggest trying some shorter distances first, e.g 10k and 1/2 marathons.Joining a running club also helps a lot.
Body mass index is also important:higher than average levels will also increase risk of injury.
Finally, best of luck.If you can get to do the London marathon it is an absolutely fantastic experience.Most painful thing I've ever done, but can't say I won't be trying it again sometime...
Simon

First thing is definitely get a new pair of running shoes. Better you replace every 3 months with a cheapesh pair of shoes then getting really expensive shoes and run on them for too long.

Go, see a doctor. I finally got myself to one after suffering some knee problems (following some mountaineering) for several months, nothing too bad, but annoying. Thankfully had a great young doctor who knew enough about sporting injuries to pretty quickly give a progonsis and got me mixing in some other exercises, the problems is gradually going away. You might be as lucky as me and it could be significant problem but get it sorted out so if you need to you can stop now before it wrecks you completely or add suitable strenght exercises etc to make it go away.

Having done a reasonable amount of cycling and some running you can get pretty close too maintaining similiar HR for much longer on a bike then running, without all the body damage.

Anyway, enjoy the training and hope the knee problem gets sorted out.

Matthew

Just a quick update on the training.

Went out the other night, turned my foot over on a curb, crawled home, spent three hours in A & E to find I'd broken a small bone in my left foot. I'm in plaster for 6 weeks.

Like the Triage nurse said - running is bad for your health!

Ouch. Sorry to hear about that.

I hurt my right hip when I slipped during running about a year ago. It was only a muscular strain but took many weeks before I could even walk more than a short distance. I'm OK now but I'm not sure whether to just stick to walking and cycling from now on.

Hope you soon mend.

Steve B

Thing is most marathons, and half marathons, and 10ks are run on roads. Makes sense to train on the same surface - but not to excess.

cheers

Nigel