Running

[The Corporal]

Folks, have decided to bite the bullet and sign up for a marathon next year. Only problem is not sure which one to enter. Have been running for a few years now and the furthest I've ran is a half marathon but really would love to tick completing a marathon off the bucket list. I live in the North and the preference would be to avoid doing Belfast or Dublin, reason being that it could be potentially one and done and would prefer that one to be somewhere else. Could end up being Belfast just for handiness (sleeping in own bed, no travel costs etc) and pretty cheap to enter.

Applied for London through the ballot and got rejected and applied for Berlin next year through the ballot/lottery as well but wont find out until start of December for it (not hopeful). Some other one's I looked into, Manchester and Paris, are both sold out.

Has anyone any experience of a European marathon anywhere they would recommend? Taking into account things such as ease of travel, cost, actual marathon course etc? New York would be the dream but the actual cost of participating in it would be well out of reach.

[Milltown Row2]

Did Amsterdam, great experience

[imtommygunn]

Edinburgh shouldn't be too cost prohibitive etc.

[TabClear]

My mate has signed up for Belfast next year and he is pressing me to do it with him or more accurately train with him. He would be fit (early forties) and runs a 10k in about 45 minutes.  I would be in reasonable shape but more of a plodder than hime, (Did a half marathon recently in about 1:51).

My concern is in targets. He is targeting between 3.35 and 3.40 for the marathon (I actually think he wants to go sub 3:30  ) and is showing me training plans with this kind of goal. I was thinking if i got under 4hr for my target I would be happy but would obviously like to do it at the level he is talking. However, that seems like a massive jump and I cant see  it being achievable for me. So couple of questions for any of you guys who have done marathons and if you have any advice

1. Is his (and my  ) target time realistic? I have looked at this website

https://www.ukresults.net/misc/predictor.html

and it looks to me  like he is way too optimistic. I am pretty sure 3.40 is out of my reach but would be interested to see how people on here saw their times improved after following a training plan



2. If we are ultimately at completely different levels, is it practical for someone targeting 3.35 to train with someone aiming for say 3.55?

TIA
 

[Milltown Row2]

Your target is to finish lol

If I did another one i'd look to go out and enjoy it better

4 or just under 4 is grand.. I tried for a 3.45 and well on target till my legs/head gave up

[dec]

My half marathon best is 1:45 and my marathon best is 3:56 so that table you linked to seems reasonable. Sub 4 from a 1:51 half is reasonable if you do a full training program, 3:40 is a bit of a stretch.

Training paces for a 4hr and 3:30 (if that is really his goal) marathon would be different enough to be awkward. If there are any running groups/clubs in your area training for a marathon it might me worth both of you joining, then you would both get people of the right pace to run with.

[maxpower]

Times on that table are remarkably consistent to my own

I ran the Belfast half in Sept 22 in 1:42 went on to run Dublin Marathon (disaster run) in 3:51- recently completed Antrim Coast on a brutal day in 1:29 in between ran two Belfast marathons, first in 3:36 and second in 3:17

I have been really consistent with my running and did have some weight to lose that helped

If you have done 1:51 for a half, and can commit to the training - I'd say 3:40 is possible

[bridgegael]

I would say with a 1:51 half marathon, 3:40 would be a good target.
I was 1:46 half and got 3:44 full, with a very disjointed training block.  A good training plan and it's very achievable

[JimStynes]

I've New York marathon in 2 weeks! I'll just be happy to finish it! I hear it's a hilly one!

[TabClear]

I would say with a 1:51 half marathon, 3:40 would be a good target.
I was 1:46 half and got 3:44 full, with a very disjointed training block.  A good training plan and it's very achievable

Thanks BG and everyone else. Decision to make now

[dec]

I've New York marathon in 2 weeks! I'll just be happy to finish it! I hear it's a hilly one!

The biggest hill is actually the first mile where you cross the Verrazano Bridge from Staten Island into Brooklyn. I recommend taking that mile easy and don't worry if it is slower than your planned pace.

[jcpen]

Anyone running Dublin next week?

[Milltown Row2]

Colin Farrell is

[lfdown2]

Anyone running Dublin next week?

Yep, hoping for a better day than yesterday!

Been a real struggle, couple of years since my last one and the kids have got older and busier, the body has got older and stiffer & I lost my training partner about 3 months ago (to injury, he's not dead) so it has been a real grind.

[jcpen]

Anyone running Dublin next week?

Yep, hoping for a better day than yesterday!

Been a real struggle, couple of years since my last one and the kids have got older and busier, the body has got older and stiffer & I lost my training partner about 3 months ago (to injury, he's not dead) so it has been a real grind.

Best of luck! Yesterday would have been a bad day for it alright, some wind.
Have had to pull out myself due to an niggling injury.
Considering maybe Belfast next year.