Quote:
Originally Posted by
Veggily 
that's interesting about the time running vs the distance. my hubby usually does a trial marathon about three weeks before the actual day, and then he doesn't run at all for two or three days before the marathon. the first time, though, he hadn't ever run that far until the day. i think that made it more exciting.
That's probably not a bad idea. I am unconvinced either way about that argument - I just know that mostly every training plan I've seen has kept the longest runs prior to the marathon to around 20 and no more than 22 or so. But then again they come out with new studies every day, so who knows which is best. And one way may be better for me while another may be best for him.
Running minimally the few days prior to the marathon is in pretty much every training plan. Maybe not as little as he does, but definitely a fraction of the training weeks up to that point.
I have also heard that point about it being more exciting to run that distance first during the actual marathon. I understand, but to me that is a non-issue. It honestly would not change how excited I was marathon day if I had run that distance before or not. It would still be my first marathon (i.e. an official race, with others, etc.).

Quote:
Originally Posted by
ahw 
Congrats! I'm interested in running a marathon too; I just don't know if I have the time. Any tips for a full-time 18 hour student working 35 hours a week?

Thanks.

On the plus side, running regularly does help you focus and, in my opinion, is so worth the time put into it, it's not even funny. So many people say they don't have time to exercise, but they don't realize that the time they put into exercise is given back in the much higher quality of work and focus they have the rest of the time.
Now, on the other hand, a marathon training plan may be tough (but not impossible). Most plans have you running at least 40 miles a week for several of the weeks in the final couple months, but I do know busy people who have done so. Although 18 credits plus 35 hours a week may be tough. Not knowing much about your personality, etc., I would probably just focus on regular exercise to gain that focus that I mentioned in the previous paragraph and save marathon training for later when you are not as busy.

Or you can focus on a marathon with the last couple months of training coming during summer or perhaps another time when you are not as busy.