What is your running and race history?

The answer to the question is simple.

One. Run one. See if you even LIKE marathons. They aren't for everyone. If you like it, or if you feel afterwards that you didn't meet a goal and you want to try again (which may mean you didn't like your first one)... THEN... try a second one.

It is way way waaaay too early in the process to be scheduling multiple marathons.

(says the guy trying to run 50-60 marathons this year)

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Breast Cancer Sucks
50+ Marathons for J-Lo[/URL" target="_blank">

I'll go srlopez one better and say zero.

Don't let yourself think seriously about running a marathon until after your first half. Then, if that goes well, reward yourself by investigating marathon plans. Then pick up with srlopez's comments.

I know what you mean about needing the excitement to get your butt out of bed. But don't get ahead of yourself. Let yourself be excited about your half first.

Good luck!

I think it's a good idea to set long term goals. One thing to keep in mind is that as you learn more about yourself and running, those goals may change.

I think that a May marathon about 6 months after your first half is a great goal although I'm biased because that's almost exactly what I've been working on. It's been a challenge, but reasonalby attainable.

Basically, if I understand your original question, you would like to know what factors go into selcintg a marathon and how often should you run them.

A few considerations regarding marathon selection:

First off, one of the biggest qualitites that attracts people is "fast and flat". Obviously if you're looking for a specific time goal, flatter marathons are better suited to such things. Others look specifically for challenging marathons (The Equinox comes to mind) for the challenge and bragging rights. Marathon size matters to some, running in huge groups takes a slightly different tactic than open fields. Some marathons have entertainment along the route - is that important to you? A lot of this has to do with personal preference.

How often to marathon is a great subject and you'll get a lot of different answers. I'll give you my opinion and quantify that by saying my first is in 9 days. I think running two per year is a really good way to go if you're trying to run at peak performance. It gives you plenty of time to recover, rebuild and peak. Many do one, but I've heard that sometimes running just one can leave you stale or needing to "relearn" how to run a marathon.

Something that I have decided to try on my own is to run a hilly or challenging marathon in the spring and a flat fast marathon in the fall. I can't exactly explain why I think this will work well for me, it just seems like a good plan.

It sounds like you've got a good set of goals for yourself. A sub 3:10 is a very aggressive goal; good luck.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Blaine Moore:
Both reactions are followed by a short time of disenchantment and depression, and followed some time later (days, weeks, months, years) by a desire to do another. And then the addiction starts...<HR>

Depression? Are you serious? If any race leaves you depressed, you've got a serious problem, and it has nothing to do with running.

I have one of two reactions after a marathon. Either it went well, in which case I'm satisfied and ready to move on to my next race, or it didn't go well, in which case I'm disappointed, but ready to move on to my next race.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Blaine Moore:
I don't mean directly following the race. I mean in the week or month after the race when you've stopped exercising and getting your fix. <HR>

I guess it happens, but I don't know why they would stop working out.

Again, I can see that it happens, but it doesn't seem like a normal reaction.