Sep 20, 2007 10:55 PM
Need advice re: running a marathon w/o proper training
I hope I'm posting this in the right place - i've never posted here before - so far I've just read - still fairly new 
I've run a couple marathons but am out of the distance running loop after recently having 2 kids. Anyway, I have a friend who told me early this summer she was running the St. George marathon. As the months went by, her training lacked. Well, IMO it did. She says she is very pleased that her weekly mileage has averaged 20 miles - she thinks that is a lot. I think that is about right for week 2 of training!
The marathon is 2 1/2 weeks away and she is now tapering off, although tapering from what, I'm not sure. She ran very few long runs (three, I think) - her longest run was 14 miles last week. It was supposed to be 20 (after a max of 13 miles previously), but only could make 14 b/c her "knee gave out." Of COURSE she couldn't make it 20.
My friend is 50+ lbs overweight and this is her first race of any distance. She has never been a "runner."
I mentioned to our mutual friends that I think running the race is foolish, but have been advised not to tell her this because it is unsupportive of her so-called dream to become a marathon runner.
What would YOU tell this friend? She really, really feels she can do this, and I think she is a fool and this is very dangerous. Am I wrong? I've only ran 2 marathons, so maybe I have no idea what I'm talking about and she will be fine? There is a 6-hour time limit. She feels it will be easy, because most of the course is downhill. I don't see how she can make it 26 if she can't make it past 14, downhill or not, but again, maybe I am wrong and just need to be "supportive."
thanks in advance, and I look forward to meeting everyone, as I'll start posting now, instead of lurking
I've run a couple marathons but am out of the distance running loop after recently having 2 kids. Anyway, I have a friend who told me early this summer she was running the St. George marathon. As the months went by, her training lacked. Well, IMO it did. She says she is very pleased that her weekly mileage has averaged 20 miles - she thinks that is a lot. I think that is about right for week 2 of training!
The marathon is 2 1/2 weeks away and she is now tapering off, although tapering from what, I'm not sure. She ran very few long runs (three, I think) - her longest run was 14 miles last week. It was supposed to be 20 (after a max of 13 miles previously), but only could make 14 b/c her "knee gave out." Of COURSE she couldn't make it 20.
My friend is 50+ lbs overweight and this is her first race of any distance. She has never been a "runner."
I mentioned to our mutual friends that I think running the race is foolish, but have been advised not to tell her this because it is unsupportive of her so-called dream to become a marathon runner.
What would YOU tell this friend? She really, really feels she can do this, and I think she is a fool and this is very dangerous. Am I wrong? I've only ran 2 marathons, so maybe I have no idea what I'm talking about and she will be fine? There is a 6-hour time limit. She feels it will be easy, because most of the course is downhill. I don't see how she can make it 26 if she can't make it past 14, downhill or not, but again, maybe I am wrong and just need to be "supportive."
thanks in advance, and I look forward to meeting everyone, as I'll start posting now, instead of lurking
