This is a
question I hear a lot in the off-season. As
athletes sit down to figure out what they want to
do - and what will keep them motivated in the
winter months - should I run a marathon is a
common question.
I
work primarily with adult triathletes and a
handful of pure runners. As usual, the
answer I give depends on the athlete's specific
situation. Here are a few of the pros and cons for
picking a marathon as a winter or spring seasonal
goal event. At the end of the article, I
illustrate a few specific situations for you to
ponder.
Pros:
- Lots of people to train with in most
locations
- Helps develop running endurance
- Easy to train for during the winter as far
as weather conditions go - in most locations
- Helps you become more fit or maintain lean
physique & body composition
Cons:
- Chances for injury increase due to higher
mileage
- May limit your top end speed depending on
your training approach
- Your food bill will go up
- You will have to do some long runs to
prepare adequately
For pure
runners:
The
question is simpler to answer. A) Are you prone to
injury? B) Is the marathon your main goal? C) Have
you run one before? D) Do you want to be
competitive or just finish? If the answer to A is
yes, marathon training really is increasing your
chance for injury, even if you substitute things
like water running and riding for general run
endurance training.
But,
if your answer to B is yes, then you may feel the
training is worth the risk. If the answer to C is
yes, then you already know what it feels like and
some of the risks associated with it, which means
your eyes are open. And the answer to D can help
craft the approach - arrive safely at the finish
line with minimal risk and a reasonable time, or
walk that fine line of higher mileage and
aggressive pacing and shoot for the moon.
For
triathletes:
The
question is a bit more complex. A) Remains the
same. B) Are you training for an Ironman? C) Have
you run a marathon before? D) Same as above.
If
you're a triathlete prone to injury, then whether
you're ultimately training for an Ironman or not,
marathon training during the winter is not for
you. Just stick to lower mileage with a few
shorter runs and maybe a half-marathon. Why take
the risk that you'll be derailed due to the many
running related issues you can run into? When you
build up to the Ironman you'll use a lower run /
higher bike mileage approach.
If
you're a bit sturdier, have never run a marathon,
and do want to compete in an Ironman, then a
marathon in the spring is not a bad idea. I
generally advise my athletes to approach it with
the goal of being healthy at both the start and
finish lines. Nonetheless there are risks
associated with the training, but the mental
confidence an athlete can gain from getting a
marathon under the belt can be worth the risk.
For
short course triathletes that have no intention of
racing an Ironman, there's no convincing training
reason to run a marathon. You're best off focusing
on developing speed and muscular endurance via
shorter racing distances. You could do some higher
mileage periods, then race a half-marathon at full
speed with less chance for hurting yourself.
For
both runners and triathletes: If you're carrying
extra weight via muscle mass or adipose tissue,
high mileage marathon training is going to be very
hard on your joints. Adopt a plan that will help
you approach a more optimal body composition
before you hit the starting line of a marathon.
Just my opinion.
Bottom
line: If you really want to run a marathon, find a
good training plan for your ability and experience
level. If you're just fishing for something to do
to stay motivated, give it a few second
thoughts.
Marty
Gaal, CSCS, owns One Step Beyond with his wife Bri
Gaal. He has been coaching adults since 2002. He
has been avoiding marathons most of his life but
still ran six of them over the
years.
