Foo - Thinking about doing the LA Marathon - training suggestions

I have been running for 30 years, so, I think it's time I do a Marathon.

The LA Marathon is coming up in May, and I'm not getting any younger.

I am doing Rock-N-Roll Arizona this weekend, and the Carlsbad marathon next weekend. What do you want to know?

Any specific mileages/increases, etc.
Frequency of workouts; I'm planning on running, cycling and weight training.

Not sure if there is any specific routine that works better.

I usually take about 16 weeks to train for a full marathon. I am a racewalker and do at least 6 miles every Saturday so that is my base. Here is my training schedule, numbered as weeks before the race:

16. 8 miles
15. 10 miles
14. 8 miles
13. 12 miles
12. 10 miles
11. 14 miles
10. 10 miles
9. 16 miles
8. 10 miles
7. 18 miles
6. 10 miles
5. 20 miles
4. 10 miles
3. 20 miles
2. 14 miles
1. 10 miles
0. race day

I like to do two 20-milers, but you can do just one and still be fine. I like doing long miles every other week; it's hard for me to do long stuff every weekend. I worked with a coach to develop this training schedule. He said that the 10 miles every other week would give me enough base so I could do the first half of the race pretty much on auto-pilot, and he was right.

I usually take about 16 weeks to train for a full marathon. I am a racewalker and do at least 6 miles every Saturday so that is my base. Here is my training schedule, numbered as weeks before the race:

16. 8 miles
15. 10 miles
14. 8 miles
13. 12 miles
12. 10 miles
11. 14 miles
10. 10 miles
9. 16 miles
8. 10 miles
7. 18 miles
6. 10 miles
5. 20 miles
4. 10 miles
3. 20 miles
2. 14 miles
1. 10 miles
0. race day

I like to do two 20-milers, but you can do just one and still be fine. I like doing long miles every other week; it's hard for me to do long stuff every weekend. I worked with a coach to develop this training schedule. He said that the 10 miles every other week would give me enough base so I could do the first half of the race pretty much on auto-pilot, and he was right.

Thanks! That looks like a nice regimen.
I am going to print that out and start my program.

Just make sure you register for the race in plenty of time. Sometimes they sell out.

Thanks! That looks like a nice regimen.
I am going to print that out and start my program.

Are you going to walk or run it? That schedule is for walking. To run, you need substantially more milage and speed workouts at least twice a week.

You need to gradually build up so that your mialage doesn't exceed 10% of your previous weeks, and that yopu have several 20 mile runs before the marathon.

You can get by with less but it will be painful, no fun, and you will be passed by many other runners.

Are you going to walk or run it? That schedule is for walking. To run, you need substantially more milage and speed workouts at least twice a week.

You need to gradually build up so that your mialage doesn't exceed 10% of your previous weeks, and that yopu have several 20 mile runs before the marathon.

You can get by with less but it will be painful, no fun, and you will be passed by many other runners.

yes, running. OK, gotta step it up.
Thanks!

Are you going to walk or run it? That schedule is for walking. To run, you need substantially more milage and speed workouts at least twice a week.

You need to gradually build up so that your mialage doesn't exceed 10% of your previous weeks, and that yopu have several 20 mile runs before the marathon.

You can get by with less but it will be painful, no fun, and you will be passed by many other runners.

This works for running too. My coach was a hardcore runner. If you're just doing the race to finish you don't need several 20-milers. If you're trying to qualify for Boston that's a different story. It depends on what the OP wants to accomplish. If you just want to finish the race then the more long runs you do, the greater your risk of injury. He will need to run more than once a week to get his joints and muscles used to the pounding for a long period of time. This schedule was just for the long runs.

And racewalking is not the same as regular walking. At greater than 12:30 pace it burns more calories than running. And it's much less stress on joints and muscles.

yes, running. OK, gotta step it up.
Thanks!

Wow. Did I make some typo's. I was on the phone.

Do a Google search of marathon running schedules. Most involve a moderate run, followed by a short easy one every other day. The moderate includes some intervals (quicker than your anticipated race pace followed by easy recovery). Then you gradually increase your long weekend run so you ultimately do some 20 milers at a comfortable pace.

Good luck, prepare, and enjoy the race.

Has anyone suggested run, run lots & then run some more?

<Hey it's foo - without useless advice, there'd be nothing>