Originally Posted by
CbadRider
I'm currently training for my 23rd marathon, and I've found that long runs every other week work best for me. My long sessions go something like this:
6 mi
8 mi
6 mi
10 mi
8 mi
12 mi
10 mi
14 mi
10 mi
16 mi
10 mi
18 mi
10 mi
20 mi
16 mi
10 mi
race
The biggest challenge for a marathon is the mental aspect. I have had no problem with the above schedule, and it's a lot easier to get motivated to do the longer distances when they aren't every week.
This looks a lot like the my long run schedulel when I used to run, I ran a few marathons and loved it but the pounding of the pavement made for very sore knees so I took up bike racing. I followed a 19 week training program, I forget who made it, there is a site
coolrunning that I used to frequent, much like BF, you can get some good advice there.
A 4 hr marathon is a respectable time, I was never going to be the fastest runner and I always finished around the 4 hr mark, in my first marathon, the last 4 miles were awful and I was in a world of hurt afterwards, but the last one I did was very enjoyable, I could have went sub 4hrs but decided to enjoy it and finished with no pain.
Good luck and it's doable, but like others mentioned, your bike racing may suffer a bit, but finishing a marathon is a fantastic feeling. Remember, if you are sore, ice is your friend.