Newbies FIRST MARATHONing in 2011

Anyone got any tips on avoiding blisters? The increase in mileage isn't a problem in terms of fitness, but it's taking its toll on my feet, not to mention my cronky knees!

I've plumped for the no-nonsense intermediate schedule as a starting point, because the beginners one seems a step back from what I'm already doing. Anyone else following this? 

Robin

try , and i only say try

making sure your trainer laces are not to tight or to loose

making sure your socks are right

apply vaseline or something

Luckily I've never had blisters (from running), but one tip I had a very long time ago when skiing, was to use chiropodist's felt (thicker version), cut a piece larger than the blister, cut out a piece in the middle the size of the blister, then stick the felt on your skin, around the blister.  The thickness of the felt absorbs the pressure so prevents rubbing and the hole allows the air to circulate, drying off the blister.

Robin could be you need different (or new) shoes. I find when my shoes are on their last legs (no puns intended) I start to get a blister on one foot. My daughter had problems with blisters until she went from Asics to Brooks. 2nd what Micknphil says about socks too.

Think socks will be the first thing I try.

Don't think it's the shoes, I think it's happening because I was unable to run for a couple of weeks when I came off my bike and clouted my knee, and going from that into a marathon schedule has given my feet a surprise. Same thing happened last time I took a break from running - just need to toughen up the skin on that part of my feet - might try applying surgical spirit to help it along. Having almost no arches probably doesn't help much! 

Just about to invest in a pair of trail shoes, so I suppose I can compare comfort between them and my road shoes and see whether they are indeed the problem. 

 Robin 

Welcome Robin and A-A.

 Robin - I think your plan for 10km, half and then a marathon sounds good. I'm going to do a half about 6 weeks before my marathon but just using it as prep not racing as such! Great to run for your sister, good for you. I'm also running for my sister - she has M.E and has been house bound all of 2010, I think she is so brave so i reckon i can do the marathon if she can cope with what life has gave her.

 Thats me back running again after nearly two weeks off due to xmas/weather/boozing! Got a new running jacket - took it for its first outing today and i run the fastest yet!

once this next week is over - and realisation of fitness training begins

try and settle and get on with it then, excuses like Christmas and new year will not help anyone 

 HM's are superb

but one needs to understand thay they are not enough for a FM

dont try and compare the two - because you cannot

yeah appreciate your advice - i'm ready for the next 5 months now. going to be totally dedicated now.

I thought a lot of people done halfs in the run up to a marathon. I haven't booked mine yet. I would of course be running more than HM in training.

casslass and ALL

 good luck always

if i can say -

try and train little and often, little is better than nothing

training and sleep, food and fliuds is imperative,

DON'T try following someone like myself - for two reasons

one - i get little training in now a days, because of personal commitment 

and two

dont do too much hard training ( like me when i do ) as i am highly expereinced - and u may end up hurt

 take care all of you and get fit and happy

marathons are a tough sport,

it normally starts at around 20 or 21 miles, they are all on the day , such as life

i've seen top sportman of other sports try marathons, and they admit they cannot handle it well

people can be going along at 16 - 20 miles thinking " oh i've got this now,

and before they know it, their on the sidelines wondering just what did go wrong

there's no room for any compleceancy

Wise words micknphil I really appreciate your advise.

Micknphil and Jeepers

My long runs are 10 miles every Sunday (have built back up after returning to running in April after major surgery) and a couple of shorter faster runs (3 miles ish ) in the week, have been at this level since end of Septemberish . I'm aiming to train for a November mara (and a May half) but I'm now wondering if I have enough of a base to even be contemplating a mara. I'm no spring chicken (50 next year) so am more wary of injury. I know I need to crank things up with regard to mileage which is what I plan to do gradually from now.

What do you reckon, am I  daft contemplating it?

k, I'm older than you, so no  and a laydee too, so guessing that you are too, we're in more or less the same boat.  (If I'm wrong re the laydee thing, then whoops)

Can't post more at the moment, house seems to have turned into hospital (lots of sick /flu-ey family members) so off to sort them out, but will think about it and post when more time.

My plan is to hit the 13 mile mark in two weeks time. Should be ok - did 9 miles without any problems this weekend, 11 this coming sunday, then 13 the week after.

My long runs don't increase routinely every week - the plan I'm following takes me up to 21 miles, but mixes it up a bit with several runs up to 20M mixed in with a couple of 15 miles, HMs and a 10k - hopefully will stop me getting too bored!

 The plan for not crashing and burning on the day train hard now and take as long as I like about it on the day. I intend to burn off all my competetiveness at the Bath Half, and just make sure I finish the marathon within the time limit! 

New socks seem to be helping with the blisters btw

So much for getting back ASAP! 

Thanks for your comments, lacebylady, comes of having a headmaster for a father and current job working with ankle-biters.

k, no, you're not daft, and you've given yourself plenty of time to reach those goals.  FWIW, my advice would be to look at your HM and mara plans, see how long they give for training, assuming that they're probably starting from little base mileage.  If you can, spend January and February building up mileage - what's your current weekly mileage?  If you're aiming for a half, then a weekly mileage of around 25 - 30m should be fine, if you're hoping to do a marathon, then I'd look to build up your weekly mileage a bit before you start the training, if that's possible with family commitments.  There are a lot of people who say that they get around on a lower mileage, but as a lot of mara training is about endurance / stamina etc, then the more miles that you can get in regularly the better.  There's also this thing about the ratio between LSR and weekly mileage.  You're going to have to get up to 20m in your LSR, so if you're only doing 20m or so a week, that's going to be a problem.

I managed to increase my mileage by going slowly, using HR.  I did it in a month and without injury, so it can be done.  You could do split runs - so you run the total amount in the day, but just half in the am, half in the pm.  Doesn't give you the same experience as running the full distance in one go, but better than nothing.

Jeepers no problem my house was similarly struck down so I really appreciate you taking the time to reply, you are an absolute star. Oh, and you were correct I am a laydeeee.

Thanks for your words of wisdom I was sort of coming to the same conclusions but your comments have given me a much clearer idea of what I need to do. Fortunately family are old enough to look after themselves and OH and one daughter are runners too so plenty of support there. Plus doing a mara in the Autumn will mean more daylight hours to train during the summer. Also work with ankle biters (high 5) so have summer hols for plenty of training.

@Robin glad about the socks!