how undertrained is undertrained?

Right, I've been on the injury forums for some time. Still there.  It's make or break time for thie marathon.

Bascially: I am a 33 year old lady.  I've been running on and off for about 5 years. Did my first 2 half marathons in Oct and November 2011 (2 hours 21 and 2 hours 14).  I then pulled back on the training - but still running three times a week, until mid December where I started to up it again. Was running 4 times a week and up to 13 miles again at beginning of Jan when I got my first set of shin splints. 

Out for two weeks. One week no exercise at all - second week trained three times and started running again.

Did a 10 mile run - and shin splints again.  That was 3 weeks ago.  In those 3 weeks I've been training 3 - 4 time a week doing deep water running and XT.

I ran on the treadmill for the first time on tuesday - was ok.  I'm going my long run this sunday - 1 hour running, 1 hour on the bike. Physio agrees.

I've been doing strength training as hoping to build up body strength for lack of land running. I've been doing threshold training in the pool to build up stamina.

If my leg can't take the 1 running on sunday and the building up of running - then I am out and can't do the marathon.

But I think my longest run will have to be about 16 - 18 miles as not sure how I can build up to much more in 5 weeks.

I am the fittest I have ever been.  It's just this stupid leg.

Have people done the marathon with less training?  Am I insane and should I just call it quits now?

Yeah, slowly getting my head around the quitting thing......

RicF wrote (see)

Quit. I've done it loads of times. Trained for 20 marathons run 7.

WTF?

What sort of advice is that? The moral of your story is the more you quit the easier it is to quit... I've trained for 14 marathons and will be "completing" my 14 in May, even if I end up walking.

I did the Athens Marathon in 2007, yet a week before the race I couldn't even cover 5 miles without getting dreadful pains in my legs thorugh cramp. So on race day I really thought there was no way i'd make the distance, thought i'd have to walk 20 odd miles. I ran the whole way, only I had cramp in both calves from about 3 miles out to the finish, finished around 30 minutes longer than expected, but I didn't care, the feeling of achievement of running under those circumstances made it one of my best runs.

fit running cat - thanks.  It is London.  I still want a 3 week taper, so I have 5 weeks to build up.  Should I still do the three week taper - or make it 2 so that I have an extra week to build up?  THink I shouldn't.... Which compression socks do you recommend - I bought 1000 mile socks and they did not help at all.

CMW - thanks!  Will give it another little go tomorrow and see how it goes.  Good to hear that other people have tried it and managed it!

lardarse - good to hear another person managing it (really well it seems!) in those circumstances.

cougie - I'm prepared for a long day out.  To be honest, making the start line will be an achievement - so finishing it will be a dream come true - what ever the time!

This is encouraging, it has to be said.  THat and drinking alochol for the first time in months last night.  Needed to drown my sorrows.  The bacon sandwich this morning sure has perked me up too.  Forgetting nutrition and the M word for a few hours has been a HUGE relief!

@Kaffeeg - Don't give up. You've got a lot more miles in your legs than other runners on the start line and as cougie says- as long as you plan for a long day out - you'll do great.

My biggest piece of advice is slowly but surely. The one thing that this marathon training has taught me is respect and more importantly - listening to my body. Push yourself but realise when your body is saying "give me a break".

emmybug - thanks.  Yeah, thinking of going real slow if I make the start line and run/walk the whole way.

RicF - this is why I asked!! I'm hoping the injury is healing up and that I won't be at the start line with an injury. I'm hoping i will be there injury free but undertrained. But preparing to pull out if needed. 

Just wanted to hear of other people who may have been in similar situations and how they dealt with it.

thanks popsider.  My training plan for my long runs for the next 6 sundays  (before I start my 3 week taper) is:

2 hours (I've done 2 hours already a few times)

2 hours 15

2 hours 15

2 hours 30

2 hours 45

3 hours

But I am going to  have to do those long runs as a mixture of running and XT - just so that I can get my body used to excerising for that amount of time.  I was thinking of increasing my time spent running in those long session by 15 minutes each week - so that in the 3 hours session I would be running (non stop) for 2 hours, and then doing 1 hour on the bike.

Is this workable?

Obviously it all depends on how this session goes tomorrow.

I'm just worried that increasing my running by 15 minutes for 5 weeks will increase injury.  But then, my body is used to training for 2 hours as I have done deep water running for that amount and plenty of 2 hour runs in the last few months.

But I'm also worried that if I can't run solidly for 3 hours then I really am insane trying to attempt to do this.

Kafeeg Not sure why you have the "pressure" to run for 3 hours solidly - and presumeably the whole marathon?

Time is irrelevant now, so run/ walk to actually give your legs a chance to cope is the best option. Same in training, even a bit of bike maybe.

Your only aim is to finish - and part of that is getting through the next few weeks without injury.

I'm not too sure about the 6 weeks of increasing long runs... doing a distance or time is not important.

thanks  fitrunningcat.......what do you suggest?  I've never run further than 13 miles.......i don't think I can run the entire marathon but think that I will have more confidence if I can run for 3 hours.....but also don't want to get injured again in the process. 

Haven't a clue about what to do!

better experts than me...

hoping cougie pops up!

have a look at the run/ walk plans, running 4-6 mins, walk 30-40 secs, and splitting up each mile, or some variation of that perhaps.

Some Walk run info here

I'd stop regularly for stretches too and middway for even longer, 10-15.. you're still on your feet.

Well, all your advice has been greatfully received.

I'm making the start line!

Injury free I'm very happy to add.  Undertrained, but injury free.

PMA all the way now.

My longest run has been 3 hours 15 (which, was something between 17 - 19 miles depending on how many times i did a certain loop which I can't remember as I was struggling at that point and didn't make a mental note).  

I've been running for 9 minutes, walking for 1 (to drink water, blow my nose, and re-fuel) so will use that strategy for Sunday.

I'm aiming for being out for over 5 hours (was originally looking for 4.3, now going for 5 hours 15. 

Not that you might be interested - but I am and I'll post how i did!