Running over 20 miles in 1st marathon training

I'm on to 15miles so far for my long runs and have 4months to the race. Would it be advantageous to run over 20 miles (say even up to race distance) in preparation? No training schedules recommend over 20miles, in fact recommendations seem to be to run 20miles a few times rather than continuing to increase distance. Also I have been to a training course where it was mentioned not to run for over 3.5hours for LSRs so all things indicate to not go over 20miles ... but doing an additional 6miles for the first time on the day seems massive. I'm aiming for 4hr race time.

Hi Vicky

its about learning to spend time on your feet, and getting used to fatigue, getting used to physcological thinking and mental grit and stamina building

learning self control - as in an event, one can get over excited, and get going too quick, - or think ( i'm not thirsty yet ) all are big mistakes

if things go wrong on route it can take an expereinced runner to survive - dont go thinking - ohh its VLM, the crowd will pull me through - tired ( yes they will ) deliarious - NO

15 miles leaves a huge 11 - and regardless of where the race is, no one knows what will happen on the day ( or on route ) 20 is a good distance to have in the bag, ( say x4 )but that still leaves 6.2 -

in between those long runs to keep your body and mind in shape, you need to do regular short runs, to keep you sharp and ( in the mood )

preparation is also vital - up to a month before to find out those likes and dislikes

correct footwear - correct ( if needed ) anti chaffer - correct fluids ( if any ) outside of water - correct foods nutrician -

on the day and up to a week before its advised to stick to what you know

a strong and relaxed mind can physically produce a lot

Most programs I have seen include several practice runs of 20-24 miles.  I have heard of one, featured in a RW article a six or more months ago, though that had 16 miles as its longest run.

I always go up to 24 miles at least  - it just helps me when I'm lagging.  I say to myself that I know I can do it as I did it a few weeks ago or if I get to the 24 and am still lagging I tell myself it's only 2 miles more than I did a few weeks ago and I know I can run 2 miles - it's just my own version of mind games 

Good to hear. For me pyschologically I'm sure having the extra few miles will be important. Thank you! 

Vicky, I deliberately trained for and ran a 50K before my first marathon and the psychological advantage of having already reached (and passed) 26 miles was huge on the day - horrible weather (greater Manchester) and I finished in 3.47 (aimed for under 3.45).

You've got the time, so yes, why not build up to long runs of over 20 miles. But remember to keep the long runs SLOW. If, for example, you've reached 23 miles in LSR, then on the day, when you reach that point, you can think "it's only a parkrun from here, I can do a parkrun..." My experience was that the first time moving from 15 to 17 miles, those last two miles were hard... the next long run, 19 miles, miles 15-17 were okay but the last two miles were hard - etc.

(There does come a point where trying to reach race distance in training doesn't work, but in my opinion that's not until you reach ultra territory - I did a 30-mile race as my longest run in training for my first 50-miler).

Hi Vicky,

I ran my first marathon in October and it was around the 18-20 mile mark that the mental fatigue set in.

Because I'd run up to 22 miles in training I kept telling myself "Keep running, you've already run further than this in training!" ... and by the time I got past the 22 mile point there was only 4 miles to go and I wasn't stopping then!

I've read around this a lot... and I see most plans peak at 20 miles.. with a few up to 22.

I'm with cougie. Your full marathon will be done after  a full week or two's preparations (tapering off  and carb building).  Presumably, your idea of a 26 mile training run would not include this 2 week period.  This sounds like a potential injury to me... and even if not, it sounds like a likely bad experience.

One thing you say...  6 miles on top of the first 20 is indeed (potentially) massive.  And you need to remember that that will deplete your legs, and entire system of all nutrient, and indeed deplete it of life!!  As a first-timer, you will not be able to run distances (without risk of injury) for two, probably 3 weeks afterwards.

I think it is well accepted that you are far far better ot use those 3 weeks to get some other long slow runs in, along with your other normal weekly schedule.

I've been through my first marathon experience this year.... and before it, there is so much uncertainty and concern... possibly lack of confidence.   I guess that's what you're fighting with now... searching around for info.  But IMO, you should be assured that  the reason why the vast majority of training plans (not just for first-timers) don't have you doing 24-26 mile training runs... is because that is what is best for you.

There will be exceptions.... and you might be one of them... but I suggest you play the odds and don't go above 22 at the very most.

There's an important difference between running a marathon and running a 20+ mile training run. The training run is much slower, and might even include walking breaks. This means you recover from it much faster than you recover from actually running a marathon at race pace, particularly if you keep topping up your fuel during your training run - I like fig rolls and malt loaf for that, with Kendal mint cake for rapid energy (much cheaper than gels!). If you don't go too fast, and get your fueling right, you should be able to have a recovery day, then a nice easy run, and go straight back into your training (I've actually incorporated 26+ mile runs with a 10-mile run the next day, in ultra training, but not while also doing speedwork). Take an extra day or two to recover if you need to, after the long runs.

I did my first marathon after only doing one 20 mile run, that was it. I didn't use any gels/fuel on the day (I didn't even know what gels were lol). I didn't run out of energy, I didn't hit the wall, I followed the Hal Higdon plan I was on to the letter, every run, and had confidence it would work. It did. You don't need to run 5x 20 miles, you don't need to run over 20 in training, you just need to be stubborn and pig headed! 

Now I find running a reasonable distance, say 8 to 10 miles at either an easy or marathon pace the day before a long run the most beneficial, it's not the long run distance as any distance isn't that difficult on fresh legs at an easy pace, it's the running on tired legs that gives you the endurance training effect.

I hadn't been over 16 miles for my first marathon - in fact I hadn't run over 2 hours which I'd done twice so quite possibly they were more like 14-15 milers than 16 as I didn't have a gps back then.    Marathon went pretty well with a 3.20.20 (White Peak Mara).   Personally I think total cumulative mileage is more important than the length of your long run - one 26 mile training run wont make a significant improvement in your running but it will take a lot out of you and possibly leave you with an injury - my advice would be don't do it - that's from personal experience training for other marathons.  

There is a place for long training runs - for  people who are doing lots of miles a week and have a solid background of long distance running.    If you really want to run 20 then do it but don't flog yourself to finish it if you feel really tired and if you feel any niggles at all coming stop.

trying to find a link to P&D programs .... anyone have it?

lardarse - had you run more 20 milers - you may have done a faster time ?

Impossible to say for sure anyway - and it just shows that there are so many different methods - and not one definitive plan. 

Thats an excellent debut Pops - do you think your cycling helped ?

I think its best to plan the breaks beforehand. When I do my 20 milers - I plan on running for 5 miles before having some jelly beans or something and walking for a minute, and then setting off.

Running to exhaustion and then walking means you're running too far.