Cheers for all the responses, guys. Much appreciated. I guess the proof will be in the pudding! I'm 3 weeks into a basic 16 week plan (mara 28th April), which I've amended to fit around my football. I'm currently playing football 2/3 times a week, having 2 short runs (3 or 4 mile) and a longer one at the weekend, although I'm only up to about 6 miles at the minute due to a slight hamstring injury and snow!
I have signed myself up for the Manchester Marathon at the end of April after doing the Liverpool half and Race the Train last year. I'm reasonably fit anyway through playing a lot of football and some squash and am intrigued/anxious to know what the transition to full marathon is like? For both of these races I did some training in the form of about three 10-mile runs but didn't have a plan with regular miles like I have this time and I'll be cutting down on my alcohol consumption with this too! I did my first half in 1:38 so was thinking I could aim for 3:30 but I don't know how realistic that is. Any thoughts/advice/guidance?
Got to agree with EKGO, just go and do it, however short at first! I got into running while doing some charity events last year. I did the Liverpool half and Race The Train and am now training for my first marathon. I was very apprehensive about my first long distance run but you'll already know the feeling you get when you gradually improve and feel good about yourself and your running, from when you did this whole journey before! Just keep telling yourself it'll be easier next time out, which it will.
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Ben Zebrowski
