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Is there a time period during marathon training within which ad hoc weekend rides with pals will be off the menu entirely? Say a hilly 100km in the Peak District or something?
With most marathon training programmes (e.g. https://assets.bupa.co.uk/~/media/images/healthmanagement/pdfs/marathon-beginner.pdf?la=en&hash=5FDB68758827A0C810204EA3A441E0C593F9E485) there will be a few weekends where you are doing a 15 mile+ long run. You probably won't feel like you want to do a hilly 100k in the Peak District the day after, but it depends on the person and the day. Some times I did do a long ride a day after a long run with no problems, other days it felt like the last thing I wanted to do.
Most training programmes include some cross training to keep cardiovascular exercise up but give the weight bearing running muscles and joints a rest, so it's definitely not out of the question.
You can also move the programme around so that the 'Sunday' long run is actually a Wednesday, and do your long rides on Sat/Sun.
The programmes don't have to be followed to the letter, they mainly provide two things: routine/progression/structure, and incorporate suitable rest days.
The only time you'd probably want to give long rides a swerve is in the two weeks leading up to the marathon. It's not the time to go smashing your legs (even cross training).
As for actually doing them. I've "run" three marathons and the wheels have always fallen off around 28km (2/3 of the way) and I've ended up walking some/most of them from that point. I've run 20+ half marathons with no problems, but the world really changes around that 20 mile distance in a marathon. Better training would probably help me no doubt.
Greenbank-
Thank you! I've read about the jump from a half to a marathon being huge and it's part of what's fuelling my hesitancy to immediately commit to the full distance: if my halves have always been a bit rough a full marathon might be a disaster.
Manchester marathon is in April, so a significant enough amount of time away to get my legs in order and make a decision.
yoshy
I've convinced myself I want to apply myself to something and am wondering if that thing is a marathon??
To stave off the impulse a bit I'm thinking I should maybe get form up to the point of comfortably running a half (I've been able to just about run a half a few times, but it's never been comfortable) before entering one.
Is there a time period during marathon training within which ad hoc weekend rides with pals will be off the menu entirely? Say a hilly 100km in the Peak District or something?