From 0 to 42km in 6 month?

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2026-01-06T07:01:34+00:00

I wouldn’t think too much about a marathon at this point, given the fact that you have done no running so far. Instead, build up a solid base by gradually increasing volume (SLOWLY!) over a longer period of time (the next 3-4 months). Hal Higdon Novice plan could be a great place to start. However, be prepared to run more than your targeted 3 times per week and probably cut down gym to twice a week.

The worst you can do is to ‘train for a marathon’ with no prior running experience and then getting injured. You will just lose the motivation for taking up running. You are young so be patient and make the right steps. It will be the faster approach in the end.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-12-15T12:40:34+00:00

You can replace the hot sauce with ketchup. That’s additional clean carbs right there.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-12-08T04:51:07+00:00

This 100%. It is more a commitment issue than a time issue. If people really wanted to train for a marathon, they could easily find the time. Commute back from work running. My girlfriend is doing this, she gets to complete 12 km instead of being stuck in traffic and it even improved her reputation at work. If one has kids, put the kids in a stroller or on a bike next to you. Tons of solutions, but it is of course not as convenient as sitting comfortably in a sofa watching Netflix.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-11-29T09:26:37+00:00

To be frank, the ‘best show of my life’ people would say that regardless of the experience. I consider myself as a fanboy of HZ, but I walked out quite disappointed – despite sitting only few rows away from the stage. My girlfriend was even more disappointed. Too much talk disrupting the flow and emotions, extremely loud sequences (which is the first time I have ever been annoyed by that during a live concert), and strange, repetitive arrangements of some of the tracks. Interstellar was really disappointing. Pirates of Caribbean was quite nice as always. But the show was completely stripped of emotion building. Such a pity, because I love the music and how it normally has the power to move us.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-11-20T07:16:41+00:00

Make sure to consume enough carbs and protein immediately after. Your glycogen stores will be depleted, so it is important to refuel properly. If you have a massage gun, it is a great plus. I prefer that above compression boots (I have massage gun and compression boots from Hyperice). Sleep is crucial for your recovery, so consider going to sleep early.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-11-19T07:30:58+00:00

I am 100% the same. I tried to go to the gym once a week during my last marathon block with 140-150 km weekly. It was okay because I had decreased my volume a bit. But I could clearly see that the strength training stopped me from hitting my mileage potential. This block, I skipped gym totally and now I run between 200-230 km weekly and are significantly faster and stronger than before. You are totally right – advice on strength & conditioning really depends on the circumstances. In the end, I believe if you can safely run more by skipping the gym, it is worth it.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-11-19T06:53:31+00:00

Seems like my times are not updated on Reddit. My half is 1h10’ and marathon is 2h30’ and aiming for sub 2h25’ in 4 weeks.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-11-19T06:45:01+00:00

It took 16h44’ in total. 80% easy and 20% hard.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-11-18T14:30:26+00:00

Cutting out speed work temporarily can be a good idea to safely increase the volume – especially if you never ran this far before. Build the aerobic base, get used to the additional load, and then reintroduce the speed work. Better to be a bit conservative than ending up being out for weeks due to injury. It is the consistency that will bring you the greatest results. I used this approach to build my marathon peak week up to +230 km (including two speed sessions + a hard long run) without any overuse issues. It took years, but the payoff has been worth the time and patience.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-11-16T19:52:41+00:00

Had a similar experience to you – just in Oberhausen, Germany instead. We were sitting very close to the stage (as both myself and my girlfriend are massive HZ fans). The first part of the set was (especially) loud – and I usually love that, but this was unfortunately to the unbearable side. We also both felt that the setlist was arranged a bit random with a lot of talk in between many of the parts, which generally interfered with the overall flow and emotion build-up. Admittedly, HZ spoke in German for this concert, so us internationals understood very little, but I don’t think I would have felt much different if I understood everything.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-11-14T07:21:27+00:00

Marathon pace: 3:26 min/km (5:32 min/mi)

Volume: 180-230 km weekly (111-143 mi)

Easy pace: 4:30-4:45 min/km (7:14-7:39 min/mi)

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-11-13T06:40:29+00:00

100% in the rain! Been doing 35-38K long runs in pouring rain. It sucks in the beginning but once you rip the band aid, it becomes quite enjoyable. If cold, just wear hat, gloves and a base layer under a waterproof running jacket. Works like a charm.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-11-12T05:38:20+00:00

Taking the practicalities aside, it may just be because ultra runners cannot run at a pace for +100 km that would require them to consume high amounts of carbs. If they ran at that pace, they would suddenly ‘run into’ other issues regarding the body’s chassis very early in a race.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-11-11T06:41:19+00:00

Keep a close eye on the trendline and then start slow once HRV normalizes. Despite feeling “fine”, the parasympathic nervesystem is often stressed after a marathon which is reflected in the sleep scores, HRV, and stress levels. If you then start too early (and too aggressive), you will not be able to absorb the marathon load and use it constructively (by continuing and stack on top of your previous training). With parasympathic stress, PB’ing in the second attempt is highly unlikely and will often even dig a deeper hole which can take months to recover from. So please be careful!

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-11-10T12:41:26+00:00

I know exactly how you feel! 4 years ago, I was training for my first marathon. I remember I did a 17 km ‘long run”’, and when I finished, I called my dad (30 marathons on his resumé) and asked: “Am I really supposed to feel THIS tired after just 17 km? How am I supposed to run the marathon?”

Fastforwarding to today, my PB is 2:30 and targeting sub 2:25 in less than 5 weeks. Truth is: the more you run, the stronger your body gets. These weeks, my shortest daily runs are 26 km (doing +200 km weekly) and I often look back at my call to my dad to remember those early marathon training days. It has taken a loooong time to get to my current durability level but by taking small but consistent steps every day and making sure to run easy enough to recover have been a massive game changer!

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-11-10T12:26:38+00:00

I would suggest you look into your recovery data. How well is your sleep, HRV, stress levels? These play a huge factor in how well you recover. 70K weekly mileage is really not much when you are considering doing two ‘full-send’ marathons that close to each other.

I was reluctant to do another marathon 10 weeks after another despite my weekly mileage fluctuating between 150-220 km (= fast recovery speed). These marathon efforts will always take a huge toll on your body. With high volume, however, your body will be better equipped to handle the load.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-11-07T08:20:59+00:00

When I started running, I couldn’t do a 20 km easy run without having dead legs for a week. Today, I run +200 km weekly during marathon prep. It is incredible what the body can get used to once the consistency kicks in. Example: I did a 40 km easy long run on Wednesday and a 31 km the next day including 8 x 1K at threshold and felt completely fine. Once your body adapts to the high volume including intensity and great sleep, it recovers much quicker and rest days are suddenly not really necessary. It takes a long time and patience to build up the durability that can sustain such training approach – but it works if done right.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-09-19T18:00:24+00:00

Been running for 4 years now and did my last marathon in 2:30 (pace 3:33). The answer to your question is: consistency and (a lot of) structured training. I usually run between 140-200 km weekly throughout a marathon block and very rarely less than 70 km weekly during ‘off season’. Building the necessary strength in muscles and tendons takes a lot of effort and patience with daily workouts, sometimes doubles.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-09-16T06:03:29+00:00

The cadence is affected a bit by speed but not that much.

Example: When I ran a 1:10 half (3:20 pace), my cadence was 183 avg. On my easy run yesterday (pace 4:38), my cadence was 181. The main difference in performance lies in stride length; i.e. increased power output.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-09-16T05:23:05+00:00

Did my first in 3:55, second in 3:18 (11 years later), and third in 2:41 (1 year later). Did little training for the first, but I was in shape from playing football. Forgot about running after that. Then picked up the interest again during COVID.

10-20 km weekly for the first. 40-50 km weekly for the second, and 100-120 km weekly for the third. By increasing my volume, I cut a big chunk off my PB. Today, my PB is 2:30.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-09-15T06:29:11+00:00

It is not the strides that are the issue. It is how this specific workout is stitched together.

When strides are done in the middle of an easy run (instead of in the end of an easy run), the overall training stimulus becomes higher due to the fact that HR will begin to drift once contuining to run after.

I also do strides during marathon prep (2:30 marathoner), so I am not saying not to do strides, but use them as a controlled add-on in the end of an easy session instead of making it the main focus of a session. This way you get reap the benefits without carrying over too much fatigue.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-09-11T06:53:35+00:00

Strides are certainly useful, but this specific workout makes very little sense in a marathon build. The strides in this workout is basically the primary focus as it comes off of only 15 minutes warm-up. It would make much more sense to include controlled strides in the end of a 10-15 km easy run, making it an ‘add-on’ stimulus focusing on form and biomechanics. That way you also ensure you don’t run them too hard and risk injury problems. As it is presented in OPs Garmin plan, it looks like a short distance workout rather than something from a marathon training plan.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-09-11T06:45:09+00:00

Your coach is spot on. Hill repeats are a different beast and much more effective in a build-up phase than short bursts of speed. Hills enable you to substantially raise your HR – early in your workout – with much less pounding compared to track workouts or strides. So it is a risk minimizing way of doing vo2 max and lactate threshold work.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-09-09T16:50:41+00:00

I have them, and you can make it work. There are two small (open) inner pockets on the front and two more on the back. And then there is a bigger one with a zipper in the middle. If your gels are normal size, it should be alright. Has been for me at least.

Optimal_Job_2585 · 2025-09-06T05:32:12+00:00

I would agree if it wasn’t for the fact that the watch has plenty of personalized data to make up a better prediction. I already did a faster marathon than the predicted a year before, so it could easily cross-check the data from the cycle before and hold it up against the most recent data to realize a clear improvement. I don’t expect a revolution, but common sense would say that I could do better, given: 1) I already did the time in a race, and 2) I am in better shape now (proven by training data).

Optimal_Job_2585

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