The Loneliness of a Long-Distance Runner

[StuartHopkin]

Basically, running on a treadmill is fine - but it's not ideal preparation for doing a road-race.  Obviously it's very similar to running outside so will help.

If you're planning on running a half-marathon or a full marathon though, I don't think doing all your training on a treadmill is sensible.  For one, it'll drive you bloody mad running inside for 3-4 hours at a a time!

So basically my plan is fine

Get fit doing 10ks on the treadmill
Drop in a few outdoor ones before attempting a race
Keep treadmill runs in the gym session
Add longer outdoor runs, this was always the plan as you cant hog the treadmills where I go, I dont think I should even be hogging them for an hour let alone a few.

[kinboshi]

Basically, running on a treadmill is fine - but it's not ideal preparation for doing a road-race.  Obviously it's very similar to running outside so will help.

If you're planning on running a half-marathon or a full marathon though, I don't think doing all your training on a treadmill is sensible.  For one, it'll drive you bloody mad running inside for 3-4 hours at a a time!

So basically my plan is fine

Yeah, it's fine - but it's not ideal.  If you were going to enter a cycling race you could do most of your training on an exercise bike.  You'd be fitter than not doing it, but not as fit (fit = fit for purpose) as you would be doing training which is the same as the actual event.

Get fit doing 10ks on the treadmill
Drop in a few outdoor ones before attempting a race
Keep treadmill runs in the gym session
Add longer outdoor runs, this was always the plan as you cant hog the treadmills where I go, I dont think I should even be hogging them for an hour let alone a few.

You done any outside runs yet?

[StuartHopkin]

Basically, running on a treadmill is fine - but it's not ideal preparation for doing a road-race.  Obviously it's very similar to running outside so will help.

If you're planning on running a half-marathon or a full marathon though, I don't think doing all your training on a treadmill is sensible.  For one, it'll drive you bloody mad running inside for 3-4 hours at a a time!

So basically my plan is fine

Yeah, it's fine - but it's not ideal.  If you were going to enter a cycling race you could do most of your training on an exercise bike.  You'd be fitter than not doing it, but not as fit (fit = fit for purpose) as you would be doing training which is the same as the actual event.

Get fit doing 10ks on the treadmill
Drop in a few outdoor ones before attempting a race
Keep treadmill runs in the gym session
Add longer outdoor runs, this was always the plan as you cant hog the treadmills where I go, I dont think I should even be hogging them for an hour let alone a few.

You done any outside runs yet?

Nope, bare in mind this is all very much in its infancy at the mo, 6 months ago I couldnt run for 10 mins.
And up until last week running a marathon was on my list of things to do before Im 50!

[gatso]

Yeah, it's fine - but it's not ideal.  If you were going to enter a cycling race you could do most of your training on an exercise bike.  You'd be fitter than not doing it, but not as fit (fit = fit for purpose) as you would be doing training which is the same as the actual event.

pretty much this

while the treadmill is fine that time would be better spent doing the same distance outdoors. if you're doing treadmill because you're already in the gym then maybe try plotting a route from gym to home and run that instead occasionally

if you're only going to do a few outdoor runs then vary the route/terrain, get at least some experience of running on road, pavement, grass and mud, try to get out in varying weathers and get used to adjusting your pace/direction for potholes, kerbs, dodging people and dogs etc, etc

basically the more you do on a treadmill the fitter you'll be. the more you do outside the fitter you'll be but also the more prepared you'll be

[EvilPie]

Nope, bare in mind this is all very much in its infancy at the mo, 6 months ago I couldnt run for 10 mins.
And up until last week running a marathon was on my list of things to do before Im 50!

If you start now you might have a chance.

[StuartHopkin]

Yeah, it's fine - but it's not ideal.  If you were going to enter a cycling race you could do most of your training on an exercise bike.  You'd be fitter than not doing it, but not as fit (fit = fit for purpose) as you would be doing training which is the same as the actual event.

pretty much this

while the treadmill is fine that time would be better spent doing the same distance outdoors. if you're doing treadmill because you're already in the gym then maybe try plotting a route from gym to home and run that instead occasionally

if you're only going to do a few outdoor runs then vary the route/terrain, get at least some experience of running on road, pavement, grass and mud, try to get out in varying weathers and get used to adjusting your pace/direction for potholes, kerbs, dodging people and dogs etc, etc

basically the more you do on a treadmill the fitter you'll be. the more you do outside the fitter you'll be but also the more prepared you'll be

Yeah all makes sense, apart from the run from Gym to Home, what the fuck do I do about my car? ;-)

[StuartHopkin]

Nope, bare in mind this is all very much in its infancy at the mo, 6 months ago I couldnt run for 10 mins.
And up until last week running a marathon was on my list of things to do before Im 50!

If you start now you might have a chance.

Start what now?

[EvilPie]

Is it possible for Stu to do a marathon whilst maintaining his current impressive drinking/curry regime?

Obviously he's managed 10k which is amazingly impressive but hugely different to 26 miles.

Can it be done without a few changes to his food/alcohol intake?

Personally I wouldn't think it was possible but I obviously have no idea about running so I'm only guessing.

Obviously if you run a lot you can eat a lot because you are burning a lot of calories. Presumably when you start talking marathons they need to be the right sort of calories though?

[EvilPie]

Nope, bare in mind this is all very much in its infancy at the mo, 6 months ago I couldnt run for 10 mins.
And up until last week running a marathon was on my list of things to do before Im 50!

If you start now you might have a chance.

Start what now?

The marathon you're planning on finishing by the time you're 50.

[vegaslover]

If you like it and make progress, stick to the treadmill. Just add an outdoor session now and again to get used to the terrain and also the technique of forcing your body to move. It's easier to run further on the treadmill as basically you fall off if you stop, it's much harder IMO to keep going on the road when you feel fked.

Personally, I do most of my running on the treadmill nowadays. My joints are fkd though and couldn't handle constant pounding on terra firma.

Matt, I think diet is far less of an issue for marathon running. Know plenty of overweight people who run marathons. It's more about the training

[boldie]

Is it possible for Stu to do a marathon whilst maintaining his current impressive drinking/curry regime?

Obviously he's managed 10k which is amazingly impressive but hugely different to 26 miles.

Can it be done without a few changes to his food/alcohol intake?

Personally I wouldn't think it was possible but I obviously have no idea about running so I'm only guessing.

Obviously if you run a lot you can eat a lot because you are burning a lot of calories. Presumably when you start talking marathons they need to be the right sort of calories though?

I have faith in Mr Bopkin, especially after reading these scientific articles on the subject;


http://www.wikihow.com/Drink-Beer-While-Running-a-Marathon

http://exercisingwhileintoxicated.wordpress.com/2010/07/31/best-recommended-alcoholic-beverages-for-exercise/

http://sgmfc.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/running-a-marathon-drunk-is-surprisingly-difficult/

[EvilPie]

If you like it and make progress, stick to the treadmill. Just add an outdoor session now and again to get used to the terrain and also the technique of forcing your body to move. It's easier to run further on the treadmill as basically you fall off if you stop, it's much harder IMO to keep going on the road when you feel fked.

Personally, I do most of my running on the treadmill nowadays. My joints are fkd though and couldn't handle constant pounding on terra firma.

Matt, I think diet is far less of an issue for marathon running. Know plenty of overweight people who run marathons. It's more about the training

Would you need a couple of weeks detox before the actual event though?

I understand that overweight people could do it but presumably they don't do it the day after downing 12 pints of guinness?

I know that when I weight train I'm nowhere near my peak the day after a curry or any more than 3 pints.

I can still cope but I won't be at my best.

Presumably to run a marathon you need to be at the peak of your ability?

Could you run a marathon a couple of days after 8 guinnesses (Stu's standard intake) and a curry?

[EvilPie]

There has to be some epic prop potential here for Stu.

Run a marathon in 4 hours drinking 1 pint of guinness per hour whilst doing so.

Could even get sponsored by guinness for proving it's good for you like that geezer who ate loads of subways.

I'm sure if he gets aids he could lose loads of weight whilst doing it as well.

[boldie]

If you like it and make progress, stick to the treadmill. Just add an outdoor session now and again to get used to the terrain and also the technique of forcing your body to move. It's easier to run further on the treadmill as basically you fall off if you stop, it's much harder IMO to keep going on the road when you feel fked.

Personally, I do most of my running on the treadmill nowadays. My joints are fkd though and couldn't handle constant pounding on terra firma.

Matt, I think diet is far less of an issue for marathon running. Know plenty of overweight people who run marathons. It's more about the training

Would you need a couple of weeks detox before the actual event though?

I understand that overweight people could do it but presumably they don't do it the day after downing 12 pints of guinness?

I know that when I weight train I'm nowhere near my peak the day after a curry or any more than 3 pints.

I can still cope but I won't be at my best.

Presumably to run a marathon you need to be at the peak of your ability?

Could you run a marathon a couple of days after 8 guinnesses (Stu's standard intake) and a curry?

Should be fine IMO, depends on how fast you want to run it.

If this guy can do it, Stu definitely can.

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/03/21/from-sumo-wrestling-to-running-400-pound-man-completes-l-a-marathon/

[gatso]

Obv you'll run faster on a better diet but I don't see any reason why you can't do it on a beer and curry diet. Just need to be careful and make sure you're properly hydrated