Question:

How much training would an average person need to run a marathon?

by  |  earlier

0 LIKES UnLike

Just say someone whose 5'8 and an average vo2 max. Thanks

 Tags:

   Report

4 ANSWERS


  1. If you're not in terrible shape you can train to finish one in under a year, probably in as little as 9 months. If you want to run a decent time it'll take a couple years.


  2. Without much endurance background .........I'd say at least 30-40 miles a week building up to it.

  3. a c**p load.  running 26 miles at once is a huge task.  Should run some half marathons or 30Ks in addition to 50-60 mile weeks at your peak.

  4. It depends on how fit you are when you start and if you already have any form of running base established. It also depends on how well you want to run that marathon.

    There are basic training programs out there that can get a decently fit person to marathon completion in 16 weeks. Primary goal is to simply finish.

    If you haven't been running already and want to be healthy about it and do it decently, you'll need to establish a decent base first and get your body ready for running. It's often advised to do an extended walking program (or at most run-walk) to get your body accustomed to the "pounding." You're looking at a few weeks or months just for this. Once you then start running, most places will advise you run for a full year before starting "real" marathon training.

    The more fit you are to start and the more content you are to simply finish (and potentially do a run-walk for it), the less time it can take. If you'd like to be healthy about it and be satisfied with actually "running" it, you should probably allow yourself a minimum 12 to 18 months from when you start running training. If you already have a decent running base established (probably 40 miles/week or more) and have been doing it awhile, you could probably ramp up to a decent marathon without *too* much further training, since your basic running system is already established, and your body is already accustomed to decent mileage.

    (I'd also point out that even if you already have a decent cardio system established, such as from biking, the body still needs to get used to the pounding of running, so the time for a walk or run-walk program still applies if you're minimizing injury risk.)

Question Stats

Latest activity: earlier.
This question has 4 answers.

BECOME A GUIDE

Share your knowledge and help people by answering questions.