Marathon/Half-Marathon

OK I need some advice.  I have been running (jogging) three to four miles 4 or 5 times and week and I am considering training for a distance race either a marathon or half marathon.  I have signed up for a 10K the end of March. 
Having said all that, any experienced runners out there that can give me some advice?

Thanks, guys!

No advice to give you only encouragement.  I have been thinking about the half marathon run in La Crosse Wisconsin in May.  I think if you are already runding four miles, that you could try bumping it up once a week to 7 miles and if you could do that without passing out, that you could finish a half marathon.  I figure if we have to walk it part of the time, that will be fine too.

Good luck

Thanks, Stephan.  It's hard to believe that as a former fat a$$ o lineman, I am able to even consider doing this.

Well, my wife is getting back into running, and has been using Jeff Galloway's training program:

http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/marathon.html

We just did our second 5K on Super Bowl Sunday.  She's got a goal of doing a half-marathon at the end of the summer.

Personally, with my weight the way it used to be, my knees and ankles probably wouldn't be able to handle the distances or punishment that running would put on them, so I'm getting into mountain biking.

I can give lots.  I just finished the Goofy Challange two weeks ago where I ran a half on Saturday and a full on Sunday at Disney. 

If you are doing 4 miles at a clip a few times a week you are about two months away from a half.  The baisc plan is pretty simple.  If you can run 4 times a week, keep two of the runs at 4 miles.  Increase your weekend run by a mile per week and make your middle run 1/2 the distance of your long run (once gets over 8 miles)

Example: week 1
Monday 4
Tuesday 4
Thursday 4
Saturday 4

Week 2:
M - 4
Tu - 4
Th - 4
Sat - 5

Week 7:
M - 4
Tu - 6.5
Th - 4
Sat - 11

You don't want to increase the long run too quickly because that is just tempting and injury.  If you want to get real fancy, you can add mile repeats, tempo runs and other assorted runs but If I were you, I'd just keep it simple for the first one.

One more slice of advice:  join us at the exercise and fitness board.  there are probably 10 or so active members who have completed marathons and all are not intimidating and willing to help out.

Thanks, Scott.

I'm not a runner, but my hat's off to you fellas  who are!  Wish I like to run, but I absolutely hate it - always have, even when I played football. I'll stick to the weight training and walking the treadmill.  If I gotta go 5 miles or more, I'm riding my motorcycle!!
BwaHahahahaha!!

I started with long bike rides, because they seemed easier to sustain than a jog. My first endurance events were mtn. bike endurance races. Then, I'd go for long rides on mtn roads with friends. Just figure your absolute longest marathon time. You'll defintely be able to go longer than that on a bike, even at a pretty good clip (not saying it won't be difficult, just do-able). Maybe go 20 or even 30% longer, time wise than you would for your event. Once every two weeks along with your run training is enough.

Another trick is doing a long run on a linear (up and back) course with no way to get home. If you tire out at the turning point, you still have to get home and this keeps a lot of folks running. Even if you walk, since you've warmed up with running, you'll get nearly the same benefit.

A little non-standard advice from a trickster.

Hope This Helps,

Dave