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More power to the man! That said, as a relatively new runner I'm really undecided whether to train for a full marathon. For context: I'm 38; I began running a

More power to the man! That said, as a relatively new runner I'm really undecided whether to train for a full marathon. For context: I'm 38; I began running about less than 2 years ago. In the last 12 months, I ran 3 half marathons. I run 3-4 times a week. A month-ish ago I accomplished my "Cracking 2" project[1] of running a half-m in just under 2 hours (1hr59m) in non-stop rain of 7C. I feel like 2 hours of running is the "sweet spot" that allows you to train for other aspects like resistance, etc while letting you to maintain the fitness for the long term. Still, I feel a slight pull to train for the full marathon. (But the unhealthy-looking thinness of marathon and longer distance runners is not inspiring.) For now, I'll just enjoy the half-marathons until I can thoroughly convince myself that training for a full marathon is "worth it". There's so many variables that I can improve on the half-m distance, and still keep it exciting. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33607283 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33607283

rottencupcakes 3y ago
Great job on the half! As somebody who’s recently started running marathons. you’re 100% correct to enjoy half marathons and lower distances until you “have to” run something longer. The marathon is the first common race distance where it just doesn’t feel like the human body is particularly made to do it. The training takes more time and is more work. Lots of long runs have the potential to end up feeling ominous instead of relaxing. Also I suspect that once you’re running full marathons at a decent pace, your training has probably crossed over from increasing health to decreasing health.
- kashyapc 3y ago
  Thank you! :-) Glad you say the phrase "it [full marathon] just doesn’t feel like the human body is particularly made to do it". I don't mind the training, but question the long-term safety aspect. My left foot is flat and it aches noticeably around the area of ankle joint after 22KM distance of hiking or running. This is "diffuse pain", and it goes away in a day or two. I've been trying to understand the root-cause of it for a long time to no avail. I recently visited a sports medicine specialist to get a professional opinion on whether I can safely train for a full marathon. He suggested a fancy "SPECT-CT" scan for the foot-bone. Looking at the result yesterday, everything is good; no major issues, but "I spot a sensitivity in the area of that ankle joint, but I still don't know the cause of it", he said. So he suggested an MRI scan to rule out any other issues. This will be my last attempt at understanding this problem. I know how to live with it; it's not egregious if I'm being careful. But he did say that I can train for a full marathon if I wanted, "but listen to the foot" after each longer than 22KM training run. For now, I'm still enjoying the 22-25KM range. I'll probably start some trail runs, which require different preparation for the unexpected bumps in the terrain.
gherkinnn 3y ago
Only high-level long distance runners look disturbingly thin. The rest come in all shapes and sizes. Training for a 4h marathon in your 40s will not alter your body composition to that degree.
Chris2048 3y ago
> 2 hours of running is the "sweet spot" to clarify, is that 2hrs daily, or 2hrs 3-4 times a week (i.e. every 2 days, or avg 1hr per day)? Sometimes I think the real gains are running on near empty, when your body has to start creating blood sugar. I also think some marathons can be pretty harmful, especially because they are unusual events, possibly masked by the fact that runners are healthier than the general population so no one takes notice - but when you start to tire it's easy to get sloppy and take a misstep that damages your feet. That said, I have a poor gait as a result of a medical/genetic issue so maybe I'm just more liable for injury.
- kashyapc 3y ago
  > to clarify, is that 2hrs daily, or 2hrs 3-4 times a week (i.e. every 2 days, or avg 1hr per day)? Sorry for being ambiguous. No, I didn't mean 2 hours daily (heavens forbid! :-)), nor was I talking about training time per week[1]. I meant 2 hours as max time in one go—i.e. training for distances of roughly 22-25 KM (13-15 miles) or 2 hours is the sweet spot, I feel (maybe I'm biased). One of the main goals for me here is to reduce the likelihood of getting injured over long-term by not over-training. [1] FWIW, I did note my rough training plan per week here in the past: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33607869 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33607869
Tarsul 3y ago
you're spot on. Your lingering "what if" will stay until you ran that marathon. As long as you have a good training regiment I think a single marathon is nothing to fret healthwise. However, in the long run (heh) just going for half marathons is probably the healthier route. (I'm the same age as you and restarted running last year and have still to crack a half-marathon again - I lost a lot of fitness these last few sedentary [covid] years. So, the most important part is just staying with it and enjoying the journey :))
- kashyapc 3y ago
  Thank you for the validation. :-) Absolutely agree on "staying with it". I'm not "craving" for a full marathon or prove anything to anyone. I'm trying not to burn myself out by over-training. I hear you on losing fitness: It's unfair how quickly we lose the training we put into running. Just even one month of skipping runs (due to life coming in the way) has a noticeable effect in slow-down and efficiency. And good luck (or "succes" as they say in Dutch, which I like better as it tilts towards the positive) with your upcoming half-m. I'm sure you'll crush it!

rottencupcakes 3y ago

Great job on the half! As somebody who’s recently started running marathons. you’re 100% correct to enjoy half marathons and lower distances until you “have to” run something longer. The marathon is the first common race distance where it just doesn’t feel like the human body is particularly made to do it. The training takes more time and is more work. Lots of long runs have the potential to end up feeling ominous instead of relaxing. Also I suspect that once you’re running full marathons at a decent pace, your training has probably crossed over from increasing health to decreasing health.

kashyapc 3y ago
Thank you! :-) Glad you say the phrase "it [full marathon] just doesn’t feel like the human body is particularly made to do it". I don't mind the training, but question the long-term safety aspect. My left foot is flat and it aches noticeably around the area of ankle joint after 22KM distance of hiking or running. This is "diffuse pain", and it goes away in a day or two. I've been trying to understand the root-cause of it for a long time to no avail. I recently visited a sports medicine specialist to get a professional opinion on whether I can safely train for a full marathon. He suggested a fancy "SPECT-CT" scan for the foot-bone. Looking at the result yesterday, everything is good; no major issues, but "I spot a sensitivity in the area of that ankle joint, but I still don't know the cause of it", he said. So he suggested an MRI scan to rule out any other issues. This will be my last attempt at understanding this problem. I know how to live with it; it's not egregious if I'm being careful. But he did say that I can train for a full marathon if I wanted, "but listen to the foot" after each longer than 22KM training run. For now, I'm still enjoying the 22-25KM range. I'll probably start some trail runs, which require different preparation for the unexpected bumps in the terrain.

gherkinnn 3y ago

Only high-level long distance runners look disturbingly thin. The rest come in all shapes and sizes. Training for a 4h marathon in your 40s will not alter your body composition to that degree.

Chris2048 3y ago

> 2 hours of running is the "sweet spot" to clarify, is that 2hrs daily, or 2hrs 3-4 times a week (i.e. every 2 days, or avg 1hr per day)? Sometimes I think the real gains are running on near empty, when your body has to start creating blood sugar. I also think some marathons can be pretty harmful, especially because they are unusual events, possibly masked by the fact that runners are healthier than the general population so no one takes notice - but when you start to tire it's easy to get sloppy and take a misstep that damages your feet. That said, I have a poor gait as a result of a medical/genetic issue so maybe I'm just more liable for injury.

kashyapc 3y ago
> to clarify, is that 2hrs daily, or 2hrs 3-4 times a week (i.e. every 2 days, or avg 1hr per day)? Sorry for being ambiguous. No, I didn't mean 2 hours daily (heavens forbid! :-)), nor was I talking about training time per week[1]. I meant 2 hours as max time in one go—i.e. training for distances of roughly 22-25 KM (13-15 miles) or 2 hours is the sweet spot, I feel (maybe I'm biased). One of the main goals for me here is to reduce the likelihood of getting injured over long-term by not over-training. [1] FWIW, I did note my rough training plan per week here in the past: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33607869 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33607869

Tarsul 3y ago

you're spot on. Your lingering "what if" will stay until you ran that marathon. As long as you have a good training regiment I think a single marathon is nothing to fret healthwise. However, in the long run (heh) just going for half marathons is probably the healthier route. (I'm the same age as you and restarted running last year and have still to crack a half-marathon again - I lost a lot of fitness these last few sedentary [covid] years. So, the most important part is just staying with it and enjoying the journey :))

kashyapc 3y ago
Thank you for the validation. :-) Absolutely agree on "staying with it". I'm not "craving" for a full marathon or prove anything to anyone. I'm trying not to burn myself out by over-training. I hear you on losing fitness: It's unfair how quickly we lose the training we put into running. Just even one month of skipping runs (due to life coming in the way) has a noticeable effect in slow-down and efficiency. And good luck (or "succes" as they say in Dutch, which I like better as it tilts towards the positive) with your upcoming half-m. I'm sure you'll crush it!