Too ambitious?

How long do ya reckon it would take to get from 0km ability - 42km ability?

I'm not sure how much I can comfortably run, I've been facing a few challenges in being able to push myself in the last few weeks but now everything should be fine for me to start really going hard.

Probably only capable of doing a few km atm - is October too close to get to 42km if I run 3 times a week?

To run 42km you don't need to practice running 42km. 30 would probably do it... the rest you can do on fumes.

I reckon eight months is doable but 32 weeks running every 2nd day or 3 times a week plus other fitness activities isn't as easy as it sounds. Physically it might be, but mentally you have to knuckle down with no piss-taking cop-outs.

Would def take up squash to alleviate the boredom of straight running tho and good to change things up. How good are your racquet skills? Good enough to stand in a court and hit routines by yourself? If so, give it a go - you'll see pretty quick that (with the right intensity) it can be amazing for fitness/durability.

I didn't find squash fitness to be beneficial to running fitness at all, but that may just be me.

It's a pretty huge ask, smiley. You can get customised programmes written for you via www.aucklandmarathon.co.nz so that would be a good place to start.

As I said, depends on your ability to keep the intensity up (which also factors in your racquet sports ability which some people don't quite click with).

One good thing I found over years of playing squash was it was the one activity which you can easily push yourself again and again to the absolute limit of your capability and in short time - finding that limit and knowing how hard to push it is a good fitness tool. And because it requires lots of concentration it also sharpens you mentally which running alone can't do for some people (esp as it can get really mundane by itself).

you could do an ironman in october if you wanted to and with some proper guidance. (ie 3.8km, 180km bike, 42.2 km run).

if your aim is to complete a marathon, 3 runs per week is enough, you could do 1 long run, 1 moderate run, 1 easy run. long run would be longer, moderate run 50-75% of length of long run, and easy run of around 30 mins. you'd prob want to peak out at about 30kms maybe? but definitely don't run longer than 3 hours on your longest run.

make sure you get decent shoes...go to shoe clinic or some other place which can evaluate which shoe is best suited for you.

You can probably start training with 16 week out (i.e. start at end-June) so long as you had a base. By base, I mean being able to jog for about 30 minutes or more without stopping.

There are plenty of schedules around – a good one to look at to get an idea of what would be required is here (although it is for 4-5 days a week of training):

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=108

You could replace either of the Monday and Friday runs with another sport.

I know once you enter for the Auckland marathon they will email you a schedule each week from about 12 weeks out, depending on your level, one of which is a 3-day schedule. If you only want to run 3 days a week I’d recommend getting a base, and then adding at least one other day doing a cross-training activity (swim, netball, whatever).

Hmmm....

I think I may give this a go too

Decided this year to give lots of new things a go... So have taken up climbing, archery and kayaking more seriously... On top of my other sports... and thinking of maybe getting into netball again

No it's not too ambitious, Smiley.

Live life on the edge. Nothing is impossible. No limits! Just do it! :>

"Impossible is Nothing"

I knew I missed one

Reached 5km today. Actually did 6, but some of that was walking. Fairly confident I actually ran 5km.

off topic, but how is the nutritionist going Pechora?

"Just Do It"

ahh fuck tragic, learn 2 eyes.

Haven't been able to find time to see her yet
The junior nutritionist (at RNC)'s hours are pretty limiting (only friday morning/afternoon); and it's hard to see that going for the Senior nutritionist for twice the price is really justifiable.. but I really need to go soon..

Wow I didn't realise that there were two prices, how did you find that out?

Not that it matters to me, I've forged a good relationship with mine.

smiley, just keep building it up gradually. 5kms is good!

Thank you

I was quite pleased with myself, sure it's not 15km, but I'm sure I'll find a way to mention that when the time comes...

I've said it before, but it's just so weird cos this time last year and every year before that I was never sporty or fit.