Marathon training

I am 19 and currently training for a marathon in three months. Having read through some of the posts, is seems people are obsessed with monitoring their heart rates, and doing interval training and speed work etc. Surely isn't the best way to train for a long distance race, just to get out and run as far as you can every night?

I started preparing for this race last night, having not run for years. I managed 9 miles in 1hr 18 mins. However today my calves are quite tight, and I have trouble walking down stairs. Is it advisable to keep running despite this pain?

Hey, You'll probably get a lot more replies but here's mine. Surely if your calves hurt and you're having trouble walking downstairs, then it's probably not a good idea to get out and run as far as you can every night. Runner's world, cool running, active, and probaby lots more sites have marathon training schedules. At 19, you're invincible, but if you're my age, 37, you'd be 'obsessed' with your heart rate too. I intend to run my first marathon in January and I don't start serious training until Sept. 1. I am not worried about speed work or interval training because I just want to complete it. But, a lot of people in the NG are competitive racers, not just wannabe runners like me, and for them speed work and interval training is vital. Gwendolyn

Depends on what you wanna accomplish in your 'thon... If you just wanna finish it, then sure, do lots of long runs... Although not every night. If you want to run it fast, then you gotta worry about heart rates, intervals, all that jazz.

BTW, since you're 19, your body will be very forgiving of abuse... But going out and running 9 miles for your first run was probably not the best thing to do... I'd take it easy for a couple days... You'll need to ease into this a bit more gradually.

Andrew, I have run many marathons and don't worry about heart rate. I have a personal best of 2:53:16. I ran this time training no more than 50 miles per week. My normal week was one day off, and one day with an over 10 mile run, 2 or 3 runs between 6 to 8 mile, one interval workout 4x1600. And one fun run with friends, always a relaxing run. You should try to run a half marathon about a month an a half into your training so you can see where you are at for a sort of time trial. I would not run more than 20 miles for your long run. I would do this with about a month left of training. Well, good luck on your training for your first marathon. It will be something you will remember for a long time. Happy Training, Scott