Marathon Preparation

Question
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Followup To
Hi John,

Wow, didn't realise you were in New Mexico! Thanks for getting back to me again.  First, the question of sponsorship: I have to raise a certain percentage of sponsorship (haven't been told how much yet but the total sponsorship I have to raise is ?,000) before my place is confirmed. Still waiting on confirmation of my participation from the charity itself (as I said before, I have just started puting plans in place) so nothing is definite yet to be honest. But I'm totally committed to doing this and as soon as I can start getting sponsorship, I'll work very hard to get it done asap. But I think realisticaly we are looking at 1-2 months before I would be confirmed for definite.

In the meantime, I'll work on the runs you have been so kind as to set me. I've not run for a complete hour yet (without stopping) but I'm kinda looking forward to wednesday already!

I work in Edinburgh as a law reporter which basically means I analyse and digest new cases from the high court here in scotland, and I publish them in a legal journal. All very boring! I have two hours of travelling to get to work every day which is why two hours at night is a realistic time to set aside for running.

I'm really excited about the road ahead of me and I'm determined to stick to a schedule. I have some health issues which may affect my performance when running (nothing serious, just skin problems which tend to flare up from time to time), but I'm determined to still get outside every day!

Well, I'll leave it at that just now (for the risk of rambling on again!). But thanks for the help and the inspirational words. Can I ask you, how much will you charge for a proper training schedule once I am confirmed to be running? and do you have an email address where I can contact you outside of this website?

Thanks John!

Paul

Question -
Hi John,

Thanks very much for your reply! The fact that you have told me that 8 months prep is just fine has made me feel a lot better (it is all very daunting just now!). I live in Scotland which is a shame because I could do with some kind of supervised training here to make sure I stay disciplined! - I'm going to have to look into that but wouldn't commit until my place in the marathon was finalised and guaranteed.

To give you more details, I'm 23, around 5'6'' and just under 11 stone (around 150 pounds I think that is). I'd say I was slightly overweight but pretty fit (as I say I go hillwalking and snowboarding a lot).

I recently ran outside for the first time and it is a bit harder than indoors! I do 2 laps of a 4.5K track around a loch (which is flat). I'm pretty tired after that so think I can do 10K runs ok but not much longer than that at the moment. I don't have a target time in the slightest, I would just be stoked to finish! And as to time I can dedicate to training, I could dedicate definitely 2 hours per day during the week after work and don't do anything at the weekend so could dedicate more then.

When I asked about the best way to go around things, I was asking which method (in your experience - although I know everyone is different) whether its better to increase the number of times per week I run or to run the same amount of times (2 times per week) but increase the distance each time. I'm just a bit worried about pushing myself too far and doing myself a serious injury.

Anyway, I'll stop rambling on! But I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. And once my place in the race is confirmed (when I reach the required target for sponsorship) I'd be interested in developing a training schedule if you can do that kind of thing without meeting me (obviously I would pay for that!).

Thanks again!
Paul

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Followup To
Question -
Hi John,

I've started training for the NYC Marathon on November 5, 2006. It will be my first marathon and I've only recently started running. The problem is, I dont know much about running seriously and I don't know really how to go about training and increasing my stamina so that I can last the distance! At the moment, I go to the gym twice a week and run about 10K each time which is about my limit at the moment. I know...I have a long way to go!

So, my questions are:
- What would be the best way to increase the distance I can run without reaching my limit (eg extra days at the gym/Same amount of days but a bit longer each time/or both?). I don't want to do the wrong thing and end up injuring myself.
- Is it a good idea doing leg weights or would the extra muscle cause problems?
- Do you think 8 months is a realistic time for preparing for a marathon (given the fact that ive only recently started running and will be doing my first 10K run in May in Edinburgh [I am quite fit already, I go snowboarding and hillwalking a lot]).

Sorry if the questions are silly or sound amateurish, I really know nothing about how to prepare for such a big undertaking and its quite daunting at the moment!

Thanks very much for your help in advance!
Paul Houston
Answer -
How are ya Paul
First i need to no what kind of time you are shooting for,or is that not important and you just want to finish.Second,can you run outside?Where do you live?Is that edinburg scotland.8 months is just fine to prepare since your just starting out.I would forget the weights and just focus on more running.Don't worry about the questions,I didn't no anything when i started either.You should be congratulated for your comitment to such a program.It will change your life in some way i guarantee it.To increase your miles you have to really listen to your body to not get injured.You will have to put in some really serious miles in order to run well,and that i also can guarantee you.Paul let me say that i don't give schedules and coaching advice without being paid.I answer questions put forth on this site as you did.If you would like to work with me and let me guide you to the finish on my program,just let me know.If your here in the usa i pay all the phone bills for consultations.So to the first question about increasing your miles and staying within your limits you are going to have to get back to me with your goals,time shooting for or just finishing and height weight age and how much time you can devote to training on a 7 day week and then i can answer that question properly.

I look forward to your response paul.By the way paul,i have run nyc four times and it is truly an exciting marathon.

John
www.rentacoachinternational.com

Answer -
Hi Paul
Don't worry about being in scotland.Nothing is ever perfect in life and training.You have to work with what you have been dealt untill things change.If you are dead serious about doing what is neccessary day to day,you will just get it done.This is what separates many athletes,including the ones with more god given talent who do nothing with it,which i know first hand.I have fired some very talented kenyans in the past.Your height weight looks ok to start,and when you start getting into the program you will peel some off quite rapidly.Start getting outside now.Now to your qustion about making the best use of your time.That is a good space of time to work with paul.You will be able to get in awesome shape if your commited to use that time properly.You will not have to worry about finishing.You will  be able to predict how fast you want to finish based on how hard you want to work and and staying focused on the mountain that lies ahead of you in novenber.The marathon is about strength and endurance,so i want you to focus two runs untill we officially hook up paul.On a six day week with a day off for now i want you to do a long run on wed. and sat. and fill in the others with a easy 35 to 45 min.The wed.and sat.run start with an hour and work up to one hour thirty.All runs should be totally comfortably.Ok that gets you started with beta plan.When do you think you will get confirmation on entry and sponsorship?If you can follow and implement a schedule and stay focused and not quit,it is not neccessary for you to be here in albuquerque new mexico the hot bed of world class training.Paula radcliffe the womens world record holder for the marathon 2:15 a friend of mind has been here since early janruary training for london and the comonwealth games along with many others around the world.By the way,what do you do for a living in scotland?Just curious.

As a little caveat i pened a few words for you to help you stay focused and motivated with your flight plan to new york in november.

To your success paul

John
www.rentacoachinternational.com



It is your choice what fork in the road you decide to take.It is at that moment you run head on into adversity and feel your dream slipping away that you have to rekindle the flame and reastablish your vision of victory in your heart and your mind in order to become the hero of your own success story..You must not think and talk about the problems that lie a head.You must focus on the solutions and stand tall in the difficult times in life and look beyond where you are now and SPEAK TO YOUR MOUNTAINS THAT LIE A HEAD That is the only way to accomplish the impossible.Hope is not a strategy.Its the flight plan that you have filed and are comitted to that will take you in the direction to your destination with a safe landing.

COACH
John DeHart





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Answer
Hi Paul
Good to hear from you.I charge $200.00 per month payed in full.You can get my contact info on my web site at www.rentacoachinternational.com.I thought you would of allready looked at it.Take a look at www.paularadcliffe.com.Very interesting.

The best to you

John