Training for a marathon...Help!!!

Hello everyone, I signed up for a marathon this September. I have been training on my own, with no experience. My routine has been for the last 2 months: going to the gym 4 days a week, eliptical 45min, tredmil 30min(2 days) eliptical 45min, and weight training 30min the other(2 days). I know I need to step it up a few knotches, but I don't know what I should be doing...any suggestions would be very helpful...thanks.

 a full marathon?  You will get some great advice from others, but right off the bat I would suggest you really need to run on the road at least 1 day a week, probably for your long run.  I use the TM a lot to train, but it really is no substitute for the road.  For my first half, I used Hal Hidgon's program http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/Mar00index.htm  but to be honest I found for me I need to pull back a bit as I was getting myself injured.  

Training for a full usually takes a good 5 months do it properly, so you are looking at 3 months now.  Quite a daunting task

My answer would depend on your previous running experience.  If you have never done a 5k,10k or Half, then you'll need to really be careful with training or else it could result in injury.

If you don't have them already, get fitted for proper running shoes.   Then look at how many miles you typically cover in those 30 min.  For this scenario, let's say 2.5

Andrew is right, you need to get out on the road at least once a week to start, then gradually increase.  Do running 3 days a week for a bit, then 4 days.  I do 4 days a week right now and that's sufficient for my needs.

So your schedule for week 1 would be like: Tuesday (2.5 miles)  Thursday (3 mi)  Sunday (5 mi long run).  You can continue to do cross-train and do weights on the other days.

Gradually increase the mileage adding a mile or 2 to each Sunday long run.  You will want to do at least 1 20 mile run prior to the marathon (probably a month before to be safe)

Good luck
Brian
~350

Congratulations on registering for the marathon.  At this point, it's important to find a marathon training plan so you can start building your long run.  Depending on when your marathon is, you have 14 to 17 weeks to train.

Here is a link to Hal Higdon's plan www.halhigdon.com/marathon/novices.html.  It's 18 weeks, so you'd have to make some adjustments.  I like how he builds in some step-back weeks as the mileage climbs. 

Good luck on your training.

Cassie