What to do.

This seems rather hypocritical since I tend to encourage people to push their limits and believe the only way to fail is not to try.

Well I am now stuck and my brain is totally getting in my way.

I just finished my first Half a couple weeks ago and have my second set for turkey day (looking forward to it).  The place where I am getting stuck is for March of next year, and the GA Publix Half & Full Marathon.  I really am at a spot in trying to decide what to do.  I have been told that the half is a fairly decent course but the full has one section that is HILLS.  I want to complete the Atlanta Challenege whi*****uldes the 13.1 Atlanta I just completed along with one of these races it is a matter of the 26.2 challenge or the 39.3 challenege.

The thought of running a full just totally freaks me out, granted 6 months ago the thought of running a half freaked me out.

I know where a few stand on this subject and I know what way I am leaning but the thought of 26 miles seems so impossible right now.

I know this sounds stupid considering I have fully committed to doing the Augusta Half IM next year, but hell that is only a 13.1 mile run and I can do that.

Thanks

Paul, what are your expectations for the full?

Will it be a crime if you had to walk a little bit of it.
I bet you could grind through it.
Slow you pace a little, take a few more walk breaks, maybe stretch for a few minutes at each rest stop.
It's only your expectations of how you want to do that will  hold you back or be a hurdle.
Remember the first time you do anything it is a P.R.  Once you get through this first "anything" you will know what it feels like and then the next time you can blow it up and crush your previous performance.

Good luck Paul, don't let any self doubting stop you from doing what you can do.

Well Paul, I think you should just slip and signup for the FULL signing up for the wrong event seems to work great for you.  I believe you were the one this summer that committed to the 1/2 by mistake. If I am wrong sorry.

I am positive that one hill is not going to keep you from committing to the event, especially after the mountains you have climbed to get to where you are now. I know you have the determination to be fully prepared for the event and to rock it. 

I would just encourage you to train smart and not hurt yourself during the preparation for the event. You have helped me feel like I can complete the 1/2M Thanksgiving Day, and if all goes well hell maybe I will signup for the FM that your running. You inspire me to keep on moving and I encourage you to do the same.

I think it was Scott who told me after I did 80 miles in my first CENTURY. Why would you do 60 mile Metric, you know you can do that. Go for the full 100 and you can do it. I say the same to you, you know you can complete the 1/2M go for the FM you can and will do it.

Jay

I sort of signed-up for a half by mistake.  Actually I was wanting to do the Turkey Day half and in my eagerness I signed up for the 13.1 ATL half which was over a month sooner.

As for the injuries well I try to train smart but like everyone there are times where the body doesn't want to follow the plan. 

I am seriously considering the Full at this point.

it's really all a matter of what you want.

I ran 4 Halfs before attempting a full.  I enjoyed the learning that came with each half.  The last one I did felt comfortable in a way that the first 3 didn't.

Now that I've run a marathon, I'm at the beginning of the learning curve again, but with a lot of knowledge about distance running and my body as a base.  You can get thru training of course.

My boyfriend ran a 1/2 kind of unprepared in August and the marathon with me on Sunday.  He did it, he's fine and mentally didn't need the repition of events to mentally prepare to move up in distance.

So, how does your brain work?  :)

do the full.   That was easy.  

I knew what your answer would be.

 in all seriousness, the fact that you are doing Augusta should scrae you way more than a full marathon, imo.  In IM you have technique to worry about in the swim and bike, plus the run, in which those 13.1 miles will feel like way more.  Not to scare you :)  I can tell you having a full marathon under your belt will help you immensely in the HIM, and it also gives you a chance to learn a lot about nutritional needs.  

Training-wise, for my first (and only standalone) marathon, I got up to 20 miles in training - this is really not a big stretch from the 13 you have already done.  The main thing is take it easy in training, nice and slow on the long runs, but keep the intesity up on the shorter mid week runs.  Those long runs are more for your mind than anything, so you have the confidence come race day (trust me, your mind will play evil games with you during the late hours of the race, you need ammo).  

The difficulty I found, and the reason why I didn't do another full besides IM,  was just trying to stay healthy - anything over 15  miles for me always had something hurting for a while and took recovery for me (which is why I am so nervous about goofy).  I stayed on the TM except for the long runs and that seems to help.  Also, for the IM I used split runs for my longest days, where I did 12-14 in the morning and 6 or 7 at night - again, not ideal, but it serves the purpose.   

Lastly.. recovering from the first full marathon was, for me anyway, my hardest recovery, exponentially harder than IM.  My legs and entire body hurt.  Don't plan any races at all for at least a month and a half after ward.  This was my big mistake last year, I believe.  A full marathon (as I am sure Sue will tell you today) is a BIG deal!  It is so worth it though buddy.  

If you are asking the question, you already know the answer :)  

Right to the point.

We need a like button on that post.

Do the Full......You have nothing to lose!!!!  PLUS I know you can do it!!!!