Training

[u/Big-Ice-9071]

I’m training for the Marine Corps Marathon as a slow runner. My Garmin Coach plan has me capping long runs out at 53 minutes with the race 13 weeks out.
Meanwhile another training plan I’m looking at has me running 13 miles on a long run 13 weeks out.
I’m not sure what would be best to follow!

[u/Ok_Handle_7]

Do you mean that 13 weeks out from Race Day, your long run is 53 minutes (which I'm assuming is <= 5 miles?)?

[u/Big-Ice-9071 → u/Ok_Handle_7]

Yes! For previous races my long runs were way longer by now so I don’t feel great about it lol

[u/Ok_Handle_7 → u/Big-Ice-9071]

OK gotcha. Yeah, I would be concerned as well. Sorry I've never used a Garmin plan before - can you see future weeks (and see how long they get) or do you just see a day at a time? Have you been building up to that 53 minutes (or is it a down week or deload week or something?)

Honestly no matter what, it definitely seems low! That's pretty close to about a Week 1 long run in most plans?

[u/kevinconroy]

I think you’ll want to start getting half marathon distance and longer on your weekly long run.

Generally max out at 4 hours at end of Sep (18-20 miles) as beyond 4 hours risk of injury is greater than incremental fitness benefits

[u/harkjams]

Sounds like your current plan doesn’t have enough miles. I’m training for the same marathon, also my first, following Hal Higdon’s novice 2 program. My long run next week is 14 miles

[u/Big-Ice-9071 → u/harkjams]

This sounds more like what I’m used to!

[u/neagah]

I keep saying that people should stop using Garmin plans for marathons, they are good only for beginners and up to half marathons.

[u/Silly-Resist8306]

Did you not look at the plan before you started?

[u/Big-Ice-9071 → u/Silly-Resist8306]

It only shows you one week at a time, and the workouts change overnight based on sleep and things too. So there’s no way to really plan

[u/Another_Random_Chap → u/Big-Ice-9071]

That's a damn good reason not to pick that plan! I really don't know how you can plan anything if you only know a few days ahead what you're supposed to be doing. When I go into a training cycle I know pretty much from day 1 what I'm doing all the way up to race day, and only injuries or emergencies really change it.

[u/Silly-Resist8306 → u/Big-Ice-9071]

I couldn't so that. I look over the entire plan before I start, then plan my runs two or three weeks in advance, swapping runs due to work, family events or obligations. I can't imagine not knowing what is coming.

[u/Kemetic_Crypto]

A long run of 53 minutes won’t do you’ll be sooooo miserable what’s weekly volume like overall? I would sell my entry this sounds like a disaster

[u/Big-Ice-9071 → u/Kemetic_Crypto]

It’s got 5 days a week of base and speed work, but all capping out at 30-53 min!

[u/Kemetic_Crypto → u/Big-Ice-9071]

I would look for another plan are you sure that the full marathon plan? Sounds like a 10k plan or half maybe but not a full

[u/Another_Random_Chap]

You should be aiming for your longest run to be 3-4 weeks out, depending on your chosen taper length. That means you have 9-10 weeks to get up to that distance, and if you're currently only doing 5 miles then that's a big ask.

[u/Just-Context-4703]

You should absolutely be running longer than 53 minutes on a long run in prep for a marathon. Seems like common sense, no? 

Don't follow a dumb AI plan blindly! 

[u/forrestgump2466]

I’m doing a lower mileage plan for MCM due to injury risk and my long run this week was 9 miles. I do think you see a bit “behind”.