(Ed. note -- promoted to the front page)
Hello, runners. Long-time lurker here, first time poster. Let me start by saying how happy I am that we have a running-specific site on the network. It's great to have a place like this to discuss the sport on the wonderful SB Nation platform.
Introductory praise aside, now it's on to the substance of my post. I am a 21-year-old undergraduate who ran cross country for five years (starting in 8th grade) in high school and has since continued to run, albeit not to the level of intensity of those years, during college. I have completed a couple of half marathons and this past weekend ran a great race in a ten miler. I definitely prefer the long race to the 5K, a distance I'm not sure I'll ever be able to bring myself to race again after the anguish-laden memories generated by cross country. As I look into my running future I find myself conflicted. I want to run a marathon, and I want to run it well. If I were to do one I would choose between Richmond and Charlotte, both in mid-November, which would have me starting a traditional 16-week training plan in July. My goal would be to qualify for Boston, one that I believe is realistic based upon my performance in the longer races I've run to date. I've handled mileages of around 50/week before with my only stress injury so far coming during my first year of serious running.
The problem I'm facing is that I'm feeling pressured to take on this challenge right now. Next year will be my fourth, after which I hope to attend law school. I don't see myself having the time to seriously train during the years I hope to spend there. So, for me it's now or not until 3 or 4 years down the line. My question for the esteemed running minds here is, how young would you consider to be too young to tackle the demanding task that is seriously training for and racing the mighty 26.2? I understand that the answer to this question will be highly individualized based on the amount of mileage one has been able to handle in the past, and I think that my chances are good, but I'm looking more to gauge the general consensus on age and marathon running. What challenges might a young first-time marathoner face in attempting this feat? I have several friends my age and younger who are experiencing similar feelings. Thanks in advance for any insight you all may be able to share.
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0 recs | 9 comments
only you can say if you are ready to do this
one of the things to keep in mind is that marathon runners tend to be older since endurance is something you retain despite age. speed, on the other hand, goes away with youth. if you’ve got some particular PR goal for a shorter race, you might want to consider that instead. after 29 you can pretty much expect to find those out of reach.
as for your youth, that’s a bit different. typically if you are in your teens you really shouldn’t be doing a marathon. that has to do as much with the significant pressures on the body as the need for a certain degree of maturity to undertake the effort. but once you get in your 20s it’s a decision you are more than ready to make on your own.
kleph - April 3, 2025
My advice...
Don’t go to law school.
speedotito - April 3, 2025
I can't speak to the time requirements of law school
But I can tell you that I started distance running as a serious hobby when I entered graduate school back in 06. In the five following years I ran four marathons, three halves, a Ragnar Relay, and a few other races. If you want to do something, it can be done. You can find the time.
In terms of development, you know your body better than anyone else — but if you can do 50 miles a week, you probably can run a full. Whether or not you can BQ is something different altogether (and aiming to BQ on your first shot might be putting the cart before the horse, just a touch), but I’d think you should likely be physically be able to run a full. Mentally, that all depends on you.
Denny Mayo - April 3, 2025
I had certainly thought of this. It’s a great challenge.
This has always been a topic in which I’ve had interest. Both of my parents have run them and I grew up being told not to rush it and attempt it too early. I understand the reasons for these fears on the mental side as it’s certainly a big commitment to train properly for this kind of race, and many younger people just aren’t able to do it. The physical side of the question interests me. Is there anything in specific that allows for the retention and growth of endurance as one ages and grounds the fear of running too early? Or is it solely based upon the fact most younger people haven’t put in the years of miles to form the requisite base?
DKfromVA - April 3, 2025
my usual advice
is run the first one for enjoyment. but learn what it entails so you can then train for a specific goal. overreaching on the inaugural marathon is a recipe for disaster.
kleph - April 3, 2025
What kleph said
Just enjoy it.
And I don’t think ‘years of miles’ to have a requisite base are needed — I ran a total of maybe 15 miles when I was in college. 18 months after I graduated I ran a marathon. Not having that long-standing back-catalog of miles doesn’t matter too terribly much — it’s just really hard to try and figure out how you’re going to respond to the last 10k of a marathon until you’re in the middle of it. I think age helps more with the mental aspect of things — hopefully with age comes increased self-awareness, after all — and the sort of self-diagnosis that is required down the stretch of a 26.2 mile race.
I think kleph and I may not directly be answering your question, mostly because we don’t truly know the answer — only you can find that out, after all. But we’re both in agreement that going into a first marathon with any real expectation aside from learning about yourself isn’t going to work out too well.
Denny Mayo - April 3, 2025
Thanks to both of you - really appreciate it
It’s tough to talk my competitive self down, but these are the kinds of things I need to hear. The last thing I want is to have an experience that sours me on running into the future.
DKfromVA - April 3, 2025
Definitely run the first one for enjoyment.
I did my first one at 19 and enjoyed every second of it. As for training for a BQ given a tough academic schedule, its entirely possible. I trained for MCM ’09 during my fourth year at the Academy and succeeded in attaining a 3:06:59. You just have to focus your efforts on where your training will really count. For example the weekly Long Run and interval sessions are going to be your money-makers. Sure you will have other runs throughout the week, but your priorities of effort will be those workouts. Much luck to ya and run hard when its hard to run.
usmaTider - April 5, 2025
Great advice - Thanks!
I found the focusing on making the training count with the workouts and long runs to be true even when training for the ten miler.
DKfromVA - April 5, 2025
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