Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can totally do it!! Five months is plenty of time to train. The one thing to know is that it will SUCK doing those long runs in DC during the summer. I trained for (and ran) the Chicago marathon years ago, and was living in DC during much of my training. I'd start my long runs around 5:30 or 6am, and still sweat buckets.

I just say that as a head's up, not to discourage you at all. Invest in some good hot weather running gear and bring plenty of water. Run that marathon and have fun!

Agreed! Trained for the MCM and after that have never again done a fall marathon. I now do the Rock and Roll in March and that is all!

No fun starting runs at 5am to beat the heat. Plus...isn't richmond September? Still chances of opressive race day heat.

Nope, mid-November. Would love if it were a few weeks later but it's not too bad.

22:23 again -- before I started training for my first marathon I had done long runs up to 12 miles. Still, the long runs over 16 were tough.

Voice of dissent here. You have very little base and while you can train enough to get through, it will be painful. I had a base of 25 miles per week and brought my training up to 40 miles per week for the marathon and found the end to be a very painful slog. I would add that it has taken me several summers of training to get to the point of being able to do long runs consistently in the heat and humidity.

I wish I had done several half marathons (the perfect distance, in my opinion) before taking on a marathon. Its not going to be a fun experience if you do it before you are ready.