London Marathon 2012... ive got in!! anyone else?

[juicychops]

couldn't find a previous thread so thought id start a new one. has anyone else got a place?

this was my 4th year trying so glad ive finally got one. i will start my training next week after my exam next wednesday. thats all i can think about at the moment.

I haven't run for about 4 months so will be a struggle to get into it, and the furthest i have ever run is 7miles. I shall be keeping to a strict 6 month training plan.

If anyone has a recommendation i would be very grateful! do they even do 6 month plans??

[ExpatAgain]

congrats, am mighty

7m is a perfectly fine distance to have run before as long as you're prepared to run much more than that in training! It's all do-able!

I suggest having 2 training plans, not 1 6 monther. the first, til just after christmas to "build your base" so that you're comfortably running at least a weekly total of 15m over 3-4 runs a week. then pretty soon after (depending on exact date of marathon) a 16 week training plan should kick in (this will pre-suppose that you've got the base already). Runner's world site has several you can print out for free - you could go for the just get round one or whatever, depending on what your target is.
HTH

[ExpatAgain]

meant to say that for the pre-xmas plan, you do slowly build up (adding no more than 10% each week). so you wouldn't go from 4mths of nothing to doing 15m the next week. again have a look at RW website, should be a printable plan for this too.

I also strongly suggest having some interim targets - a couple of 10ks before christmas and at least 1 half-marathon about feb/march. these will really build your confidence and be a good rehearsal for race day.

[StrangewaysHereICome]

Fabulous, well done Juicy. I entered the ballot but didn't get a place. I ran it last year and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The atmosphere and support all the way round is truly amazing and that feeling when you run/stagger/hobble up the mall, oh wow tis the best feeling in the world

I hope he training goes well, follow expat's advice on building a base. I followed Hal Higdon's plan which worked for me.

Good luck and prepare yourself for one hell of a journey .

[hellhasnofury]

DD is in! She got rejected from the ballot which we were expecting as it was her first application but has been offered a place by Help the Hospice. DD used to baby sit a little girl who made great use of our local children's hospice but sadly she died there earlier this year. The hospice themselves don't offer charity places so DD applied to Help the Hospice and they phoned her today to offer a place. DD is a chronic (and I mean chronic) asthmatic so we're going to have to work hard to get her fit (she is a swimmer and an ex-Triathlete though so not at all unfit).

[juicychops]

thanks for the training plan advice thats a good idea have a pre and post xmas one. Gunna start next Saturday - Im very excited! Although Im sure the excitement will be short lived once the pain starts. Im gunna keep a running diary or a clog starting next Saturday so i have a record from start to finish

[sfxmum]

Congrats and enjoy it hope you have a very good training season

[juicychops]

oops meant to say blog... Stupid touch screen phone!

[Pawsnclaws]

Congratulations!

Would second the Hal Higdon recommendation - his marathon training book is fantastic. I did a plan I found on the internet the first time round, and HH the second, his was much much better (I bought the book second hand £1.99 from Amazon).