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So I signed up for a marathon today - eeek! Come and talk to me.

27 replies

evertonmint · 18/04/2013 17:26

I've been thinking about it for the last week or so. I am in a little bit of a rut with life (nothing major, just treadmill of life with 2 small kids and a freelance career that is a holding thing while I decide what I actually want to do) and need to challenge myself. An acquaintance has bitten the bullet and signed up so I decided this morning I was going to as well. Went out with my running group and one of the girls there, without me even voicing my thoughts, said I should think about doing a marathon as I have lots of stamina and am a really steady runner so might suit it. I took it as a sign, came home and signed up for Brighton next April!

So I have a year. But I'm not telling anybody yet. I tend to not get very far with challenges, so want to get myself well on the way before anyone notices. I am signed up for a 10k in 5 weeks time (I've done a 10k 3 times before but never gone further) and was then going to train for a half in Sept and then start the marathon training after that.

It's a big leap for me. Always said "never" when the subject of a half came up, let alone a marathon. So I'm not going to tell anyone in real life, not even DH, until I'm feeling a bit more confident about it. Needed to tell someone though so came on here!

Anyone got any advice?

Eeek and Shock and Grin

OP posts:
HeySoulSister · 18/04/2013 17:55

no advice,but welldone!!

ive just joined a running club and struggle with a 5k,but hoping it gets easier soon.

gostraighttojail · 18/04/2013 18:00

Oh well done! Smile

I have been thinking about it myself as am in a similar position to you life-wise.

In fact I googled training plans the other day and it only takes about 3-4 months to get from where you are now to marathon level! I think I would take about 6 months though.

How do you keep running in the winter? I am fine in the summer but I tend to get v lazy during winter. Maybe a strategically timed half marathon might be an idea?

Keep us posted!

evertonmint · 18/04/2013 18:11

I get very lazy in the winter - didn't run at all from December to late March. It was partly circumstance - full time work contract and then a bad chest infection - but it's also that I hate the weather and just want to curl up on the sofa all winter. In contrast the past few days I've done 2 x 7km runs because I love running in spring and can get out in the evenings which is a great way to end the day!

I've signed up partly to give myself that challenge over winter. DD is only 2 so although DS is at school I only get 2 mornings child-free time and I'm usually doing my paid work or my volunteering, then sneak my running group in on Thursday morning, but she will go up to 3 school days in September so I am planning to reserve the extra day as my long run day. That way it shouldn't eat into weekend family time too much. Or that is the plan assuming I get that far.

Soul Sister - it does get easier. I started 18 months ago (used to run about 10 years ago then next to nothing until I restarted). 0-5k was much harder than 5-10k. I'm hoping 10k-20k (i.e.half marathon distance) will be similarly ok and then 20k-42k... well, quite frankly!

OP posts:
tiredemma · 18/04/2013 18:16

Which one is it? I want to set myself a marathon challenge next year. Ive done a half marathon ( great north run last sept) but then i stopped running over the winter. Started again last week and last night just about managed 3 bloody miles! So unfit. Id be interested in a virtual 'mnet marathon buddy' to keep me motivated!

evertonmint · 18/04/2013 18:19

Brighton. 6th April next year so I have 11.5 months to get fit and in the right frame of mind for it! Def up for some virtual running support.

Everyone tells me that you get running fitness back quite quickly after a lay off. Certainly I feel alright today after a 7k despite not running at all for 3 months. So hopefully your mileage will pick up really quickly :)

OP posts:
tiredemma · 18/04/2013 18:32

I hope so because i look ridiculous heaving around at the moment! Keep s updated!

Camwombat · 18/04/2013 19:04

My DH has just done Brighton Marathon and I wouldn't say he enjoyed it, but didn't hate it and is planning on doing another one.

He found a really good training plan, and then within that did some races to fit that, 10mile, half marathon, etc.

He did suffer an injury during his training, which impeeded the last few weeks quite significantly.

He also has a GPS watch and runs to specific splits for races, which stops him doing anything stupid and burning out.

I'm sure he would be happy to give more tips if you want.

Brighton is great for spectators and we used the park and ride which was well worth it!

evertonmint · 18/04/2013 19:10

Well done to your DH! especially after an injury.

Would love to hear any tips he has camwombat. I'm very keen to run at a steady pace - I generally do when running 5km or 10kms and find it means I feel fairly confident at the end of a race of sticking to my time so hoping to stick with the same approach here. I'm just not quite sure how to translate my usual pace to a marathon pace, but guess I'll work that out over time. Although 'pace' is a somewhat inappropriate word when applied to me, given I'm essentially a plodder :)

OP posts:
Camwombat · 18/04/2013 19:18

I will ask him when he gets in and send to you.

He has inspired me to actually do something about starting that couch to 5k and not just get out on my bike... Wink

AuntPittypat · 18/04/2013 19:28

I did the same a few years ago. Just felt like I needed a challenge. Had never run before and was fairly unfit. Joined a running club for support and completely got the bug! Have since ran a marathon every year and I can honestly say it has done so much for me. Not just physically - although I obviously lost a bit of weight and am much fitter now - but also for my self esteem. Because I was always such an unsporty person, I was so unbelievably proud of myself and whenever faced with a challenge now, I always think to myself, "well, if I can run a marathon I can definitely do this". I even applied that thinking to giving birth.... Grin

Good luck!

gostraighttojail · 18/04/2013 19:32

Tiredemma and anyone else: shall we try and do that then? A Mn marathon training/running support thread? Shall we start a new one for it? It would be such a help to me - I find it really hard to get off my arse after a hard day at work/with the kids.

tiredemma · 18/04/2013 19:45

Yes im up for that. Im doing a half marathon in october and im now looking for a full marathon next april. Spurred on bythe OP!

Lets do it. Desperately need a virtual kick up the arse.

golemmings · 18/04/2013 19:49

I'm dithering about a marathon too. I'm looking at Chester in oct. Already have a long triathlon in may, 10k in June and quad in September so it might be a bit daft (plus working 4 days a week and 18mo and 3 1/2yo...).
I've already missed 2 runs this week so I'm definitely on for some moral support. Mn got me through c25k and my 1st half.

tiredemma · 18/04/2013 19:53

If you want some inspiration please read 'the non runners marathon guide forvwomen' by dawn dais. Really funny, saracastic book by a woman who decided to run a marathon. Some real laugh out loud moments in it.

evertonmint · 18/04/2013 20:08

Auntpittypat - ha! I signed up today thinking the reverse: "I've given birth twice, I must be able to do a marathon" :)

Would love a marathon support thread :)

OP posts:
Pleaseputyourshoeson · 18/04/2013 20:39

Mmm, toying with the idea, toying with the idea Grin but scared I won't make it to THAT far! I'm signed up for a half marathon in Oct. Have just run my first 10k race and signed to do another couple. Am finding it tough just running four or five miles three times a week. The runs getting LONGER frighten me! Been running regularly since last Oct or so Shock. So maybe I'll just um, lurk a while ... y'know? I like the look of that book recommendation Tiredemma. The other thing I struggle with a bit is the time commitment. I really can't devote much more than 45 mins to an hour running on weekdays (the window I have between school drop off and work) and at the weekends the 'long' run is completely dependent on someone being able to mind my children. Tricksy. But I would SO love to run a marathon ONE day and be able to say I've done it, or more to the point to know in my head that I could do it, that I had the tenacity and mental will power (aside from physical fitness) to push through and do it. And i'm figuring that as I've got off my backside in the last year and got running, NOW whilst the mojo is there , is the time to do it. Hmmm food for thought, food for thought. Toying more with the idea....

tiredemma · 18/04/2013 20:53

Id love to do london next year but know i wont get a ballot place realistically so i think im going to sign up to the brighton one. Eeeek!

Poosnu · 18/04/2013 21:44

My biggest tip is when doing your marathon training (i.e. once you have got yourself up to half marathon level quite comfortably) don't overdo the training. The online training programs have you running around 6 days a week, which to my mind is just asking for injury!

I did my marathon in 2008 (pre pregnancy and DD) and was at half marathon level when I started marathon training. DH had run about a half dozen marathons and advised me on training. I ended up with a sub 3:45 time so it worked for me!

I did one long run on a weekend, following the recommended distances in the online programs to the letter. During the week I just did two shortish runs (around 5k) mostly doing speed work, or quick/slow bursts.

If you are aiming for a specific time, a piece of kit I found invaluable was a running watch that displayed my current speed in minutes per mile. It allowed me to pace myself on race day really well. So to get sub 4 hours, I knew I had to be running consistently at 9 minute mile speed.

Good luck and enjoy the journey! (I'm off running at the moment due to baby bump 2 and destroyed pelvic floor....)

tiredemma · 19/04/2013 07:27

poosnu- I have the destroyed pelvic floor - my 'baby' was born 10 years ago!

thanks for the tip- thats really helpful. Smile

evertonmint · 19/04/2013 08:18

I'm up, slept well and still feeling enthusiastic :) Plugged my 5k and 10k times into a predictor thing last night and it suggests I can do the marathon in around 5 hours. So that's the target I guess! I would assume as I run more regularly and lose weight (I'm probably 2 stone overweight at the moment!) that I'll gain some speed anyway. But suspect it won't be sub 3:45... :)

Any suggestions for what we can call our support thread? Thought we should open it up to half marathoners too as we'll all probably do a half along the way anyway. But I'm crap at thinking of good titles so it will just be The Half Marathon and Marathon Support Thread if left to me Grin

OP posts:
Pleaseputyourshoeson · 19/04/2013 14:11

evertonmint - I like the idea of doubling up and using it for half and full marathon. I'm not sure whether I'll be doing a full one - I need my confidence building a bit first!
You could call it the Snickers Runners Wink

malinois · 19/04/2013 14:19

Do plenty of hill training (which you should be doing anyway :)) First half is hilly. Good luck!

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evertonmint · 19/04/2013 16:26

Malinois - I live on a hill so can't avoid it Wink

OP posts:
tiredemma · 19/04/2013 20:23

Im going to start a thread. Ill have already ran my first marathon waiting otherwise!

tiredemma · 19/04/2013 20:29

Started in 'sports and exercise'. Please join. Cant link thread from ipad though.

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