Edinburgh 2014 - chasing the hairy haggis

[Mitchy1nge]

thread for anyone training for the full marathon or the half or any of the other events

it's my first marathon so am very excited, I know that in theory if I can do 21 miles then 26 (plus 385 yards) is achievable but only started running again a few months ago, it's so much more addictive than it used to be

[louwn]

Hey mitchy
Am impressed you are already up to 21 miles. I"ve donr a few halves and that is my longest distance. Not run for months but just started again (literally, first 4 mile run yesterday! - slow but felt pretty good!). Am building up the miles slowly over 8-10 weeks before I start any of the actual marathon training plans. Do you have a target time?

[Mitchy1nge]

I won't be doing anything longer than a half between now and Christmas according to my guru friend (who is going to run with me and pace me, that seems almost like cheating doesn't it?) this should keep me injury free while I build my endurance base(?) he has run a lot of marathons and ultras so his support is invaluable. His advice at the moment is 'eat much more and run a lot less' so am not arguing with that :) My long runs at the moment are 8-10 miles, I have been running every day with only a very occasional day off but need to be a bit more structured about resting and cross training sensibly.

I said five hours when I registered but obviously am secretly hoping to do better, but then I am a grandmother who has spent the last couple of decades chain smoking so I don't know! I'm really slow, it is rare for me to do 5k in under 30 minutes even on roads (usually run cross country), I just want to see if I can survive the distance in a reasonable for my age sort of time. What about you?

[Mitchy1nge]

I can't imagine not running for months and then just running for four miles though well done! I worry that if I take too long a break it won't come back and I will lose all my secret running powers

[louwn]

I have done a half marathon in just over 2 hours so am thinking maybe 4:30? Am running 4 times a week, gradually building up the distance so after 8 weeks I wi be at an 8 mile run. Like you keen to build distance up slowly (am aiming to be around 11 or 12 miles by xmas too so similar) and remain injury-free!

[Mitchy1nge]

are you going to enter any shorter races between now and then? although it sounds like you are already quite used to the whole competitive environment of them, whereas I have yet to get the hang of it (don't cope well in crowds, am used to running in the middle of nowhere, alone)

[louwn]

Have you done any in the past at all? Would like to do another half around jan/feb time, if I can find a suitable local one. Ditto a 10k before xmas if possible!

[Mitchy1nge]

only 5 and 10ks, I have a sort of cross country 10k (at least I think it is off road, bonfire burn near Cambridge?) am looking forward to in November - I'm looking for halfs for March but nothing yet, I quite like registering early and knowing I HAVE to do it. Running might be cheap but racing definitely isn't is it!

[louwn]

I missed a training run yesterday as my ankle was painful, not sure what I've done to it. Going to do it today instead (fingers crossed!). Have you managed to find any races yet?

[englishteacher78]

I did London this year, doing Edinburgh looking forward to it!

[Mitchy1nge]

hello englishteacher :) how was London? Are you hoping for a faster one in Edinburgh?

hope nothing bad has happened to your ankle louwn, good luck. After a deliberately low mileage week I was expecting a fresh longer run this morning but from mile 3 to 5 had horrible stomach pains, last couple were ok but pains came back as soon as I stopped and have been coming/going ever since

[Mitchy1nge]

yes sorry, there is a half in my town around Christmas time and a twenty miler in Colchester next March which will be perfect - plenty of time to get back on track if I mess it up?

Have been advised to get used to whatever the drinks sponsor gunk is given out on the day, the gels and the drinks, to save buying anything for the day, I think it's high5 but have never used sports drinks or gels - you? Englishteacher?

[louwn]

Welcome englishteacher! Ankle pain seems to have moved to my foot - had to stop and stretch it out, sort of a cramp-like pain. Hope the stomach pains have improved mitchy. Yes I've used gels before, I get them from decathlon. Some of the textures are a bit odd - do you know which brand they will be in edinburgh?

[louwn]

Sorry just read your last post re brand!! Not used those before I don't think.

[Mitchy1nge]

how's your foot?

tummy is adjusting to my eat more/run less routine I think, am a bit anxious about gaining weight because of being so hungry all the time and then seem to not quite eat enough (of the most useful foods) to run properly and feel ok. Am experimenting with cardboard pasta and brown rice and other things I never thought I would eat will probably survive. Or not.

ordered the high5 pack, you get a discount and free shipping if you use the edinburgh code from the website you register on, probably won't try them until after Christmas though when the long runs start getting really long again

[louwn]

Foot was really hurting the other day so gave it 3 full days off. About to head out for slow 5 miles soon. I think you will figure out the stomach thing in time - when I start any training my body is mega hungry for a bit! Seems to even out eventually. How are you getting on with the long runs? I know you are pretty far ahead of me - the 5 miles today will be the longest I've run for months! Have also been out with the guys at work and done some faster, shorter runs to improve speed - about 8mins 10 secs a mile for 3 miles. Am looking forward to hopefully getting some under 8 min miles in!

[Mitchy1nge]

Oh wow, well done, hope foot is ok. I'm SO slow in comparison! It's extremely variable too, ten miles on Friday (each one in just over 11 minutes which I think is going to be the marathon pace) really comfortable and nice (apart from the howling gale and lashing rain which I didn't mind after the first few minutes) but yesterday I ran five miles and they were all quite hard work. Think it was because it was my fasted run of the week and I stupidly spent most of Friday and Saturday nights out dancing instead of recovering from the ten miler or any age appropriate activity like flicking through a stairlift brochure

This week I'll do fifteen miles (like you, hopefully some shorter and faster ones) during the week and then 8-10 long one at weekend. I feel quite good on this mileage so far, and glad we have such a long time to get properly ready for the Really Long ones. Do you know which plan you'll actually follow?

[louwn]

I am sort of just building up at the moment but really like the bupa ones so may end up kind of following one of those. Had an entire week off to rest the foot so absolutely raring to go later today. Might just ease in and try 4 miles maybe but would really like to do 5.5! What is your longest run so far? I am really keen to get distance up ASAP so can get used to it.

[Mitchy1nge]

hope the rest has helped your foot, good luck for today - let me know how it goes!

since I started this 'run less, eat more' much more controlled approach (I was running for hours almost every day in a sort of unrestrained jogging spree) things have improved so much - 11 miles is my longest run since then, which was yesterday and it was quite horrible from mile 1 to the end . Felt wiped out all evening too but amazingly woke very fresh and ready to run again (in theory, have not tested it yet)

we've got loads of time though, there is no rush to build up mileage yet (although yesterday wanted to do 13 miles so that will teach me). My personal project is to get to grips with what to eat and when, around the long run especially, and keep my weekly total at about 25ish which so far breaks down to some 5-6 mile runs by myself, a faster 3 mile one with running group and the long 10 miles ish. I've decided not to do any more 10ks as they seem a bit pointless, I'll never be very fast and I'm happy to focus on building my stamina or endurance or whatever.

[englishteacher78]

Did a 5 mile race today. And smashed my PB. Did one at the beginning of September - 54 minutes and then today I did it in just over 48 minutes. So pleased. It's only the second time I've got an official time with under ten minute miles (the only other time was a Park Run)!

[englishteacher78]

Also meant to say now feeling more positive about half marathon at the end of November. With a bit of luck I might get under 2 hours. Then I've got Bath and Colchester Halfs in March. I did London in 5:05:12, so hopefully should be able to do 4 something this time round.

[louwn]

Well done englishteacher. I'd love to do a sub 2 hour half. A year ago I did 2 hours and 18 seconds! Much fitter than I am at the moment though. Heading out on a nice slow 6 mile run shortly, have been reading some advice on the internet about doing the long ones more slowly so will try to keep at a 10 minute mile pace.

[englishteacher78]

That's the thing 10 minute miles feels fast to me! My best half time (only done one so far) is 2:12. I'd been planning to walk/run so I was just thrilled to have finished without walking.
I did today's run in my Edinburgh Marathon Festival t-shirt

[Mitchy1nge]

10 minute miles ARE fast, I can only do three at a time

[louwn]

Englishteacher that half time is around a 10 min mile isn't it? Unless my maths really is bad..

[englishteacher78]

My PB is slightly over 10 minute miles . Was faster than that today, don't think I could keep that pace up for another 8 miles! But next half is Norwich so I'm hoping for a flat one. When I do Bath, I'll just do it for fun as I suspect it'll be too busy for a PB there.