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Original poster

2015 marathoners.... newbies, seasoned, scarred

80 replies

SummerHouse · 28/04/2015 06:59

I got some essential help at a critical time on here in my 10k training and I will never forget that. I am now booked in for my second marathon (14 years after my first) in sept. I feel I have come a long way. But I have a massive way to go! Anyone looking for support or with wisdom and encouragement to impart.... Please join.

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Original poster
SummerHouse · 02/05/2015 09:15

pootle I do swym. I ruled out mablethorpe as it only had 200 runners last year. I like the sound of small and friendly but that sounds a bit like going for a run on your own.

Right - next run is to be music free. I am looking forward to it. Sometimes the music just annoys me anyway!

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Original poster
SummerHouse · 02/05/2015 09:01

Thanks guys. I think I need to go without for a while. I have noticed between songs I can hear my feet on the ground and my breathing and there is something therapeutic and rhythmic about it.

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pootlebug · 02/05/2015 08:03

Looked at Mablethorpe but think I'd really like to do something with more runners - I may miss my time aim, hate the whole damn thing and never do another one so I'd rather make it a bit more of an 'event' iyswim Grin Also it's only a week after Ealing half, which I really want to do again.

But started looking at more and the Yorkshire marathon in York looks tempting. The week after Mablethorpe so 2 weeks between Ealing and that, which is more do-able. No places left but I could get a charity place.

Summerhouse - I think a lot of races say no headphones. I can't imagine racing with headphones - I think you'd miss out so much on the atmosphere. But then I run without them most of the time anyway so perhaps not the best person to comment. Hopefully the atmosphere will carry you along in the same way that your music usually does?

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 01/05/2015 21:47

I run with music, or audiobooks or podcasts. I've always got my headphones in! I sometimes do turn the sound off though if I'm running along the road side or its very windy. I sort of forget I'm not listening to anything after a while and lose myself in my thoughts. I can't seem to happily set off without them though, I feel lostConfused

When I did the VLM I didn't take them though and it was fine. There is so much going on it was nice to hear the crowds and be aware of my surroundings.

I don't know how strict races are with the rule tbh, hopefully someone else will be along with more experience of races than me.

Original poster
SummerHouse · 01/05/2015 17:54

Pootle welcome.

Mablethorpe is flat as a pancake and only 500 places. Good for pb and on the 4th Oct. I thought about that but notts won as it seemed too few runners leaving me in danger of coming last

Hurrah on the blister news mooogles you have magic quick healing.

doyouthink I love the sound of beachy head. But I will get a reasonably flat one in for now. Smile one day maybe.

Does everyone run with music. I think I am dependent and just read that earphones not allowed at notts. Is it a rule or more of a guideline? Confused

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Doyouthinktheysaurus · 01/05/2015 17:22

You've nothing to lose entering the ballot SummerHouse

Welcome pootlebug, sorry to hear about your injury woes, the bane of every runners life. Fingers crossed for an injury free year for us all. You are speedy! Good luck with getting a good for age time, it must be amazing to have that within your sights,

Beachy is very hilly Mooogles, but glorious scenery. It appeals because it's quite close to me and they take walkers too so even with walking breaks I'm not likely to be the slowest.

There is another off road marathon even closer to me which also appeals but I do chunks of it when I run at the moment sometimes and the hills are killers. Because I know the hills to run very well, somehow it's more daunting than the unknown horrors of running the Beachy Head hills.

pootlebug · 01/05/2015 16:56

Can I join in? I applied for the 2015 London ballot but didn't get it. Put an entry in for Brighton instead but then had to pull out after 2 injuries in close succession.

I'm upping my mileage again now but still swim/bike/running for a triathlon in June.

I'm going to enter the ballot for London 2016….just wondering about whether to attempt an autumn marathon for this year. I like the idea of Amsterdam but am wary about spending all the money on travel etc and getting injured again. I want something flat as the running calculators suggest that with a 1:45:08 half last autumn, I should in theory be capable of a sub-3:45 full….which would get me a London good-for-age place. I live less than half a mile from the London start line, everyone I know goes to watch it….so I really want to do it.

Mooogles · 01/05/2015 11:21

Is beachy head hilly? I did 5 miles this morning in45 mins, so am running at around 9 min mile pace I guess. Blister gone tho, hurrah!

Original poster
SummerHouse · 30/04/2015 22:08

doyouthink I am thinking of putting in a sneaky application for London on Monday.

I bet beachy head is an amazing run. I am a bit scared of summer training. I just wilt in the heat at the best of times. Plus there is my well mentioned redness just when people thought I couldn't get any worse. This is all a bit of an experiment for me so if it goes a bit pear shaped I could just do the half at Nottingham.

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Original poster
SummerHouse · 30/04/2015 22:02

mooogles I am thinking of park run too. Turns out map my fitness can't be trusted. It has given 15.6, 15.3 and 15.1 k on an identical route. On closer inspection it seems to track me in zig zags when I am on a strait rd. I thought my times were too good to be true!!

Grin at emski's purple face. I know what you mean. When I have been to the gym in my lunch break people come into my office and stop dead in thier tracks and ask if i'm ok!

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Mooogles · 30/04/2015 12:45

Welcome Emski :). 5k time sounds good. I plan on doing a park run sometime soon to see what pace I am at currnetly as am not really sure...

No time to run today and maybe not tomorrow either but may be a good thiing - give my legs a chance to recover and my blister can heal etc!

Love hearing about all the lovely support people get during the marathon!

Emski76 · 30/04/2015 12:06

Thanks for the welcome Summerhouse and yes a lovely story about the £5!! Bath half was really well supported. The crowd really got me round the course.
I ran a 5k at 6.30 this morning. It started raining halfway through which was fun (!).
Yes to red face after running. Sometimes id say its purple. I look like im about to collapse!!

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 30/04/2015 07:02

Lol at rate my redness, I can certainly relate to thatGrin

I'm quite envious of those of you doing autumn marathons, my running always falls apart in the summer thanks to the occasional heat and holidays. I've dreams of doing Beachy Head Marathon which is October but some work needs to be done on my summer motivation first.

Thats a lovely story SummerHouse. London Marathon is the most incredible event. I'm glad I got to do it once through pure luck of the ballot. Good luck to anyone trying this year through the ballot.

Original poster
SummerHouse · 29/04/2015 21:45

emski you are welcome here! That 5k pb sounds great! My marathon is notts late sept so we can spur each other on as we get near! Well done on those 1/2 marathons. You are way ahead of me!

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Emski76 · 29/04/2015 20:49

Hi all. Can I join? I've ran 2 half marathons and have signed up for the first BristolBath Marathon in October. I plan on starting training at the beginning of June and have a few 10ks coming up in May and June.
I average around 9.30 min miles, but managed a 5k pb of 26 mins on Sunday but really pushed myself.
Am aiming to run 3ish early tomorrow morning.
Well done on the marathon runners and good luck to rb32 for MK half

Original poster
SummerHouse · 29/04/2015 20:24

One piece is good. I think I am getting carried away with my talk of times. Smile

Good luck with the ballot isittheweekend and congrats on Manchester. Welling up here remembering my London marathon. A spectator actually came out the crowd and stopped me and said "thank you, for helping my sister." I was wearing a "fighting motor neurones" top. She shoved £5 in my hand which I ran round with the whole way. You can see me clutching in in my finish photo. What a moment. And what a physical reminder of why I was doing it. And what a wonderful thing for her to have done. The support is amazing.

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isittheweekendyet · 29/04/2015 18:48

I'll be entering the ballot for London on Monday - let's hope third time lucky!!! I did Manchester this year as I wanted to do one and had failed to get in to London, would highly recommend to anyone thinking of doing their first one - totally flat, well organised with the most amazing spectator support...I welled up a lot on the way round Grin

Tiredemma · 29/04/2015 18:38

I just want to finish in one piece

Original poster
SummerHouse · 29/04/2015 18:35

....or should that be Angry.

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Original poster
SummerHouse · 29/04/2015 18:33

Sub 4 hours also in my dreams but dreams are good. I too have a bro who will put me to shame. He did London 3 yrs ago in 3.10 and 11 seconds. Those 11 seconds mean he doesn't get automatic entry and he resents them!

Oh and he also looks effortless whereas I have a game at work post gym called rate my redness. My colleagues have to put me on a scale of 1 to 10 according to how red I am and I am usually a 9. Grin

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Doyouthinktheysaurus · 29/04/2015 17:54

Lots of good running going on. Good luck for the half rb32, hope the weather is kind.

The only place I'll be running sub 4 hr marathons is in my dreamsGrin

I'd love to run sub 4hrs 30, I think that's probably doable but who knows..... My brother, who really isn't a consistent runner did Brighton this year in 3 hrs 36 and he looked so effortless as he was running. If I run that fast I look and feel like I'm about to blow a gasketConfused

My long run at the moment is 12 miles Mooogle, it'll probably go up to 13 at someone point and stay there. I do a shorter long run every 4th week.

I dragged myself out and did just short of 6 miles with 4 miles in the middle at 9:15 minute miles which is 10k pace (ish) for me. I normally work nights and find it easier to fit my runs in but I've been training this week so it's been hard to motivate myself in the early evening time.

Original poster
SummerHouse · 29/04/2015 16:37

Just means plenty of time for training to achieve said target. Grin

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rb32 · 29/04/2015 15:01

thanks for the encouragement guys. Don't think I'll be flying round as I'm nowhere near where I was six months ago...but hopefully I'll make it round in about 2 hours.

Sub 4 hours would be amazing. Right, target set (He says a year off actually running the thing!! :) )

Original poster
SummerHouse · 29/04/2015 14:45

Pesky meetings mooogles. I know what you mean. My kit must wonder why I drag it into work everyday then drag it home again unused. Just too much to do and can't leave late as I am often collecting my boys.

Good news on your 6.7k. That's looking like a decent time even without a slow start.

My goals in my head for marathon time go like this.

5hrs - very happy
Sub 4.5 hours - up there with my lifetime achievements

Sub 4 hours - secret dream Grin

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Mooogles · 29/04/2015 14:10

rb32 good luck for MK half! let is know how you get on.

alleypalley I have a vague goal of sub 4 too but is early days for me so don't know what a realistic goal is yet :).

Well done on the 15k Summer! I think about running all the time too! Am wondering how I can fit one in tomorrow - have too many meetings... grrr.

I managed 35 mins on the treadmill at lunchtime today - started very slow to warm the muscles and it was fine :). Was 6.7k.