Marathon Training

Is anyone doing the Liverpool rock and roll marathon at the end of May? I'm thinking of upgrading from the half up to the full.

Thanks - I'm booked into the 10k and half marathon so I'll see how I get on with them. I am most worried about the ankle injury from earlier this year, if that flares up again I'll be in trouble so just need to keep things nice and steady, aiming to run 3x week and build up distance gradually.

Inspired Anglaise that you achieved such a great time on just your second one!

Bibbleù anyone can do a marathon if they put in the training, and build up gradually is the best idea (10k, HM then marathon). There is no build (although the élites are usually small and wiry the best build to win). I'm tall and slim, I've only been running properly for 3 years and did my first marathon last year and my second this year in 3H35 at age 51 so there is no boundary to age. Just put on your trainers, get out there and if you enjoy running the rest will follow. Although I second the advice about joining a running club, it is more motivating, more fun and easier to do competitions when you aren't on your own.

bibble I don't know the answer but I would suggest

• joining a friendly running club (one with beginner groups) to keep up the moral support and to have easy access to advice and support.
• do some cross-training (eg a spin class) so that you are building up strength without stressing those weak spots.

I ran my first marathon at 41!

Well done Alp

Alp well done! I agree, a real boost to get the hour down to 3 something. Well done and bonne récuperation (don't really know how to say it in English, recover well or something??)

I hope all the runs went well yesterday. I got my sub-4 but 20secs

Doesn't matter about the minutes the hours needed to start with a 3!

Hooray to us!

Lurker here..... I am a very slow runner (7min/km) and just building back up from a possible stress fracture on my ankle. Knees are a bit 'cracky' too and apparently I run a bit duck footed :/. Have never gone further than 10k - 1hr 5min. I've signed up for a 10k in June and HM in October. I'm 43 and have never been 'sporty', 10st 3 and not at all toned. My 8yo is faster than me....

Do you have to have a certain body type / physique / naturally sporty nature to run a marathon do you think - or can anyone do it if they put in the hours? I'd love to do London next year but no idea if that's in any way realistic in 12 months without getting injured, bearing in mind I had to stop for 2 this year while my ankle recovered.

Good luck to all marathon runners tomorrow!

Good luck for tomorrow!

The cramp was probably just nerves - I had a sore knee when I woke the other morning and could hardly walk down the stairs.

See you all on the otherside!!!

So it is tomorrow for me. Not London but Stratford. Last night I leaned over DP and my calf went nearly into cramp. Not full on but that feeling where its about to seize up. Its a bit tight this morning. Has anyone had this. I have never had cramp on a run but a worried. Any suggestions?

Ahhhhhhhhh

Good luck everyone...

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew,
to serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on till there is nothing in you,
Except the will that says to you "hold on!"

Feel fully recovered from Sunday and have signed up again! Good luck for London, those who are running.

Re keeping calm I kept checking my spreadsheet to remind myself I had definitely trained enough and spent time having lovely cups of tea with people I have neglected. Also made sure that I got nice early nights. I had my last run on Wednesday night, just 35 minutes to keep the legs moving. Tried quelling panic by getting a bit ahead on house stuff so no panics about what's for dinner after the run. Good luck on Sunday!

40mins from your PB is huge, well done!! Especially as you just ran from 'feel' - I am too much of a control freak and need the safety net of a watch to check :)

Having said that i did my last run before Sunday last night and I didn't take my watch and just ran along with the club. It was brilliant to feel fit and be able to do what i wanted after months of ticking sessions off.

I did Brighton last year and really enjoyed it (except the part by the fish sheds where I was slowly cursing under my breath).

Any tips on keeping calm?

God, Boobz, just reading that makes me feel faint.

Brighton was fab - beat my pb by 40 minutes and finished in 4.42. Ran steady until mile 20 but then found it very hard to sustain the pace and it all started to hurt and feel a bit wobbly, but carried on because, well, stopping just isn't an option!

I did it with no watch and no gels - just went with the flow, grabbed water and jelly babies as needed and pressed on to the end

The weather was glorious and perfect for running, and a great crowd.

So DH has convinced me to run our next one in October, using a more structured regime to get our marathon times down (I want to knock 11 mins off mine, to 3:39 or below)

We are going to do this - I hope it works!

Yes well done! How did you do? Was it a good event?

Well done!! Do tell us all about it!

Well done Imbroglio!

Where are you all? Beautiful day!

Got a PB today - well pleased!

Big wave to fellow Brightoner's tomorrow!!!!!

Just Googled that - it looks brilliant!

Tempted....

Hi, I popped up on the thread a while ago, then vanished. I did Rome marathon too - 5:44:14. The heat got me at 34k and I had to walk and rehydrate . By 40k I felt better and had my second fastest km there!!

I agree with boobz the organisation wasn't great, I had a nightmare round the 3 floor expo with a pushchair. I thought the crowds were miserable, other than support we brought, there was probably a dozen people cheering round most of the course.

I'm probably going to do the Liverpool rock and roll marathon at the end of May (signed up for the half currently) as I was disappointed that I walked!

Imbroglio Yes, but a steady pace is what is required for a marathon. That is why it is important not to go off too fast so that your pace is regular for the whole of the race. Doing the first half too fast means that you slow up hugely for the second half. For every minute you gain the the first HM you lose two in the second HM. Or something like that!