Marathon Training

2.06. Not super speedy (like you!) but 3 minutes faster than my November half and I felt in very good shape at the end, and the following morning. Ran a strong 7.5 miles this morning.

Well done Imbroglio - what was it?

4 mile run in the mountains here, as a tester, at 4:54/km. Am going to attempt 18 miles on Friday I think - gulp. It's pretty cold here, but beautiful!

Well after all that negativity I scored a PB!

I bailed out after 13, as I had stitch and was tired and felt like I'd end up walking the last 4, so got my DH to
Pick me up. Still pleased with 13 miles though.

It's all the slippy snowy roads I am worried about Anglaise!

Well done on 20 miles - I'm only a couple of week away from that now I think.

And good luck for your half marathon Imbroglio (am doing close to that today myself, when DH gets up) and also for you Karate - 17 miles is further than I have ever run so far!

I'm attempting 17 miles today, after having a cough all week. I think I'll be fine, but I'm not looking forward to it!! I'm hoping for a time that begins with a 5, I'm really just hoping to finish it!

Half Marathon on Sunday. I've still got this residual cough/runny nose so not very hopeful for a PB but think I'll get round.

All those mountain slopes will help with your training Boobz even if you don't do 18 miles.
I did my last really long run today, 20 miles in 3h2m so 6 minutes faster than last weeks long run. Could have done it faster but we have different speeds to keep to for each hour. Am hoping to do at least 3:35:00 now, would love 3:30:00 but the last 5kms of the marathon are uphill so it might be tough!

9 miles today (have been away skiing so first chance to run since 16 miles last Friday).

Am doing 12 miles as per schedule on Sunday before going on ANOTHER skiing trip (life is hard).

But am supposed to be doing 18 mile next Friday - not sure if I can do that in the mountains? And then straight on a plane to the US for 4 days and nights for a conference - not sure when I will be able to fit it in?!

Argh.

It is strange, but since I took up running seriously 2 years ago, I haven't had a cold. One started once, a couple of sneezes then disappeared. I'm sure the immune system is strengthened when you run (or at least mine seems to have!)

15 miles again which went better than expected given the cold that will not shift.

What marathon training makes us do...

20 mile long run today. Not pooped at all but wasn't going for race speed so not too bad, especially considering the wind and rain.

You know what though, even if you are last, you are still beating all of those people on the sofa. I did a duathlon in September (I've said never again), and came third from last. But I got a massive clap in from all the marshals, and wasn't made to feel like they were waiting around for me at all.

I'm slow too. I was aiming for sub 4.30 but now thinking under 5 hours would be okay. I can't wait for the marathon to be over to work on speed. Even my 5kms at parkrun are slow. I am not a happy runner at the moment and have the 'shit, I'm going to be the last runner to cross the line feeling' about London and about the half I have in two weeks

I'm a slow runner and I can't seem to increase my speed. I think I'm too old now to worry about it too much!

I'm so slow compared to the rest of you . On the upside, after a patch of feeling ill and missing my long run last week, I did 24km this afternoon. This was to free up Sunday for a nice 30 mile cycle, and hopefully I'll get a good swim in tomorrow. Have signed up for a 1500m open water swim in May so I have to make a good showing in that too!

Ok cool - will take your advice.

Did 16 miles today in 2:19. Pooped.

I emailed them but they said it was''tu possible to change. My friend had a bib for the corral B (they are all colour coded too) so was able to get in her corral and pulled me with her. Once we got past the marshalls it was fine and we raced together. I shouldn't have said anything don't worry about it just try and get in the front of your corral.

How did you do it - you just sidled up to a different starting point and kind of draped your hands over your number so no one could say OI YOU...? I don't really like the idea of being right at the back, as I think I am more likely to finish in 3:55 rather than 4:55.... do you think I could email them or is it too late?

www.maratonadiroma.it/?p=rules
Article 14 bib numbers, you will be in start area D which is with the 4.55+ marathon plus fit walkers (as I was supposed to be). You have a chip, so your real time will be recorded, but the start is a bit messy. I wasn't allowed to change my corral, we just did it at the last moment and nearly got caught.

Karate how do you know which corral you are in already?

My confirmation email says: CONFIRMATION LETTER
Congratulations! You are officially registered for the Maratona di Roma 2016 - 42 KM!

Alexandra Reed

YOUR BIB NUMBER IS

F 2547
Please show this letter for bib number, chip and race packet pick-up, on 07 to 09 , 04-2016 (opening hours: 10am to 8pm), at:

MARATHON VILLAGE

Info: www.maratonadiroma.it - tel. +39 06 40.65.064

Please line up for race packet pick-up according to the bib number assigned to you.

A proper ID must be presented with this letter upon bib number pick-up.

Proxies will not be accepted

How do I know which corral I'm in? Do they tell you before via email when you sign up? I had said I hadn't done a marathon before... should I have fibbed so as not to penned up at the back?

Kimmi the Rome organisers were really strict, once you were in a corral you couldn't change. If you'd never run a marathon before you were in the last corral automatically, that was my case. Fortunately the friend I ran with had a previous marathon time of 3H20 so I managed to get in one of the first corrals with her, but it was last minute and the officials weren't happy!

Thanks Anglaise that's useful to know - I am in a 5 - 5.15 corral and was contemplating moving back (I don't want to start to fast) I'm glad it's fairly flat!! I did pick Rome as it has a long cut off time and "fit walkers" (I guess something is lost in translation) and with baby being just 6 months I didn't know what sort of shape I would be in!!