London marathoners assemble

Good luck maid. Are you sure u need to do a long run before race day?? You've trained well for this!

Really interesting article in the vlm magazine we got today about 'taper blues' as it's really common to panic close to race day and want to run more than u need to, plus they talk about injury spotting because u are anxious/have more time/legs feel different due to less running.

Vlm is feeling so close now, I'm really excited!

maid just saw you only have 11 days, good luck! I only noticed you were tapering already and felt jealous!

I had no idea how exhausting the training was going to be. It makes sense really. I think (hope) the baby is teething so hoping things may change soon.

Thanks for the encouragement- guess I am back on the marathon bus! Just got home to find my pack too, starting to feel very real!

Was hobbling a bit at work first thing but nowhere near as sore as I thought I would be. Cannot get to grips with the foam roller at all though- having rolled myself into a door frame for the second time this week I've given up for today.

maid wow that's really close, bet the nerves are kicking in. Hope you can let yourself get some rest too in the run up- you sound really well prepared already!

oliver you must be exhausted marathon training with a non-sleeping baby. I only have to look after myself and I'm struggling!

I got my race pack today too, exciting! Making me feel guilty for skipping my short run this morning but I was so tired sleep seemed more important. On a good night (and I've had about two recently) the baby wakes 5 times and she wakes 10 on a normal night. Co-sleeping & breastfeeding & just too tired to do anything about it at the moment.

Well done on your 16 miles Elba. I always find the last two miles painful whatever distance I am doing.

waves

Hello, not been around this thread for a while. 11 days to go for me.

Everything hurts all the time. I may as well start mainlining painkillers (and caffeine, to be honest). It's not injuries, just bone-crushing foot tiredness - getting out of bed in the morning is terrible.

I'm supposed to be tapering but need to do another long run this weekend, just to reassure myself.

My race pack arrived. It's too real.

Elba that's great well done! So are back on the marathon bus?! You can do this!! Just think how much easier it would have been in nice weather... and that's your 18 achievable!

Kitty hope the ache goes. Rest, Ibuprofen gel and ice helped my heel ache.

Two great to see your enthusiasm and well done to everyone on your long runs!

I've got an ache on the top of my foot since my 18... but googled it and think it's extensor tendinitis but also read the magic words 'you can still run with this injury' Best Sentence Ever .

Waiting impatiently for my race day pack- got a ballot place and can't remember what target time I put so no clue where I'll start and want to get planning!!!

Hope the massage was good kitty- think i need to get one!

Did my 16 today- started out in sunshine which had turned to torrential rain then hail by mile 5! Luckily it dried up, but I didn't- was soaked all the way through still when I got back!

Really struggled with the last 1.5 miles though, and had alot pain in calves/hamstrings when I stopped. Sort of like cramp but not as severe. It's happened once before after a wet and cold long run so hopefully it's something to do with that- trying to work out what though!

Thanks, I am probably in a similar place. Will see how my 18 & 20 miles go. They recommend doing some of it at marathon pace. Somewhere between doing the best I can and enjoying it sounds good!

The predictors say 4:30 oliver but I'm hoping for 4:45. I am trying to balance a good time with enjoying the race! I think 4:30 is doable but I don't want to much pressure. I feel fairly confident of 4:45 (at the moment!) and it feels like a less painful pace to do!

Well done on long runs everyone. Have my two longest yet to go, 18 this week and 20 the following week. Jealous of those who have the big distances under their belts.

emummy do you mind letting me know what time you are hoping to run the marathon in? My half on Sunday was similar time to yours the previous week. I have plucked 4.5 hours out of the air but won't really know if this is realistic until I do my long runs. I put into a couple of marathon predictors, one says 4hrs 45 and one four and a half.

Enjoy your massage Kitty. I get occasional heel pain, I roll it - you get an empty 500ml soft drink bottle, fill it with water & freeze it, then it's a roller & ice pack in one!

Kitty glad you have your mojo back. I'mfeeling a bit like that after yesterday too (hence why I have posted about 8 times today!!)

Well done to those who survived the gales in Hastings, Emummy on her 20 and everyone else who has been out, whatever the distance.

Lobster/Elba I am ahead of my schedule, but mainly because I knew I had my work trip planned. My friend got round ok having never run further than a half. Not sure how pleasant it was though!
A

Oh I did Hastings today too. Crowds were great but the final bit on the seafront with the wind was brutal, just felt that I was being blown backwards!

I won't be doing Hastings again, the support was nice and I coped with the hills but I prefer flatter courses - also no cake or sweets at the end and I do prefer a real medal! Had fun though.

lobster I also feel really behind! Trying to think it's only a few weeks to really push it- we can do it!

I have only run once since my 14 miles over ten days ago. Partly for genuine reasons (dry socket after wisdom tooth extraction and two courses of antibiotics), but also seem to have developed a kind of mental block on running. I actually really, really don't feel like it and am struggling to make myself go out.

I have 16 miles planned for Tuesday and I have to do it. I think if I don't/ can't then for me maybe it's time to defer. Trying hard to summon some enthusiasm but I'm really not enjoying the long runs. If I do it I think I can still get to 20 and have just under three weeks to taper.

Posting this for accountability mainly; I know I will be so disappointed in myself if I don't do it. Need to get back some enthusiasm for this!

I'm only up to 10 miles so you are all doing so well. I have a half marathon next Saturday and then I need to push a bit further before I taper. Aargghh!

Thanks twodogs that's tealky helpful. I think I'll see how it goes. Will do my 20 this week, have a half marathon the following week, and will then see how I feel.

20 miles done! Oh that was hard! Programmed my watch to buzz at me if I went too fast in attempt to make me do my long runs slower than race pace and it worked, so pleased with that. Also consoling myself that London is flat! Today I did my flattest available route and still climbed over 600 feet!
My last long run is 22 miles on April 2nd - we'll see! There's another 20 miles next week first.