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Original poster

London marathoners assemble

832 replies

KittyandTeal · 11/10/2016 08:41

As the ballot spaces start being allocated I thought I'd start a thread for those of us lucky enough to get a space.

I was rejected through the ballot but I have had a charity space since June so I'm running (and raising £1400) I've been training for a half so I can get the distance under my belt. Im up to 11 miles now in just over 2 hours. I'm slow but getting there. I'd like to get in under 5 hours but I'm happy to just be running it.

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Original poster
KittyandTeal · 05/01/2017 16:41

You're absolutely right alittle.

Rest day for me today, might fit a few planks in later but a combination of endo and dd being up till midnight with itchy chicken pox (poor thing) I'm ready for a rest!

4 easy miles tmrw. I like Fridays as I've got a running buddy for now

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Alittlebitofthis · 04/01/2017 20:17

There are so many plans that I don't think there's a right or wrong way. So long as we're getting the miles in.

Alittlebitofthis · 04/01/2017 20:17

I'm following a 16 week plan I got from someone at my running club. Started this week which will take me right up to London!

Original poster
KittyandTeal · 04/01/2017 18:52

A little maybe I've been looking at the wrong week on my training plan then. Are you following the vlm one? I'm doing the beginners one for regular runners that are doing their first marathon.

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KittyandTeal · 04/01/2017 18:51

Oh Elba how annoying for you.

Definitely good you can defer if you need to. I hope you recover and are pain free asap marathon aside.

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Alittlebitofthis · 04/01/2017 18:45

Elba, it sounds like that's the best. At least you can defer. Fingers crossed for a quick recovery.

Alittlebitofthis · 04/01/2017 18:44

Kitty, my long runs on a Monday too! Will need to do them on my own though. Although I may rope someone in a couple of times and meet up with them for the last few miles.

Elba84 · 04/01/2017 18:22

Sounds like your all making great progress!

Afraid my marathon ambitions may be over before they have begun, at least for this year. Had some back issues on and off for years but started getting some slight leg symptoms over the last month (which as a typical medic, I've been trying to ignore Blush) but finally got round to going back for some physio today and got a bit of a telling off. So no running for the next two weeks minimum, or at least until the leg symptoms settle and going back for more treatment on Monday.

Allowed to cross train, as long as it's low impact, so going to swim, do CV on cross trainer/bike and as many yoga and Pilates classes as I can fit in around work and then reassess. Best case scenario is I jump straight into week three of the beginner plan, but fear it might be cutting it fine. Otherwise I will have to defer the place.

Will be cheering you all on though either way!

Original poster
KittyandTeal · 04/01/2017 18:05

Ah same, I think I'm a week ahead (I had to do a bit of juggling as my long runs are Monday rather than Sunday and didn't want the last long run on the Monday and then marathon on Sunday) so I'm doing the same, a half with 3 tacked on either the same day or a gentle 3 the next day to shake out after.

We're racing at almost opposite ends of the country :)

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Alittlebitofthis · 04/01/2017 17:28

I'm doing the Inverness half kitty. It's the weekend for my 16mile but I'm doing the half then will add 3 miles the following day or for the parkrun if the race is on a Sunday.

MaidOfStars · 04/01/2017 16:45

Weights cancelled this morning so took the chance to get in my "easy mid(distance)" run today - 9.3 km. Netball tonight still.

Weights early tomorrow so maybe just an "easy short" later that day, as much to loosen my muscles as anything.

I feel, given my regular non-running activities, that I am going to have to be very flexible with my schedule Grin

Original poster
KittyandTeal · 04/01/2017 16:42

Oooo exciting. I'm waiting to get paid then booking Eastbourne half for the 5th march. Which one are you doing?

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Original poster
KittyandTeal · 04/01/2017 16:41

A little - how funny because I did a NYD 10k and felt bloody awful after, worse than my half! I wonder if it's Christmas over eating?

I'm back into good eating today, I've chucked the Christmas cake and upped the veggies.

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Alittlebitofthis · 04/01/2017 16:41

Kitty, I've also booked a half marathon on the 12th march.

Alittlebitofthis · 04/01/2017 16:38

Hello! It seems like some folk are doing really well. I've not been in this thread in ages but I've now started my training this week. I completed day 2 today. I've been feeling the running as I've not been out much over Xmas and have eaten loads!
I did a double parkrun on Sunday and my legs were so stiff on Monday! They felt worse than they did after the last couple of halfs I did.

I'm keeping a log of my runs in a log book I got.

Original poster
KittyandTeal · 04/01/2017 13:09

Think I'm just on week 2 of 17. It's just a mixture of 3/4 and 5 milers. Fairly easy for a few weeks.

I did 3 miles this morning practicing my slow, easy pace. Around 11.30-12 min miles. Apparently I should be 12-13.30 min miles but that's just way too slow to be comfortable. I'm basing easy pace on effort at conversational pace.

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MaidOfStars · 04/01/2017 11:27

If you're on week 3/4, you're going great guns too!

MaidOfStars · 04/01/2017 11:26

Yeah, I need another 12.5km to hit my weekly target.

Original poster
KittyandTeal · 04/01/2017 10:56

Wow maid, you are doing well. That's pretty serious mileage already.

I was a little worried that I wasn't going to be putting enough miles in the first few weeks of the training plan but actually it's worked out well as dd has chicken pox and I'm not 100% so shorter easy runs are perfect for me right now (trying to work out how I'm going to manage training with my endometriosis which affects my right sciatic nerve for 3/4 days a month)

Is anyone booked in to the 'meet the experts' thing in Feb 4th? I know one was already but I can't remember who, sorry? Anyone fancy a meet up for that?

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MaidOfStars · 03/01/2017 23:17

chocolate I think I wrote upthread about how awkward I feel about having to pull my pace to what feels like a really unnatural gait. Someone - sorry, can't find you - talked about 'effort running' and I gave up checking my Fitbit every 30 seconds and just went with what's completely maintainable from a CV POV. It's some 1 min per km faster than what a marathon calculator wants me to run at but I just can't do it slower without huge effort to maintain cadence etc.

Hope you're all doing well. First long run of the year yesterday - 18.1km. Quads a little tight today - must stretch those for a bit longer. Rest today. Weights and two hours of netball aka sprint intervals Wink tomorrow. Rest Thurs. 5k tempo Friday. Gym and 8k easy Sat. Aim for 20k on Sunday.

Original poster
KittyandTeal · 03/01/2017 17:11

Those sound good.

I've got around a 20-25min strength round, mainly focussing on hips as that's my weakness. I need to do some more core work too really.

I think I have a fairly short stride already but that's a good tip, I'll have a think about that on tmrws run

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oliversax · 02/01/2017 18:55

Two different exercises, one laid on the floor on your back with your legs bent at 90 degree angle feet on Swiss ball then raise your bottom off floor, so a yoga bridge but with feet on ball 3 x 10. Then the same with straight legs 3 x 10. I'' finding it quite hard so clearly something I need to work on.

Toes on step, heels off dropping heel below step then stretching to tip toes. 3 x 10 on each leg. Bit more directed at my calf injury.

The other useful tip he gave me was to reduce stride length & increase pace of step. I use a metronome app at 160 beats per minute & match my stride to that. It reduces the pressure of each strike apparently and we have a lot of strikes to go.

Original poster
KittyandTeal · 02/01/2017 12:40

What were the strength exercises if you don't mind me asking?

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Original poster
KittyandTeal · 02/01/2017 12:40

Oliver that sounds like a good idea, just dropping one run from the intermediate plan. I wish I'd thought about that!

As it is im probably not running much for a week or so as dd has chicken pox and obviously can't go to preschool (the time I get to run)

Luckily I'm already running week 3-4 distances so I'm not overly worried.

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oliversax · 02/01/2017 10:56

Hi all, sounds like everyone's training is going well. I am running my first marathon in April. I have done a few halves before but not for a while. I have a three year old and seven month old so haven't really found the time.

Completed my first official training run today. I am doing the intermediate training plan from the magazine but dropping the shortest run each week as I think 3 runs a week plus one cross training class is as much as I can manage.

I injured my calf last year so went to a specialist running physio for some running tips. I would definitely recommend it. He assessed my gait & gave me some running tips along with some strengthening exercises which have really helped.

Feeling excited & terrified at the prospect of running the marathon. Still a very long way to go.