London marathoners assemble

Been a while since I've been on here, hello!
Training going ok still, up to 8miles on my long runs so a little ahead on my training plan. Had a bit of a set back in that I've got to have an operation (gall bladder) which may mean I have to defer. The waiting list seems to be very long though so carrying on as I am for now and will see, it may be my op isn't scheduled until after April anyway.
Need to get myself some new running shoes. I usually go to a local shop who are great with gait analysis etc. But next week I'm working quite close to the London Marathon Shop so I'm tempted to go there instead, has anyone had their gait etc done there before?

My mantra (because I started running to boost weight loss), to a four beat pattern:

Keep. Going. For - the - ass.
Keep. Going. For - the - ass.

I know I'm struggling when I start reciting this in my head.

Thanks Kitty, just having a bit of a wtf am I doing moment I think. Plus although I know it's more about finishing it than anything, I'm very competitive!

Chocolate great mantra!

Maid I threw up in a bush on a park run not that long ago (had had a bit of a late night )...not my most classy moment either!

I'm trying to work out a training schedule to start in January. I'm hoping to do one more 8 mile then 2 or 3 10 mile runs before the end of the year and start on 12 mile long runs in January.

I have a half on week 8 (which will be my first)- I was thinking of really pushing the distance up to week 6, hopefully to 15-16 miles then tapering back for a couple of weeks before the half. Does this sound ok do you think or too much too soon?

I'm trying not to worry about pace!

I'm going on the theory that if I'm comfortable running then that's the right pace for me. I'll predict my marathon time once I get to proper long runs (like 16 miles plus) when I might find I slow down massively therefore need to slow down to last the distance.

And on bad runs where I struggle I repeat the mantra 'it's the difficult runs that make the easy runs possible'

Keep going everyone!

Oh lord, if 53 minutes is slow what does that make my PB of 57!
Ha, sorry, I wasn't meaning to diss anyone else's times or anything. What I meant was that I don't run all out on 10k - I haven't trained to run very fast on such a run and ultimately, I'm too lazy to try and push my times massively. I like running, but I'm not mad keen on running to my max exertion

And maybe this is skewing my marathon pace predictions - the calculators are assuming that 10k time is really a proper tempo-trained time when it isn't.

If it helps, I vomited after that PB (outside Tesco #classy) though.

You are all so speedy! I can't remember my best 10k time but it was somewhere in the region of 1.10...I'm going to be still limping round this thing hours after you are all finished!

I've yet to find a pace that i could comfortable talk (or sing!) at. My pace for 'long' (8 miles- it's bloody long for me at the moment!!) runs feels sustainable for that distance currently, but not sure if I could go further on it. But on average it worked out at 6.50 per km...if I go much slower I may as well walk! Should I be consciously trying to run even slower?!

Think I'm just really not very fit, and my running experience is limited to say the least. I love a challenge, but starting to wonder just how realistic this is...

Oh lord, if 53 minutes is slow what does that make my PB of 57! Which nearly killed me! Carry on as you are Maid, looks you could be on for a good time in London, maybe you will turn out to be a natural marathoner.

Thanks both for input here, BTW!

10k PB was a few weeks ago. Knocked a few seconds off my 5k PB last week too. At the very least, these slow runs are still feeding into tempo increases on shorter runs!

That pace didn't, as far as I can tell, tax my CV system. I was singing/dancing/generally dicking around at various points throughout (who knew Single Ladies was such a good running song?), never out of breath, no excessive sweating. It feels like a completely maintainable pace.

I am thinking that perhaps my projected marathon pace calculation is incorrect. It's based on my 10k PB. But what if my 10k PB isn't very fast? I mean, it isn't very fast, I know this (53:28), and I know I don't run at tempo speed for 10k. So the calculators think I am stupidly slow, but maybe I'm just lazy! And that's conspired to give me a too slow marathon pace?

I agree with Kitty. When you get on to the really long runs you will find out if you can comfortably hold that pace or not. And on the day you can always follow a pacer for a bit to stop yourself going off too fast.

OK, just run 18k and didn't look at my tracker to check pace even once, just went with my natural rhythm for the music tempo I had. My km splits range from 5:44 to 6:28; target marathon pace is 6:30 to 7:15. I'm a bit at what to do - should I just train to this pace and hope I can work it through or do I need to find a way of going slower?

Saucony top at great price!!

I bought an amazing Saucony top last week. The temperature control is amazing. It's long sleeved/high necked/hooded and I am wearing over a vest/bra in current temps (maybe 5 degrees). Teamed with longer fleece-lined leggings, gloves and a headband.

I have other long-sleeved running hoodies but this Saucony one is the bees knees! I'm nesh though - I feel the cold badly.

Well this week it's been below freezing every day, so I have worn tights, my Ronhill long sleeved to and a gilet and gloves. The tights are either normal ones or the Ronhill winter ones on the colder days.
When it gets above freezing again I might wear t shirt with sleeves and my gilet. If it is really wet I wear a cap and start off with my Ronhill trail waterproof and take it off when I get too warm. The Ronhill long sleeved top seems to be a bit water resistant so I wear that if it's not too warm. And I have waterproof socks if I know the route I am taking is likely to have lots of puddles! Basically I like to wear a few layers so I can adapt as I run to which bits are warm or cold - the sleeves and gilet are great for that.

Well done Elba! I am usually fine running in all weathers, have built up a running wardrobe that copes with most things. Of course, living in Aberdeenshire, if I only went out in good weather I wouldn't get out a lot!