London marathoners assemble

Yes was in the magazine

You email [email protected]. You tell her about your marathon goal, which marathon you're doing, your running background, age, and why you want to be part of the Big Marathon Challenge ( got the name wrong before!). Closes 27th Nov. It's in the December magazine. Good luck if you do it, I'm debating as there is a London photo shoot.

Just to say, Women's Running magazine are running their Project 26.2 again. They pick 4 women and give them personalised training, nutrition advice and kit. Worth a go if you don't mind blogging about your training etc

Welcome StillMaid, the more the merrier!
Tapering - my plan has the longest run 3 weeks before the race, then eases off after that so as this is my first marathon that's what I'll be doing! I have heard that more experienced marathoners have shorter tapers once they've figured out what works for them.
Long runs- I've always done these at an easy pace and most things I've read say that too, with the idea being to build time on your feet not work on pace. Plus I think if all your sessions are hard then your muscles don't get the recovery time they need to benefit from the speed work.
However on my training plan I see that some of the long runs include sections done at race pace, later on in the plan mostly.
We were talking about pace earlier. There are calculators where you put in the time you did for a recent race and it will work out your marathon time, which you can then use to give yourself an estimate of pace. Of course, you might be faster or slower, I think it's something we might find ourselves adjusting in light of how training goes.
As for your other activities I guess you could just see how it goes? And then ease off on something if you find yourself too tired when the volume of running starts increasing.
Shoes - I have had good experiences with my Saucony shoes, which are Guide 9s I think, but a trip to a running shop to try on a range of shoes is always good!
Whew! Epic post! And not an expert opinion by any means!

Also, lots of training plans talk about my 'marathon pace'. Do I just pick one?

Hoping I can jump onto this thus thread! Not running London but Manchester in early April. My first marathon and I have questions!

1. Tapering a month before - yay or nay?
2. Long/slow/easy runs - slow slow or push speed (have read conflicting advice).

I currently run around 20 miles per week, at an easy pace of sub-10 for long runs, harder pace at 8:30 for 10km. Max I've run in one go is 11 miles (at 9:45).

I also weight train (heavy lifting) three times a fortnight and play netball twice a week (2x40 mins). Am I going to have to sacrifice something here? I think the weights will be essential - my hips and knees need all the strength I can gain.

Anyway, if anyone has any really obvious tips, I'm all ears.

Oh, and I need some new running shoes - reccs?

I'm doing similar self-made training plan Rocky. I am going to build in some sort of speed work at some point (everything I read says do some now and it means less pain on marathon day!) but just what I feel is right for me.

Sadly my training isn't going so well already as wrong fitting shoes on Saturday so no run, and my dd school is shut (unplanned) today so no run today either. Hope this doesn't start a trend!!

Welcome RockyTop, congratulations on finally getting a place. Good luck with the training, I'm sure you'll love the speed work once you get started....

Hello, can I join in?

I got my place through the ballot, 8th or 9th time of trying. I've previously run half marathons, although not for a few years. 10k is my usual distance since having DS. I've wanted to run London since I was a child so can't quite believe I've got a place finally!
My training plan officially starts today, cobbled together from a few different sources. For previous distances, including the half, I've just built up the distance week to week rather than looking at speed work, heart rate, tapering etc which feels a bit alien at the moment. Just need to get out there and start now.

I think it is the same thing - you get a free place if you're a charity runner but others can go too. At Central Hall? If it's the same one, I'm down for it too, maybe we can connect .

It sounds good Kitty, do pass on any wisdom you pick up!

Is that the charity day in Feb? I think I signed up for that. Anything that might help!

Sadly no, unless they run them in Aberdeen! Did you get the email about a medical study? I would have loved to do it, don't think I can make it to London though!

Holiday running in Greece sounds lovely!
Everything I think I will do Martin Yelling's improvers plan from the magazine, it has a bit of variety to it and doesn't seem too hard. I already run 4 times a week so am ok with that. I think the beginner plan would be fine and perhaps if the first week or two look too easy you could start a little further in and repeat some weeks?
I do a yoga for runners class once a week, last night I was terrible! I think I need to try to do a wee bit every day to keep more flexible.

Everything- I haven't decided which training plan I am doing yet. I doubt I will be able to do more than 3 times/week though.

On holiday but have managed 2 short runs and a gym session. DP went off for a run this morning and nearly killed himself in the greek hills.
Off for some cake now!

Hi Kitty and emummy

I am def not up to half-marathon distances yet - the 14 miles I mentioned was a weekly total - I am a long way off doing that in one go. So this week I did 4 Tues am, will do 4 Fri am and 6 on Sun am. By Christmas I am hoping to be up to a 10 mile run on a Sunday - that was a goal pre knowing I'd got a place. A Sunday tends to be my longer run and then I do a yoga session off youtube.

Have you ever seen Yoga with Adrienne - it is mentioned a lot on MN which is how I found it. She has a good manner about her and does a specific 30 mins session on runners yoga - specifically stretching and a nice slow pace. She also does runners warm up and cool down but I like the stretching best of all.

What training programmes are everyone going for? I'll be on the 3 times a week beginners one, am just wondering how to start that if at that stage I am already at say 18/20 miles a week running distance. Am probably overthinking it but don't want to get it wrong.

I am a slow and steady runner as well so am looking about 5:30 at the moment, although I am losing weight at the moment (deliberately) and that has def increased my pace as I am carrying less around.

I think I got it from women's running magazine and added a bit! I do lunges, squats with a weight, v-sits, press ups, kettle bell swings, a couple of weights things, single legs squats, calf raises,, think that was it. Then bootcamp has a mixture of stuff, so hopefully the two will help, if I can keep doing them!