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Original poster

London Marathoners 2018

460 replies

PickleSarnie · 05/10/2017 12:00

Hi,

As the ballot results come out, thought I'd start a thread to discuss training plans and share the pain of getting up at stupid o'clock on a winter morning to get long runs done.

I was supposed to run in 2017 but my knee went kaput. Physio reckons it was just runners knee and said I needed to strengthen quads, glutes and core muscles (that are shot to pieces following two large babies) So I deferred my place until 2018.

I'm doing 30 Day Ab Challenge each night (made more challenging by husband "hilariously" making childish trump noises every time I sit up Hmm ) and mixing running up with Spinning and strength training at the gym .

Put loads of weight on while knee was knackered. Which is going to be the opposite of helpful for it so am on a diet to try and lose at least 2 stones (almost half way there now though)

Anyone found a decent 6 month training plan?

Xx

OP posts:
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SandunesAndRainclouds · 24/02/2018 17:26

Oh blimey Pickle that’s shit. I’m so sorry. You can’t ignore a stress fracture Sad

Hope you heal quickly and get another place sooner rather than later!

Original poster
PickleSarnie · 24/02/2018 15:10

Hope you're all having a good weekend.

I'm officially out. Turns out my sore foot is a bloody stress fracture. No running for 6 weeks. Gutted. Feel like such a failure. Can't defer my place again so it's back to the ballot lottery for me!

I'll be cheering you all on from my sofa though x

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LoudestRoar · 22/02/2018 10:13

Having a coupleof days rest. Was due 3 yesterday, and 6.5 today. I had an internal procedure last night, which has left me with cramps. Didn't run yesterday, because of knee, but walked it instead with the buggy. Going to bring my half forward from Sunday to Saturday, and then back to normal next week.

LoudestRoar · 20/02/2018 20:07

Went to see a sports therapist about my knee. Tight groin, hip and hamstring due to the increase in mileage. Lots of stretches given as homework. Also Ouch from where she stretched things out!
Happily, I can carry on as normal, as long as I stretch every day

LoudestRoar · 19/02/2018 06:59

My following Sunday's look like this
13.1
6.5
15.5
15.5
6.5
18.5
Then tapering, where my longest run will be 8.5
I'm going to change the 18.5 to 20, as I need to know I can make that distance. I'm slow, so will defo be more time on my feet.

Blackspaniel1 · 19/02/2018 05:24

Well done Loudest on finishing your half marathon, not every run goes to plan, but the important thing is you did it.

Hope the knee gets better soon, but do try and rest it a bit. I haven't heard of tailwind, so will have a google now. I used a high5 energy gel (summer berries) yesterday and it tasted really good. It may have had something to do with me being about 12 miles in to my 16 miles and anything would have tasted good by then though Grin.

So 16 done now, and was fairy straightforward, so rest today. I've got a half marathon race next Sunday, but it is an off road one, with lots of hills, so may involve some walking!

How many long runs are you all doing from now on? Mine look roughly like this;
13(HM), 18, 13, 20, 12, 22, 12, 8....

I put in the 22 myself as I felt after my first marathon (8 years ago!) that 20 miles just didn't prepare me enough for those last 6 miles. Have been reading up on this though and most plans seem to advise against it because you only cause damage after a certain time on your feet (3.30 hrs I think) and it takes too long to recover.... I'm looking at it from a more mental confidence point of view.... what do you think?

Original poster
PickleSarnie · 18/02/2018 16:02

You don't need to pay me Loudest. PM me your address and I'll pop it in the post. It's Mandarin Orange flavour. Hope that's okay!

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LoudestRoar · 18/02/2018 15:54

PickleSarnie are you sure,? Thank you! Let me know how much, and I can either transfer or PayPal you the money xx

Original poster
PickleSarnie · 18/02/2018 15:18

Well done for doing it Loudest Hope you enjoy your cake!

I bloody love tailwind. It's the only thing my stomach can tolerate. I can send you a sachet to try before you order some?

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LoudestRoar · 18/02/2018 14:05

Does cake count as protein, SandunesAndRainclouds? Grin My knee is really suffering. I'm sat on the sofa, and not moving! Shows what a difference crowds make.
Has anyone used tailwind, by the way? Tempted to get some for my next run. I think from what I've read, you don't need any other fuel if you use it?

SandunesAndRainclouds · 18/02/2018 13:56

Well done for getting out there and finishing the distance.

Don’t underestimate the 13 miles from last weekend Loudest. Make sure you stretch well and take on more protein than you usually would to aid recovery.

LoudestRoar · 18/02/2018 12:54

Well, I did it. It was messy, slow (although still managed under 3 hours-just) and horrible. I had cramps the first 3 miles, and then my knee went a mile before the end. It's the first run since training that I almost called dh to come and get me. It's done though, but it's not put me in a good head space for next week, where I need to run another. Need to have a think what I cando to make it better. I may head out Saturday during the day instead of having it hanging over me all weekend.

Blackspaniel1 · 18/02/2018 06:29

Ooh good luck with the half today Loudest!

Don't feel guilty, ds will be fine after his initial shouting Grin! Try and enjoy the race.

LoudestRoar · 18/02/2018 06:04

Morning spaniel I'm just about to leave for a half this morning. Today is a feeling guilty morning though, as toddler ds doesn't sleep without me. I snuck out of bed, but he still realised, and I can hear him screaming upstairs, despite milk and daddy cuddles. So, thats the whole house up at 550 am today. How many weeks till the marathon?!

Blackspaniel1 · 18/02/2018 05:55

Good morning, nice and early for me, preparing for 16 miles Grin.

I hope everyone is feeling a bit more positive now, I am, because we have had a dry day or two, and it is dry now for today's run. Kids back at school tomorrow so normal routine next week means better running! (I hope). I do so agree on Loudest's analogy too, whilst a goal does keep you going, it feels more pressured to get out there whatever the circumstances, making it more of a chore.

Well done on your long runs Pickle and Sandune, it's really helping me knowing others are at exactly the same point in their training. I live in a really hilly area, but have one route which all my long runs are based on. It is the flattest around here, and is around 200 m of climb for these longer runs, so not too bad. I checked London's route for total climb and it looks around 160m, is that what everyone else thinks? At least if I know I can get some perspective on my pace on the day.

Anyway, happy running, I'm off to get my head ready, the last time I ran 16 miles was in my first and only marathon so far, and it was the point I said 'I can't do this' to my running partner! not good when you have another 10 miles to go Grin. I did finish it though!

SandunesAndRainclouds · 17/02/2018 15:47

Our route took us back down via the river - loads of other runners out. I love a cheery ‘mooooooorning!’ especially to those looking particularly miserable Grin

Original poster
PickleSarnie · 17/02/2018 13:35

Grin I was running along the canal which as well as being pretty and all that are also obviously flat as pancakes. Well done on 15 miles of hills sandune!

I literally only saw three other runners today (apart from at the very start before I got on the canal and I almost inadvertently joined parkrun!) Was strange how quiet it was. I'm always a bit scared I'll fall in the canal and nobody would be there to notice!!

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SandunesAndRainclouds · 17/02/2018 13:04

Strike through fail 🙄

SandunesAndRainclouds · 17/02/2018 13:03

15 miles done. We ended up doing a hilly route so traded the last mile for our hill efforts! Early night tonight....

Well done on your 15 pickle —were you running with me?—

Original poster
PickleSarnie · 17/02/2018 12:37

That's a good analogy loudest I used to enjoy running because I was choosing to do it. Now it seems to have become a bit of a chore. Although it gets me out on days I would never normally go out running at least.

I felt exactly the same This morning sandunes . The kids were up and being soooo noisy at 6am and I'd had a broken nights sleep anyway. So I yelled at them and then cried. Then I procrastinated for over 2 hours before eventually left the house. 15 miles in the bag though. And a massive G&T and steak and chips tonight well and truly earned! Hope you had a good run in the end x

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SandunesAndRainclouds · 17/02/2018 07:17

16 miles for me today. Completely not feeling it and the thought of going out makes me want to sit and cry. I’ve been awake since 5:30, had a disturbed night before that. I’m exhausted 😩

LoudestRoar · 16/02/2018 07:04

I understand PickleSarnie I think it's because we aren't running for ourselves at the moment, we are running to get ourselves through the marathon.
I think of it like reading. Pick a book up and let me read it, and I love it! But all those books I had to read for English exams, I don't enjoySmile
I didn't go for my run last night. A mound of fairly valid excuses, but if I'd pushed myself, I could have gone. It just came down to the fact I didn't want to. As long as those days don't outweigh the forcing ourselves out there, then I think we're doing a good job.

Original poster
PickleSarnie · 15/02/2018 22:22

Half term has been a nightmare. I'm off with the kids three days. So only at work for two. Monday off so no run. Tuesday at work was a nightmare so didn't get out for a run. Then second day I managed 4 miles (quite a bit faster than normal pace) and then spinning class in the evening. Today was with the kids so tagged husband as he walked in the door at 8 and did only 3 miles at the gym because it was late and I was knackered and grumpy. But better than nothing I suppose. Tomorrow is another day with the kids and husband out so no run. Then the evil long run on Saturday.

I have been so grumpy and on edge recently. I thought running would make me feel better. And I suppose it does but fitting in all this training is just another plate for me to try and keep spinning. I feel like I'm doing a crap job of parenting, working, being a wife and training for the marathon. All whilst having the fear that all my hard work in strengthening my knee and the muscles connected to it will all be in vain and all the training will have been fit nothing.

Sorry for self pitying post. The massive G&T on Saturday evening might help slightly!

Hope the weather holds out for you all this weekend! Xx

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SandunesAndRainclouds · 15/02/2018 21:26

I’m fed up of being soaking wet and cold too. Sunday was a welcome relief!

I’m aiming for 16 this weekend, some will be off road though so that will be nice to be off the concrete!

LoudestRoar · 15/02/2018 16:31

I know what you mean about the weather too. Half term isn't helping me either, doing loads during the day, and runs having to be done in the evening, which I hate. Have to fit a 10k in tonight. Will go as soon as dh gets home.

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