London Marathon 2019 training thread!

I'm so ridiculously sweaty that there is no option of not washing hair - esp if I've had my bandana on haha !

This is week 3 of my training plan and it's the first week that I'm feeling a bit daunted by how I'm going to fit it all in - and also think I'm a little under the weather so feeling slightly less enthusiastic than I have the last few weeks :(

I did an off-road 8 miles the end of last week and will do 9 on Tuesday. But get the feeling I should be running a lot more - arrgggghhh - I wish it wasn't so dark all the time !!

Welcome to all the new folk !! And especially to Imnotready - you can tell us how it's done !! How did the first one go? do you have expectations of trying to improve your time or anything??

Hello everyone,

I haven’t actually started training officially because I’m still training for a 13.k race I’m doing in 10 days time. But I did my first marathon last November and have continued running at least 30-35k weekly so it’s not like I’m starting from scratch.

I am absolutely terrified of getting an injury so I’m trying not to overdo it.

Hi madeindevon2, my first marathon too and have also managed to get injured!

I have trapped nerve in bum which is causing sciatica, it’s getting better (lots of acupuncture, massage and foam / ball rolling) slowly, but is frustrating!

I also have a race (15mile) on sun, I’m going to do it but go very slow and steady and concentrate on getting round and getting the miles under my belt.

Also not a fan of hair washing! Sometimes I find on shorter runs wearing a cap and spraying a bit of dry shampoo in before the run means I can avoid a wash.

can i join!?

first marathon
have done a few halves
traing was going ok until i rolled my ankle on monday
going for jog this afternoon to assess whether up for a 10 mile race this weekend

@RufflingFeathers I know!! I try not to wash my hair every day, but I am lately!

I'm always hungry but I do find I need to stick to my formula for the long runs: porridge beforehand, then a cup of sweet tea and a packet of crisps after! I find I get a low salt level type of headache otherwise.

I was 'supposed' to do 45 mins interval running today, but I felt so low today that I did 30 mins fast instead. Will that do?!

Would love to hear how others are getting along...

Am still enjoying the training programme - am up to 8 miles this week. Have only been jogging 3x a week but doing strength/flexibility a couple of days as well so feel like I'm exercising most days!!

Only downside of all this exercise is having to wash my hair so often!

I'm trying to work hard at eating well - both before and after runs. I tend not to feel hungry after i've run, but then several hours later I feel so tired - so I'm trying to be more diligent in re-fueling !!

Hi @RunningLondon, well done! No, not going to the show - bit of a trek for me!

It was 7 miles on my plan today for my long run. Was trying to run slower at 50% effort, listening to my body rather than looking at the pace. I think I do my long runs too fast normally. It was more enjoyable just "ambling" along!

How's everyone else getting along?

How are you all doing?

8 miles boxed off last night. Hadn’t managed to stay on the plan this week as I missed Monday run club (3miles on the plan) revising for an exam and then Wednesday I was so knackered it was just under the planned 5 miles.

Off to get new trainers this morning. When OH is ever ready to leave the house!

Anyone else at the running show next weekend?

@Imnotreadyforthis welcome! Wow- how exciting! No tips I'm afraid, I haven't booked my accommodation either

@RufflingFeathers no, I'm on Week 1 (I started the magazine one first which said 7 Jan onwards).

My plan is to do the intermediate one unless I'm having a bad/busy week, in which case I will fall back on the beginners one! If that makes sense...?

Beginner = 3 runs a week, intermediate = 4 runs a week!

I know I'm going to fall down on the cross training/strengthening. I just find floor exercises sooooo boring!

Hello everyone

Can I join? I learnt yesterday I have been allocated 1 of very few places that my running club got from one of the sponsors.. London has always been my dream marathon and I’m so excited to be doing it! I keep pinching myself as I can’t quite believe it yet!! Now I need to sort travel and accomodation in a hurry for me and my group... if anyone has any tips or advice I’d be very grateful!

@Katie - haven't quite got my head around all the different paces yet but think I'll give them a try at some point.

So are you on Wk 2 this week?
My rough plan is to following the plan for the length of long run, then into each week add in a hill run, a shorter road run, a strength session/class plus a stretchy, yoga style class.
So that's actually only 3 runs a week - will that be enough???

@RufflingFeathers and @Stewart2017 I hadn't even looked on the website!! The intermediate plan is more my level (for instance I don't need to do any walking, like on the beginner one in the magazine), so...going to try to follow the intermediate! Thanks for mentioning it!

I am trying to make sense of all the different paces. I can't properly get my head around them at the moment. Do they make sense to you all? I mean...what do they mean by hill running?! Could be interpreted several different ways!

stewart2017 that’s interesting, I definitely need to slow down on my longer runs, trouble is a big part of my brain needs to know I can manage them at a faster pace!

I’d ideally like a sub 4 marathon, aiming at around 8:45 pace. I’ve done a half recently in 1:41 (7:48 pace) and is quite like to get a sub 1:40 half in the bearish future, this is also messing with my head though. I’m also injured which isn’t helping anything!

I KNOW I need to slow right down and so my longer easy runs at around 10min miles but I worry that I’ll forget how to run quicker!

Katie, I'm also doing intermediate one that was on the marathon website
1 week done, 16 more to go.

Long run on Sunday I did it on heart rate monitor only, keeping out the red and orange zone and running about 1.30 min/ mile slower than usual. I am assured this is ok, and focus too much on pace, instead just go the distance.

Amazing runninglondon, well done!!

I'm doing the intermediate one that was on the marathon website - am guessing that's the same as the magazine??
Mine seems to have 3x 20+miles runs - more than i'd imagined !

Did a 10K this morning and marvelled at how short it seemed. 10K this time last year seemed like a good proper run, but in the light of what's coming in the weeks to come, it feels much less intimidating!

@BusterTheBulldog thank you! 5km and 10km PB! 🙌🏻

Jr parkrun with the kids this morning. I have an exam this week so not much time to run today; maybe a treadmill session later

@katiescarlett1939 Im pretty much following that, with a few adaptations to match my lifestyle/kids/run club :)

Anyone else following the plan in the VLM magazine?

I'm going with that as I was dithering so much and spending far too long researching the "perfect plan".

This one seems realistic for my lifestyle and tells me exactly what to do on what day...which I like

I have two twenty mile races planned in that I’m just going to use for training (not that I’d be quick anyway!), and we have a massive reservoir close by that’s just over 20 miles around so I’ll be doing that twice I guess!

Good luck for your 10k runninglondon, I’m all about the free stuff!!

@BusterTheBulldog I’m looking at 20 miles races atm, to force me to do it if that makes sense!

Off plan a little this week/weekend as I am running the Wirral Way 10k tomorrow. Totally in it for the medal 😂 it’s bloody cold here tho, need to dress accordingly 🥶

Hello! Please can I join?

First marathon for me and I’m bricking it! I only started ‘properly’ running last year, done a few half’s and a 30km last year but marathon seems a whole other level. I think the mental side is going to be a massive test for me.

Started my training this week, also been injured throughout December (piriformis syndrome-basically trapped nerve in bum), after acupuncture sessions and lots of VERY intimate massage I’m starting to see a little improvement on pain so crossing fingers.

I have a 15 mile race mid jan also, treating it more as training run though.

How many 20 or 20+ routes are people doing? I have 4 on my plan!

Hey guys - somehow lost this thread for a couple of months so am chuffed to have found you all again!

I kind of forgot that I wanted to start my training plan with an extra week or two, so I find myself at the end of my first week of training, without really realising that the plan has started - whooooops !!
But have been running plenty and doing strength stuff, so enough not to panic.

Managed a 10miler before xmas, so psychologically that was a boost - one of my daughters had made peppermint creams so took some for the run and it was amazing !!!! will definitely try them again........

Hi guys,

Can I join in? Running VLM on a charity place. Training has begun but I’m really worried about finding the time to fit the training in!

Club run last night, a freezing cold 5 miles!! 🥶 racing a 10k Saturday and jr. parkrun Sunday :)