Marathon Training 2023 - Who's in?

I’ve not ran since Sunday. A combination of just being super busy with work and not being one bit interested in getting out for even a wee km!

I haven't attempted a run yet, but that's because work has been incredibly manic and I'm going to sleep too late so can't haul myself out of bed early enough in the morning.

I feel completely free of any niggles or muscle tiredness though. I did do a yoga session on Tuesday I think? I think that really helped!

@Forestcantrun here you go - https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/scotsnet/4777615-anyone-doing-the-loch-ness-marathon-in-october?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

@Forestcantrun there are a few of us doing Loch Ness marathon...would be great to have you on board 😊. We have a thread on Scotsnet, will post the link here

My legs are feeling pretty normal now, but I jeffed my marathon and did it about half an hour slower than I could have trained towards based on HM time. I'm picking up a fairly normal running schedule this week after a good parkrun last week.

I can feel my achilles a little, but it's when my feet are cold and it seems to be more to do with the weather warming up a bit, wearing socks less and less heating, and my feet getting the brunt of the drafts in the house. I'm trying to keep them warmer and it's helping, so I think it's temperature rather than sprcicically post-marathon.

It can often take 3 weeks to really heal.and get that energy level back though. It's taken about 10-14 days for me, but I wasn't that drained by it.

Anyone else feel like they can’t even run 5k now?! My legs are completely dead… and it’s been three weeks since my marathon!

Well done everyone!!!

@Teawaster that's incredible a week after London! I've only been pottering around doing very easy short runs so far!

@Forestcantrun that's brilliant time, well done!

Well done all. Delighted with 4:16 , just delighted!! Considering another later in the year, but it might be crazy talk!! Anyone any thoughts on Loch Ness???
I don’t think I’ll do the half in Sept or Larne but will be along to cheer! Few 10ks lined up though.

@BogRollBOGOF I'm doing one half in September. I thought of doing one in July as well, but I feel I need a break from the intense running schedule and just so some easy leisurely runs for a bit.

I'm signed up for a summer HM and did one during marathon training so can slip back into my usual 3 HM (races) per year.

Not sure about which one for the autumn. The last non-Covid-affected one I did doesn't run anymore and there's not an obvious, fairly local one that's well timed for me (I favour October over September due to summer holiday milage)

It's my comfort zone, and feels even more comfortable now I'm used to being out twice as long.

Well done @OwlsDance . Brilliant for a first marathon. The last few miles were brutal but the support from local clubs and locals was amazing. They carried me through when I was flagging at the end. You don't get that so much with the larger marathons, despite the crowds being amazingly supportive to random strangers. There is nothing like a home crowd. I finished in 3:10 which I was delighted with as it was a minute quicker than London.
Hope you got on ok @Forestcantrun

@Forestcantrun and @Teawaster , how did you get on? I got 4:49 and a change. I had ambitious aim of 4.30 something but deep down didn't really think I could do it, although I did run my first half at that pace, which was a mistake. I sort of knew first marathon is quite a steep learning curve. Other than that, I'm quite happy with the result and the crowd was amazing!

Yes, I've entered the ballot for London. I'm not signing up for another marathon next year apart from that. I think it's unlikely I'll get a place anyway, haven't been successful the last few times I did.

I want to work on losing weight, getting stronger and running a faster half before attempting another marathon. I'll be running the half in Belfast in September this year, and I'd like to do maybe 3 halves next year.

I ended up with interruptions in March just before the taper, and found myself worrying that the weather would suddenly warm up like it did in 2018 with my body feeling totally unprepared for it!

2018 was awful. It basically changed from arctic to tropical in the space of a just over a week....the weeks of the paris and London marathons!!

My winter training wasn't too bad. There was a lot under 5⁰C, and one where I went for 11⁰C and wet rather than 5⁰C and wet the rest of the week. It could have been far worse. I used a 2 week training cycle for the recovery time to manage the injury risk and that helped with picking the better days.

It was chilly, gloomy, misty days I found wearing. There was one in late January and long stretches where everything in sight was grey, brown or black with no colour. I normally like running by the river and not just for the flatness, but it was so bleak!

I ended up with interruptions in March just before the taper, and found myself worrying that the weather would suddenly warm up like it did in 2018 with my body feeling totally unprepared for it!
15⁰C and overcast with light drizzle was perfect!

Thanks @RandomUsernameHere

we have trained through worse all Winter @OwlsDance 🤣

The thunder probably won't happen. The rain might be bad or not happen at all, pretty much like any day in NI 😀

@OwlsDance - other than the thunder that looks much like last Sunday's forecast. It wasn't hugely wet - mainly fine drizzle that was quite nice to run in.

Good luck to everyone with events this weekend. I shall enjoy just having an hours run on Sunday for a change.

Erm...

Well done for London @londonmummy1966 !

Good luck for Belfast on Sunday @Teawaster @OwlsDance @Forestcantrun and for the 100km ride @Chesneyhawkes1 and anyone else racing this weekend. Let us know how it goes!

I am doing the women v cancer ride the night tomorrow - 100km bike ride. So been doing some cycling to prepare a bit for that.

Then the bike can go back in the garage and I can get back to running.

My next race is 5k, so a lot different. Especially since marathon training seems to have sucked the speed out of me 😂

@BogRollBOGOF I agree about the HM cap - I will definitely be running more than that on a regular basis in future but I doubt I'll ever do another road marathon as the distance means some tedious stretches are pretty inevitable (unless the route is lapped and I think that's even worse). I'm eyeing up a trail HM in June to see how trails feel as I've not done that much trail running other than cliff paths on holiday. Enjoy the half - its so nice thinking that is not a long way......

I like the knowledge that HM is no longer my cap and I can go further for the fun of it. I had once done about 14+ on a good day while training for an HM, years ago.

The recovery's gone pretty well. Looking forwards to parkrun tomorrow. I went last week and as expected my legs were very sluggish too. I've been to my normal classes this week and performed normally and it feels like that deeper energy is coming back in now.

I'm signed up for my next event now. Just a light 13.1 mile trot 😂
It's nice now the pressure's off and I can run for fun again. The marathon's hung over me since signing up 18m ago as I had to defer then go back to C25k.
I'm not saying never again, but I'm definitely not rushing for this year's London ballot or signing up in a hurry.