Running Thread - anyone got a place in 2009 London Marathon (or any Marathon!)

Hi hellion - well done! It's such a great experience isn't it? the atmosphere was amazing. I think one of my favourite bits was the residential areas near the beginning - with people in their gardens, hanging out of bedroom windows ringing bells, and lots of kids. I'm still buzzing.

My feet are in a right state though - I had blood blisters (now popped...yuck) the size of marbles, and two toe nails are defintely on their way out - possibly more. I'm going on holiday in a week...I'm going to look delightful if the weather's warm enough for sandals by the pool aren't I? oh well, small price to pay.

great time hw so are you registered in next year's ballot yet? i've been lurking on this thread and would love to hear how everyone else did - hope you all had a fantastic day.

Absolutely fantastic. Well done to everybody who ran.

I watched my sister run. It is so amazing.

HOW WAS IT??? I loved it - what an atmosphere - totally bowled me over. and really kept me going. I did it in 4.32 which I'm really pleased with. did you guys enjoy it too? I caught a glimpse of Peter Andre and found myself slowing down/veering over to try to see Katie. but then thought "get a grip woman, why on earth are you remotely interested in Katie Price??? Just get on with the marathon ffs"

Same here, I have struggled to eat all day. I have constant butterflies!!!

So excited and feel so unprepared and feel like I should be working on my core muscles or stretching or something

You just reminded me about the black bag, i partner bought those dirt cheap tesco ones and so they are useless... what shall i use now?

i can not believe i am due on tomorrow so hopefully nerves will it at bay. i have had terrible pmt all week and of course the usual tiredness but today i feel fine.

good luck tomorrow, i am wearing a red cap with Yo Baby on it (my business name) and a red vest with Beating Bowel Cancer on it.

sending lots of energetic positive hugs to all!!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Good Luck all

Good luck all of you!

Fingers crossed for you all You are amazing.

Hello everyone, not had a chance to come on here for ages!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Amost there now!!!!!!

Still can not believe we are actually going to run the marathon... well jog

My number is 34718 and number 9 in bottom right hand corner.

I went to the registration day this week and listened to a talk on how much to drink because I was confused with all the advice.

They said there are water stations from 3 miles and every mile up to 25 and lucozade stations at every 5 miles. Also at the beginning.

If you've trained with lucozade then drink whilst waiting to start, then if you want drink half of everything at every station. Dont drink more than this unless its really hot but no more than 3/4's of everything.

I also spoke to a sport scientist and she suggested to drink half of the 300ml (i think 300ml or 350ml) of the lucozade every 30 minutes. Conflicting again

Sipping I guess throughout is the key but if you are almost at walking pace then you dont need as much.

They also say if you are using carb gels that 4-6 is the max you need. The sport scientist i spoke to said i should have mine about mile 12 and 17. the ones i use have two servings in each.

I dont need as much drink as they suggest because I dont sweat from face or feet - just wee lots!!! They also have these new P-mates for women to wee in. They are wicked!!! Shaped like cones, you use them standing up and tip your hips forward.

What time are you all getting there beforehand. I was think 90 mins before. Do you think that is too much?

Shame none of us got to meet, any mum I get chatting to I will ask - are you a mumsnetter?

I run roughly 10 min miles but have been advised my a neighbour who has run a whopping 18 marathons to run at 13 min miles for as long as possible. So if any of you run about that and are in the 9 group then maybe we will meet.

Im interested to hear if any of you will be doing a 3 mile walk tomorrow, what you are eating for lunch and dinner tomorrow, what time you are getting up sunday and what you are having for breakfast.

GOODLUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shirley x

Good luck everyone

Just thought of another thing: around 22 miles, you go through an underpass thing - loads of people walk as the crowds can't see them - DON'T!! Mentally, it's much better to keep going, however slowly and people find it incredibly difficult to start running again.

thanks Twink - that's really helpful. I was wondering about getting some jelly babies or similar. like you say, in part to keep me going psychologically.

I've got 2 sis gels. afaik the lucozade that's at the stations is a drink, not a gel. I was thinking of having the gels at 10 and 20 and then just sips of water roughly in line with the amount I've drunk from a camel-pack on my longer runs. and maybe some lucozade if I feel I need an extra pick me up.

Hat, don't panic. You've got a solid base of mileage and despite your foot you've still managed to exercise.

Both times I've done a marathon, 3 of my 20 milers were substituted with long bike rides at high heart rate instead, not ideal but it got me through on the day.

Believe in yourself!

As for drinking, if you've practised with the lucosade gel, have it on the day, if not don't. As anyone warned you about the road surface? It gets hideously sticky around gel stations and watch out for people landing on the discarded pouches as they squirt at you!! If your gels are SiS ones, you don't need to drink water with them as they're the right concentration already. I usually take 3, starting at around 10 miles, then grab some water at most water stations and take a few sips gulps. I also take wine gums and eat one every mile to liven things up and give me something to look forward to...

A tip I was given was to dress in less than I would normally run in as the number of people and buildings make it much warmer than you'd think it would be from the weather forecast.

Good luck to all of you, I'll be watching at the gym as we're doing a charity fundraiser at the same time.

Ahhh... well keep at it then and good luck. Will be thinking of you

orm - no. I've done a 16 mile race and swore blind I'd never do anything so daft again...

Good luck - hope the weather is kind to you. Enjoy it!

Good luck everyone - my colleague is running for St Catherines Hospice

Well I shall for my nice easy 12 miler first thing and then watch the marathon from the comfort of my sofa with coffee. All the time thinking 'I could do that' whilst being quite aware that there's no way I ever could.

hat - have you done a marathon before?

Hi all you runners. DD and I will bwe on the left hand or the red start cheering you all on.

We'll be the ones waving our froot shoots and Greggs Sausage Rolls

Hi everyone! Don't know about you but I'm totally terrified...because of my foot my schedule went totally wrong. I did a 20-miler five weeks ago, then I was supposed to do 2 more and then taper. but it was the 2nd and 3rd 20 milers that i missed (as well as all the shorter ones I was meant to do in those 2 weeks). and then these last two weeks I was meant to do a couple of 10s - and in fact I;ve done 8s. so I have no idea how it's going to be.

some questions: has anyone decided to aim for a time? and has anyone got a sort of race plan for drinking and carbs etc? I read the marathon magazine and it kind of annoys me a bit - they blind you with science a bit - but don't really explain it all. on the one hand they terrify the pants off you re the risk of drinking too much, on the other hand terrify you re drinking too little. then there's the lucuzade v water thing - they say stuff like don't drink too much - but surely what they mean is don;t drink too much water...? drinking water and drinking lucuzade are very different things no? - but it doesn;t really seem to explain that...and then, what about my slightly bizarre "isotonic energy gel" - how does that effect it all? I'm confused...

on the one hand when I read that something is really important or essential etc I want to take notice; but it all seems a bit subjective so part of me thinks ahhh sod it, stop worrying...

Good luck all of you brave souls! I am still amazed that anyone can contemplate running that far....

runforlove - I agree about doing laps. I always work out an interesting route for a long run. I struggle to stay motivated when I'm bored with a route. A colleague who runs marathons told me to find a 3 mile route and just keep going round and round so that if you have to stop it's not far to get home Sounds like hell on earth to me

All the very best of luck for Sunday! I am in awe of you all.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE FOR SUNDAY