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

Hello xfabba and hellion

Try not jump ahead and stay with the programme - I sound like an american

You have time to follow it and even if you feel you can do more stick to it. You may feel fine jumping weeks but later on you could suddenly develop an injury because you didnt allow your body to adjust to more miles each week.

Most running books I have scanned say its so important to increase your mileage slowly.

I have followed it to a T even though I have been so tempted to jump ahead even a little. But each time I increase my long runs I dont notice the extra miles and it must be because of the programme.

Imagine training all the way and then getting a injury that stops you doing it, you would be gutted.

I did 3 miles, and 5 miles so far this week. I need to do another 3 mile and then 10 miles on Sunday. I am on week 5.

This will be my last week of 3 mile runs thankfully. I really dont enjoy these runs because it takes me 3 miles to get in the flow so they feel like more effort.

Today I'm shattered, held two music classes this morning, ran 5 miles after my lunch (did not leave long enough gap after eating and felt sick a few times)and then another music class at my daughters nursery. My partner is not in yet, done the kids dinner and now about to bath them. Thank God, not every day is this busy!!!!

Hellion I have never done a race, I only started running end of last Sep, I have a place to run a half marathon in April before the big one. I also may try to do a 10k.

Regarding the extra weeks think I have two spare, cant remember but I'll prob repeat weeks 11 and 12 to bring me up to the date.

Hi there - yes I think I mightget some of the gel stuff. For now I am sucking dextrose tablets when I need to. No idea if this is advised but it does seem to help.

I only started running at all last year. I did a 10K in October and one on New Years Day. I am going to try and book another one and maybe a half marathon before the actual marathon as I think it is probably a good idea to get an idea of what it will be like with lots of peopel and crowds (and people storming past you shouting get out of the way!)

This week so far I have done 3m and 5m and am going to try and do a 4m tommorow and then the long run on Sunday. I am a bit confused about how far to try for on Sunday. The book I have got (Non-Runners Marathon Trainer one RFL recomended) says you shouldnt go up too quickly so for the week I am on the long run is only 6m for week 2 or 7m fro week 3 (was thinking of skipping to week 3) but I did 8m last Sunday. Do you think it matters if you do more - should I stick at 8 or try for 9/10?

We are actually in week 2 of a 16 week program leading right up to the marathon - what are you going to do with teh extra weeks for those that have started your programs earlier?

I cant decide what week to put myself in as I think I am a bit ahead of absolute beginner in the first few weeks of the book.

Hello

Well done xfabba on the 8 miles, I ran 8 miles too on Sunday. Longest run for me so far too.

I was really chuffed and felt great afterwards. I was at my mums and hoovered her whole house and made everyone lunch I was on such a high.

It was such a beautiful day on Sunday, the sun was shining and I was running with tshirt. I felt fine throughout the run except near the end I had a pain on the front of my left knee but later after the run it went.

I'm really looking forward to my 10 mile run this Sunday now.

Childcare is a problem, I go to college Mondays and work Thursdays so I run Tues, Wed, Fri and Sundays. During the week I go out and run early whilst everyone is still asleep (this is hard work for me as I am not a morning person at all) or I run in the evenings about 8pm.

Sunday I run late morning.

My whole family are really impressed by my dedication and motivation because I am doing it alone but now I have started I cant let everyone down. Everytime they tell me how proud they are it pushes me on and I wont give in.

In my book it says that as soon as you have decided to run the marathon you should tell everyone so to make you get on with it. Because everytime you see people they will ask you how your training is going and if you were thinking of ducking out on a run that evening then you will feel like you just have to go and do it.

I have to say on the times I really didnt want to run, I felt so good afterwards for doing it but found the run itself harder than normal so its very importanr you prepare your mind for the run too. The night before in bed I imagine running the route in my head and make myself look forward to it and I always enjoy the run more.

Hellion - whats your longest run now?

What sport drinks do you drink?

yes you need s day off after the long run! it makes me starving too - i just scoff bicuits when I get back!

The childcare/time issue is the killer - just not enough hours in the week. I rely on DP looking after the dc so can get out at the weekend ok - it's just in the week that is difficult if he gets stuck at work. I work FT now so no time in the day either. At least the evenings arent as cold now as you say.

Hi ladies how are you all getting on? How did the long run go? I did 8m this morning - furthest I have ever run! I am achy but chuffed as it gives me hope that this insane undertaking may actually be possible!!
x

Hi

Just filled in details for the Sunday so will have to wait for them to confirm my place.

Everytime I think about the marathon I get butterflies in my stomach.

I am so chuffed with myself with how far I have got now. I never imagined I would be able to run 7 miles. Its not much to most but alot to someone who could not run 5 mins last summer.

Plus I never would have got into running if my dad had not got sick. I never liked the thought of running - its funny how things change.

I am going out for a run now - I am on the third day of week 4. I am glad that after this I only have to do two more 3 mile runs. I dont like running three miles now that I have got to 7. Cant help feel like Im wasting time. I know though that the small runs are important.

Hellion - dont know how you do it on a treadmill, I could not handle that at all. Although its freeeeeeeeeezing outside I need to be out there and plus you warm up in minutes. 11 miles is great - looking forward to that. This week my long run will be 8 miles.

So who is going to meet up at the experts day.

Hellion - i so know what you mean - it really is mind over matter. If I am due to go out on my own it is all too easy to say oh im really tired tonight ill leave it. If I am running with some one else it makes me make the effort - and I always (nearly) feel fine once I am out.

RFL - will be great to see you on the Sunday if we get it.

Hello

Just remembered this thread.

Everyone sounds like they're doing great!

I've read its really important to have a rest day either side of your long runs. Rest days are just as important with allowing your body to heal each time you push it further.

Xfabba - good idea about meeting. I am a golden bond charity too and i have not booked yet. I will see if i can book the sunday then and be lovely to meet you.

I'm the opposite - I'm fine with 2 or 3 shortish ones in the week say 5/6 miles but I am still struggling with the mental barrier of the long run. I did 6m tonight (tbh am aching now so going to have fri and sat off) and am booked to try for first 8m on Sunday with some friends - wish me luck!!

So glad I stumbled on this thread - I was dithering and you have got me started on week 1 just in time - TT bear in mind week 1 and week 2 are pretty easy if you already run you could easily skip them to give you more time to recover. Also, the friend I ran with tonight hadn't run for 6 weeks and she was amazed that the 6m was fine - and I tell you what it was effing freezing so if I can run in that we will all be fine!!

Go TT, Go!

TT - don't give up. Until last night I was in exactly the same position. I dont think it is too late if we start this week. I did 5 miles yesterday and am going out again this evening. Thia has mede me feel enormously better.

The meet the experts day is run by FLM and was sent to me by my charity - not sure if all charities are involved, think you have to be a Golden Bond Charity whatever that is.

Whats the Meet the Experts Day? Is that run through FLM itself?

This is my first marathon. I am beginning to panic that I have left everything too late.

I was sick over christmas and ended up on antibiotics. Now I haven't run in over a month

I am in such a state that instead of getting out running to catch up, I am getting more and more depressed about it and too scared to run. Bizarre. I can't explain it. Think I just need to give myself a kick up the ass.

I guess you are all too busy out running to be back on the thread yet! just thinking, are any of you near London - are you going to the Meet The Experts Day? If so I have registered to go on the Sunday, maybe we could meet up and introduce ourselves.

Hi Hellion

All advice welcome! Was wondering about the energy bars. I know what you mean about the boredom factor too.

So today did first run of week one! Yay! Finally up and running. Only 5 miles but at least I bloody got out in the freezing cold.

That's great you are up to 11 miles on the long run. I still cant even imagine that which is scary. Furthest I have done so far (before actual Marathon program and pre-Xmas) is 8 miles.

It can only get warmer girls! Great to have some support.

I am in exactly the same position - so far only manage to get out 3 times a week even 4 will be a challenge. For example was due to go out tonight, DP has a crisis at work, I am home alone with the dc - what can you do? Only what is manageable and this sounds like it is. Esp since we are not overly concerned with time etc.

so this week need to do 3 4 3 5 miles on 4 different days. I suppose you arent supposed to do consecutive days but I guess I will have to. Up until Christmas when it went tits up for a while with holidays, parties etc I was doing maybe a 5 , 6 and 7 mile and i did a 10K on new years day so hopefully this will be a good way to start off again.

Thanks again and good luck (to me and you!)

oh damn it - its messed up all the tabs

order is

Week number, Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Total miles for that week

To be honest I cant answer that but I have just been told great things about it and so far I amazed at what its help me do.

My charity sent me a 16 week programme and it's ridiculous with training 6 days a week! They talk about running at 70% of this and 90% of that. Its all gibberish to me, I just need something simple and that I can fit into my life with kids, work and college. The programme I am following done got two groups of people with same fitness levels. One group trained 6 days a week whilst the other trained 4, both groups finished the marathon with roughly the same times. This proved that you dont need to train mad for success and that rest days are just as important.

Anyway - here is my programme taken from the Non-Runners Marathon Trainer:

TOTAL
FOR
WEEK DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 WEEK
1 3 4 3 5 15
2 3 4 3 6 16
3 3 4 3 7 17
4 3 5 3 8 19
5 3 5 3 10 21
6 4 6 4 11 24
7 4 6 4 12 2 6
8 4 7 4 14 28
9 4 8 4 16 31
10 5 8 5 16 34
11 5 8 5 16 34
12 5 8 5 18 36
13 5 8 5 18 36
14 5 8 5 9 27
15 3 5 3 8 19
16 3 3 walk 3 Mara.. 35.2

just wondering though when I looked on amazon about getting a more recently written book as well - the Non-Runners Marathon Trainer was written in 98 - do you think the advice is still applicable? Would it have changed much? (nutrition etc?)