London Marathon

[Violetroselily]

Anyone find themselves crying whilst watching the marathon on TV? Every year.

What a show of human spirit

I hope any MNers running are having a good race

Me, every year I'm snivelling

I do since running it myself. The most incredible thing I've ever done. Was my first and last ever organised running event as nothing will ever top it!

Yes, I’m crying right now!

It’s so moving. I always cry.
I run a little myself but never a marathon.feeling inspired to sign up for next year.

@EmmaGre77 do it! I did it for charity (was pretty much guaranteed a place) and I did it with no previous running experience and 10 weeks training and didn't die

Thanks. Oh well done you. Impressive.
I think I will. You only live once, right!

Cry my eyes out every time.

I've only ever managed 10k and I cried when I finished so I can't imagine the relief and pride they feel completing four times that distance!

I always cry!

I saw that poor lady collapse and crawl over the finish line.

Amazing achievements but are we designed to run 26 miles? Genuine question.

sparkling the book Born to Run talks about this, if you’re into running it’s a good read.

The London Marathon is brilliant to watch, it must be incredible to run.

I was sobbing when I finished my first half, can’t imagine running that far. Amazing people to do that, most of them are running for charity too.

I have just bought Bella Mackie's 'Jog On' as a tentative start Wing, I can't imagine running for so long. I can walk for miles but wondered if I could actually run if I tried.

Good luck, Sparklingbrook. I never thought I would be able to run, although I'm a pretty good walker, but three years of parkrun and a bit of training midweek and I've got to the point where I can run very slowly most of the way round and I've done a 10k race too and lived to tell the tale. I feel considerably better for all of this. I've not lost any weight, but post-menopause that seems to be very hard to do, but I look better and I get out of breath far less on exertion than I used to.

Never doing a marathon, though!

Nope but i've run it 3 times, i cried all 3 of those times!

Everyone should do it at least once, it's amazing.

God yes I think it's amazing , I love watching the marathon.
I run a little park run etc , about to do a 10k in a couple of weeks . I couldn't imagine running a marathon, one day maybe . It's definitely a achievement I'd like to try a half marathon but I'll see after my 10k .

I’ve only been running for 2 years and I love it.

As a previous non runner i’ve surprised myself.

Not sure about 26 miles though.

Amazing achievements but are we designed to run 26 miles? Genuine question

Nope. My cardiologist nearly had a fit when he found out I'd run a marathon (4 months after being diagnosed with heart failure, seriously, you can do anything when you put your mind to it). Apparently it causes a degree of right sided heart failure.

Some people are better built for it - body shape, posture, muscle mass etc. The elite African runners that you see have slightly different muscle make up, something to do with variances in fast and slow twitch muscle fibres or something that I can't quite recall from my physiology studies

That's interesting Help. I can see how we would be designed to sprint short distances (get away from danger quickly etc) I was curious as to how people can run for so many miles.

I've been told there's a difference between people of East African heritage and people of West African heritage when it comes to the proportions of fast twitch and slow twitch muscle fibres. The elite long distance runners are often East African and the elite sprinters are often either West African or African American/Caribbean/Black British, i.e. descended from slaves taken from West Africa. No idea how true this is, though.

I wasn’t home today to watch it but 2 ofmy friends did it.

Ballot already open and I’ve entered!

Years ago I met a lady at a race near Portsmouth when we were around the same speed. She has gone from strength to strength...and I haven't quite so much ;) Today she has run London in 3 hours 29, less than a fortnight after running Boston (US) in 3 ours 32. The woman is a machine.

I was really pleased for Charlotte Purdue. Amazing time from a fantastic runner, she has worked so hard. Also Callum Hawkins, Scottish record for him, fantastic after his collapse at the Commonwealth Games.

A half marathon is definitely far enough for me. I sometimes think I should try a marathon but the enormity of the training always puts me off.

I love watching it.

I entered the ballot today for next year. Running is my drug of choice

Amazing achievements but are we designed to run 26 miles? Genuine question. I have done many events well over 26 miles - up to 158 miles. If I am training for a big one I run 30 miles as my long run every weekend, with a 10 miler after three in a row for a little mental and physical break from the grind; it's no big deal if you build up to it sensibly. I was on medication that can affect your heart so needed regular ECGs to check that I wasn't going to drop dead whilst on it and the cardiologist was satisfied that I was healthy enough. The only problems I really get can be dilution anaemia at certain points in training and anaemia from the constant pounding of red blood cells whilst running for so many hours. I can also experience bleeding a lot if I do a long race and really push myself as hard as I can, again from trauma to the bladder walls and (it's thought) caecal slap. The first time it happened was a little alarming, but now I accept it as part of the post - race unpleasantness!! I tend to recover well and don't experience any real issues.

That's interesting Help. I can see how we would be designed to sprint short distances (get away from danger quickly etc) I was curious as to how people can run for so many miles. Persistence hunting.

I cried at that woman who collapsed at the finish line and then crawled over!

RidgesPerfection from what you have written about medical stuff as a result of running it makes me feel like we aren't designed to run long distance.Anaemia, bleeding and trauma to the bladder walls? That's not good. Also 'caecal slap'...