Edinburgh 2014 - chasing the hairy haggis

[Mitchy1nge]

thread for anyone training for the full marathon or the half or any of the other events

it's my first marathon so am very excited, I know that in theory if I can do 21 miles then 26 (plus 385 yards) is achievable but only started running again a few months ago, it's so much more addictive than it used to be

Target race pace is somewhere between 5:15 and 5:20. I'm hoping that's achievable as my 10km pace is just under 5:00. At the moment I think 5:30 is more likely, but I'm only a few days into training so I guess I have to see how it pans out

that's 8 minute miles you are SO fast

am sort of relieved I probably won't get to meet you now I know you run like a whippet!

or 9 minute miles

is very impressive anyway

unlike my pace conversion skills

at whippet. I am slightly flabby middle aged mum with ideas above her station

Having ideas above your station is a good thing...spurs us on to greater things. 9 min miles would be great for a half marathon...I would hope to be able to do that in my half 6weeks before Edinburgh Mara, but my legs may be too fatigued from all the distance! I can do 8 min miles in short races up to about 5 miles which is a minute/mile quicker than I was last year. No idea what pace I will be able to do in marathon.. I am worried about going out too fast and then crumbling by the road side!

Where is everyone else? 8 weeks to go people!! Currently lying in bed after an 18 mile run...how are you all getting on?

well done brainwashed! can't be many long runs now before the marathon?

hope everyone else is ok

Hi brainwashed and everyone else

I'm still following my training programme. I've adjusted it this week following advice from a friend who is a triathlete /ultra runner . He said to drop the runs from 6 days to 5 and do core work instead on the 6th day.

And to swap the medium run for another set of intervals < groan> .

My long run is only 20k as I'm just going the half marathon < wimp> and I do it on a Monday ( Sundays very busy here ) .

I'm getting through the runs ok but I don't seem to be getting any faster. But at least I'm not injured < so far >

I'm glad I did the base training for 8 weeks first because the 50 miles per week doesn't seem hard now

KristinaM are you really doing 50 miles a week?! I'm doing 30-37 miles and I think if I did more I would get injured! And I'm doing the full marathon!I am cross training though...swimming, yoga and cross fit.
mitchy are you out completely or are you doing the half now?

I'm totally out, which I cried over for about half a day but the grief quickly gave way to relief - once I admitted how much everything was hurting it became intolerable, but at the time I don't know, you get used to aches and pains and expect a certain amount of discomfort?

I am doing some small runs here and there but my longest run all year was only 10 miles so it obviously wasn't going to happen

the stupid original self-inflicted calf strain STILL hurts now, just sitting here, I think it will take ages but I am selflessly cheering the rest of you on

Oh mitchy that is sad. But sometimes it is the right thing to do. Would have been lovely to all meet up :-( Thank you for cheering the rest of us on though.,.think we need it!

Sorry to hear that mitchy

Brainwashed - I hope I've converted from km to miles correctly. I'm now doing

One long run of 20-25km
Two medium runs of 15km
Two intervals/fart lek sessions of 8-10km

until last week I was doing an extra 10km as well , but I've dropped that supposedly to have a core session . Although in fact I had another day off as it was my wedding anniversary ( any old excuse)

But I'm not doing any cross training like you . And my friend has told me to cut the speed work session to 8km too. But next weeks is a recovery week so I'll only be doing 50km. And aftre that I have more tempo runs,which will be a big challenge for me .

I like recovery weeks!! I have a monster week ahead with a long run of 21 miles...but the week after is a "recovery" week with my long run being a half marathon race...so a chance to get an idea of what pace I should be going at!
I think reducing the length of your speed sessions is a good idea...we usually do about 4- 4.5 miles at an interval session at my club.

So your long run in your recovery week is the Same as my normal " long run" !!

I see I need to drop my speed work session down to 8km then. One of my usual routes is 8.4 km so that would work well for me, although it's quite hilly.I am really REALLY bad on hills. I can run a whole minute faster on our local flat Parkrun course than on my usual hilly one. You would think that running it every week would improve things but apparently not

Re mileage - I got a another running book from the kids for Mother's Day and I read last night that you can substitute 25-30 % of your running mileage with cross training such as cycling and swimming. It's got a good section on core work which should inspire me tomorrow .

Off to do my long run! ( y'know, what you call a wee stroll )

Well that's my monster run done..aka 21 miles. Might have a lie down now....

Well done brainwashed!!!

Remember to ice any sore bits.do you have compression socks for recovery? And keep drinking ( sadly not alcohol)

If I were you I would book myself a wee massage as a reward

Am hydrating well but will have wine tonight...my Friday night treat! Will probably put my compression stuff on later. The kind of massages I need these days aren't really a treat...sports massages are so sore!

I know, the treat is how much better you feel 2 days later.

The last few times I've been for a sport massage I lay there thinking I should have taken a painkiller first < wimp>. I was practising my breathing from labour , you know that blowing out stuff

I shall also have a small glass or two of red wine ( not just a Friday night treat here ) but not really earned as this is a recovery week . only 50km in the whole week and three yes THREE rest days . What a skive !

Because the runs have been so short AND no speed work this week, I've upped my pace to race pace. But I've no idea how I will sustain this for 21k.

I didn't say the wine was just a Friday night treat...usually a Sunday night and Tuesday night treat too! I don't drink night before a long run though...learnt that the hard way!
Races always make you run a bit faster...I shall test that theory in the St Andrews half next weekend....

Ooh how exciting, I shall look forward to hearing about your race and getting any tips.

I am doing a 10k in early May but that's the only other race I have scheduled. Through my park run pals are mad keen and trying to persuade me to sign up for more.

only seven weeks!

am really looking forward to your race reports

is louwn still out there?

< waves >

Have just done a long run of 23km. I realise although this is a LSR for me, it is just a warm up for you proper marathoners.

Hardly Kristina...I find the shorter lsr difficult too...they're just over a bit quicker!

I didn't run further than that during my preparation for Edinburgh Kristina, or at least not by much, about 15 miles I think

that is quite far enough!

obviously I would have but am a still a mixture of relief and disappointment and envy