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

[Mitchy1nge]

SchroSaw - there's a half, a 10k and a 5k (I think) and LOADS of time to prepare

[SchroSawMargeryDaw]

Really want to be way past 5k by then, hopefully able to do a half but would happily settle for the 10k.

When exactly is it?

[Mitchy1nge]

here you go! it's the May bank holiday :)

[SchroSawMargeryDaw]

Ohh loads of time. Thank you! :)

[Mitchy1nge]

lovely 5 miles today but SO COLD, at no point did some parts of me (hands, tips of ears and nose) stop feeling really fucking cold brrrrrrr and it's 11c, what am I supposed to do in Actual Winter?

(on plus side my avg moving pace according to Garmin was 10:52 so am steadily picking up, yay me :))

[louwn]

Maybe wear gloves/hat/ one of those buff neck things to keep warm?! I'm generally warmer than other people so don't have this problem! I did 4 miles at lunch time yesterday with a guy fron work. We did it in 32:48 - he had to really motivate me at the end to keep going for the last mile or so at that pace! Long run of 9 miles tomorrow.

[Mitchy1nge]

think am getting used to the cold a bit now - missed my long run this weekend but have 29 of my planned 100 miles for November in the bank so am on target I think :)

how was your 9 miler?

[louwn]

Fun actually - did it in a smidge under a 9 min mile so was pleased. On the other hand just done 2 miles now (easy run on the training programme!) and it was tough and I am now gross and sweaty - ran in a really warm hoody - not cold enough for that yet I have learnt!

[Mitchy1nge]

you're so fast you're so fast you're soooo fast

am glad Edinburgh isn't a race between just the two of us

[Mitchy1nge]

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Today I broke the 11 minute barrier on a slightly longish run (9 miles 10:50), finally. I wasn't even out of breath which makes me wonder - am I old and slow or just fucking lazy?

So my mission is to do this marathon in about 4 and a half hours, or 10:30 pace. Project Speed! Am not sure how. Bit of research is needed.

[brainwashed]

Am doing edin marathon next year. Was supposed to do it this year but had to pull out as needed a hysterectomy :-(
Well 5 months post op I am back running faster than before, a stone lighter and raring to go!
Have to better my time for loch ness marathon(5:10).

[Mitchy1nge]

am imagining your uterus and stuff weighed a stone

welcome though :) quite a few of us now

[brainwashed]

No it didn't! That would have have been truely scary! I was just really motivated to get back into my exercise regime once I was allowed to post op.
Am looking forward to getting stuck into training....I will get to know bits of the route very well over the coming months....

[Mitchy1nge]

oh good, you are training on parts of the actual course? are there any hills or bridges or other difficult bits? everyone says it is quite flat and fast, I haven't so much as looked at a map of it yet

my weekly mileage is about 26 now, I'm going to make it 30 in December

[brainwashed]

Some people in previous years have commented that the Edinburgh marathon is more in east lothian than Edinburgh. That is actually one of the attractions for me as I live in east lothian! I will do quite a lot of my long runs along the coast road that is a major part of the route. No major hills, just some very little up and downs.Scenery is lovely along the coast which is a good distraction if you're not overly familiar with it. Only difficulty might be wind,can be tough into a headwind along that coast! I'm hoping for a still, not too hot day personally, though folk do get their hosepipes and sprinklers out in some of the wee towns if it is hot

[Mitchy1nge]

It sounds lovely! I can't imagine it being hot in Scotland! I've been to the west coast at that time of year, it was a very pleasant temperature but I wouldn't call it hot exactly.

[brainwashed]

It isn't often hot here tbh but there have been a few years that the day of the Edinburgh marathon has been baking, then back to 10 degrees the following day!

[Mitchy1nge]

ok that's good to know, mustn't assume it will be cool with a light breeze then

I did some crazily long four hour plus runs during this summer, when it was hovering up to and around 30 so maybe in my madness I was preparing myself! Now I am doing everything much more thoughtfully.

[brainwashed]

4 hour runs in 30 degree heat? That sounds ever so slightly mad....
So what training plan is everyone planning to follow?

[Mitchy1nge]

I have a coach of sorts, so just consult him and follow his advice more or less but we make a plan and then deviate from it depending how it is going

anyway have logged 56 miles so far this month, am on Project Consistency (leading to Project Speed hopefully) at present - don't know about actual plans but January will be about 35 miles a week, Feb 40, March 45 ish and hold - something like that, up to about 50 a week, assuming can do it and avoid injury and so on, running 4 times in the week and a long one at the weekend. I guess by then the long run will be around 20 miles at least now and then

[brainwashed]

Your own coach...lucky you!

[Mitchy1nge]

he takes it very seriously just a friend who has done a lot of marathons and ultras, but it has been such a help to have someone take it seriously and encourage and support my attempts at running

do you find people generally quite interested and sort of approving?

[brainwashed]

That's the great thing about runners...they generally love it so much they are really encouraging to any one wanting to give it a go!
I joined a running club 2 years ago which was the best thing ever. My family are really supportive,my boys run as well anyway. My mum I think doesn't quite get it sometimes...if its raining or cold she thinks I won't be going running!

[louwn]

wowzer excellent weekly mileage mitchy, mine is tops about 18 or 19 atm. Just done a 5k in about 24:30, was not exactly fun but wanted to prove to myself I could go under 25 mins! Glad to see some more runners joining us : )

[Mitchy1nge]

that's so fast louwn, do you run your longer ones at a similar pace?
I think I will probably never be that speedy but on plus side it is all feeling quite comfortable (except my feet, they are blistered pretty much all over since I introduced them to some new winter running socks and new pair of exact same shoes this week )

I ran about 10 miles of the 'undulating' half marathon course this morning anyway, from mile 7 my pace picked up without me noticing to 10:35 then 10:26 - I am sure I could make my marathon pace about 10:30. It's AGES away still isn't it?

Am curious to know what 40-50 miles a week looks like, and how it works. Did 28 this week and will need to do about 30 next to reach my monthly target - that feels like a lot of time spent hanging my kit on radiators the night before, rounding up gloves, trying to dry my stinky shoes, making sure I have something to eat when I get back and time for a shower and a change of clothes - all quite apart from the actual time spent running. I suppose weekday runs won't alter much, it will just be the loss of most of one day at the weekend eventually?