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

[louwn]

I will be looking at getting some kind of gps watch before the marathon. Maybe as a reward after my first 20 mile run. I don't usually pick up colds when I'm exercising regularly but have been stressed out and busy at work lately. 2 weeks off, have relaxed and there it is. Just having a lovely hot bath to perk myself up before we go to house party for NYE. Hope my fellow marathon and half marathoners have a good evening.

[KristinaM]

Hi all HNY

I've just been out running with my friend. She signed up for the Edinburgh marathon at midnight last night! But she's done a few before So I shall be getting tips from her too. So far she has told me to avoid the gels!

[louwn]

Happy New Year! I quite like the gels but you need to try them out to see which suit you - the texture varies and certain ones make me gag. Not what you want during a race!!

[Kaffiene]

Hi All,
Have just signed out for the Half :) Did Promathon in Portobello this morning and cursed last nights excesses every single step of the way. But I did it! I ran all the way.
I only started running in Sept so am pleased with myself. kristinaM There is an 8 week pre 12 week training plan. I am aiming to get up to 15 - 20 miles a week and then start the 12 week plan.

[KristinaM]

Well done kaff, you are very brave to sign up for a HM after only 3 months of running. It has taken me nearly two years to pluck up the courage

Thanks for the heads up on the pre training plan. For the next 7 weeks I am just going to try and get my mileage up, because I'm only doing 25km a week right now and I suspect I should be up about 80km before I start the 12 week programme. But I would need to increase too much each week and I don't want to risk it.

[louwn]

Welcome Kaffiene!
80 a week sounds an awful lot Kristina, I think my marathon programme tops out at 45 miles a week.

[KristinaM]

I meant 80k, so only 50 miles. Is that too much? I hope you're right as I only have enough time to get to about 60km. I think the idea is that you build lots of slow miles first, then reduce the distances and do more speed work.

But I'm no expert so I'd be interested to hear what others think

[louwn]

I am no expert either - but I think my max miles for a half marathon per week were maybe only 25? what is your goal time? I got a few seconds over 2 hours on a tough hilly route training 3 to 4 times a week. Max long run of 12 miles, one set of intervals then some shorter runs.

[Mitchy1nge]

I don't know either, think am aiming ultimately for roughly 50 a week (have heard it should be double the distance, optimally, but not sure if this applies to first timers or people just doing it for fun?)

when I get much over 30 per week I struggle with hunger and tiredness all the time so really need to balance everything else around it and eat and rest more I think - it's not slotting into my life quite as effortlessly as I'd hoped and am already having to spend less and less time on other forms of exercise that I enjoy

no plans to do any speed work yet or maybe ever, lots of easy miles, I just want to get round in one piece. For any future marathons maybe I will make things a bit more complicated but am quite pleased with how it's going so far

[KristinaM]

Louen - my target time is about 1:55 but I have to the end of February to revise it. I have no experience at this distance so I'm just going by the race predictor calculations and adding on a bit !

I suspect I will have to train a lot more that you as I am old enough to be your mother IIRC

I think that pattern you describe ( one Long run, two shorter and some speed work ) is what I would be following during the 12 week training. The longer slow runs are just for the base phase. If I've understood it correctly.

I hope I don't get too hungry mitchy. I'm not skinny now and I certainly don't need to gain any more weight :-(

Now I have been thinking and talking about it I'm desperate to get out running today but can't as I've already gone from 15 last week to 25 this week. So it's back to Jillian sodding Michael

How strict are you all about not adding more than 10% a week?

[KristinaM]

I forgot to LOL at Mitch's running a marathon " just for fun"

[Mitchy1nge]

:) well I am going to have fun anyway :)

I don't really get the 10% thing, what is it 10% of? The mileage over a week, any given run, the whole month? I add a mile or two to my long run every other week or so but then have a week where the long run drops back to 10 or 12 miles. Someone told me a mile for each day you run in a week is a good rule of thumb, so if you run four times a week that's how many miles you can safely add to the weekly total - either in one go or more easily shared among two or three runs.

[Kaffiene]

OK I am officially terrified now!

I was aiming to do consistent 15 miles a week for Jan and then start the 12 week program. All the programs I have looked at seem to peak at about 35-40 miles a week for the half.

50 miles a week pre training ???

[Mitchy1nge]

but not for a half marathon - that's for the full? I think it also makes a difference if you cross train, in terms of getting away with fewer miles or only running three times a week for example

[KristinaM]

Mitch -thanks , that sounds a bit better. It would allow me to get my mileage up faster. I've stuffed it a bit because I was running 4 times a week them stopped for a couple of months because of family problems . So now I'm starting from a very low base

Kaff -just ignore me, I'm probably taking bollocks! Also I'm working in km whereas most of you use miles, so I'm probably not converting correctly .
AKAIK ( which isn't a lot ) it depends on so many factors like your age, your experience, your fitness level and what you want to achieve.

I am much older than most of you, so I think I need to train for a longer period but much slower. I need to get the mileage up slowly to minimise the wear and tear on my joints. And I want to get a better overall fitness level before I start on speed work. None of this might apply to someone who is younger and much fitter, who does lots of other exercise or cross training.

Anyway, this is all just theory so far. Will need to see who it plans out in the next few week. You know what they say about the best laid plans.....

[Mitchy1nge]

I agree with you, it is highly individual and think it does depend on the type of miles too, I have to 'recover' from a fastish 5k in a way which doesn't apply to 10 or more steadier miles at my happy pace (about 11:30 )

nice to have so many virtual training buddies though :)

[louwn]

It is lovely to be able to share progress with you all on here. After a week off, I'm planning to do 3 miles on sunday. Hopefully I will have kicked my cold's ass by then but am planning a few short runs to get back into it - hopefully then next weekend I can get back to 10 miles.

[Mitchy1nge]

good luck :)

it was gruesome today, almost didn't go but got a text reminding me that my next half is in 7 weeks how is it suddenly so near?

[KristinaM]

Well done for battling through the weather minge

[louwn]

Which half is it mitchy? I just did my 3 miles , back to 5 times a week and chucking some strength exercises in there too so I don't come unstuck for the longer ones!

[Mitchy1nge]

what strength exercises will you do?

It's this, sometimes there is cake at the end :) have run most of the course a couple of times.

feel quite ropey still, no running all weekend :(

[louwn]

Ooh cake, now thats motivation to finish! Ah no, don't tell me you are ill now? Rubbish! There are some on runner's world website, can't work out how to copy and paste properly on here. Crunches, squats, that sort of thing.

[Mitchy1nge]

am in a plague house, everyone is just lying around with sore throats and dizzy heads - I think I'd feel ok if I'd slept but will go for a walk and see what that's like

even my non running friends are all out running :(

[Kaffiene]

Another one dying of the cold here. Haven't run since the 1st :( Still been walking the dog about 3 miles a day though. Feeling better today so walked 5 miles with him was shattered after though.

Booked in for Body Pump tomorrow for some strength work nd will hopefully do 3 miles after that.

[louwn]

Much sympathy from here as I'm just getting over it and had to take a whole week off running! So frustrating when you feel you're getting into it. Get well soon everyone!
First early morning run (about 6.30) for me tomorrow for about a month - will be a shock to the system I think. Then back to running with work people on Tues which is always fun as I'm a solo runner normally.