spring marathoners

[Mitchy1nge]

suspect there are a few of us preparing for a spring marathon - any interest in chat about training schedules, black toe nails and so on?

how frustrating for you, although that's not too bad is it - next week?

having said that I feel waves of despair about my own situation which doesn't seem to be as bad, it's the thought of how long it will take to get my running powers back I think and it really doesn't seem that long since I was last in this position

Oh Please, how annoying. Fingers crossed you'll be back on land in a week.

Managed 14.2 today instead of 15. Hard going. Everything after 10 miles felt like I was running through treacle. Backwards. Feeling totally overwhelmed by the prospect of 26.2 in 9 weeks. Knee was ok-ish while out but now a bit painful. Am gradually accepting that once this marathon is over my long runs may also have to stop and just stick with 5 and 10k's.

Hope everyone else running today got on well, and everyone else is on the road to recovery.

5 and 10ks sound good, or the half marathon is the perfect distance for me I think

am also never ever ever doing this again, had a trial 2 mile run/walk today, followed by a 3 mile walk (am trying to cover my weekly running mileage in a combination of walking, rowing machine and spin bike but I don't know if it really helps - it was a ratio of 3 minutes running to a minute walking, calf seems fine

I'll do it again Weds, Fri and Sun - probably further and probably 4:1 and definitely on road (I love mud but it is harder work isn't it) and next week see what physio suggests about the transition back to running and how far etc

Why do we put ourselves through it?!? I figure if I can survive the next 8 weeks and 5 days then I'll drop down to more normal distances!! Crazy attitude really. Just be so happy to tick the big one off my list! Have a physio appointment on Thurs for an assessment and advice - the knee is really protesting at anything over 10 miles and I just want to do all I can to keep it strong until the marathon is done.

Good luck for this week!

fingers crossed physio can help, for such a supposedly cheap activity running quickly becomes very costly doesn't it!

now the sun is shining I feel very keen to get out there again and start pushing the distance and at least get back to normal routine but the less I do the quicker it will heal

morning all, and what a beautifully sunny morning it is here too

i won't be running at least until the weekend, nursing a knee niggle here. not painful, but feels like it needs to 'crack' a lot of the time. Dr Google tells me it's likely to be bursitis, so i'm RICEing whenever possible, stretching and rolling within an inch of tears (thighs were BAD) and avoiding the swimming pool until my hips are looser

Polly, i'm not doing a marathon after VLM, too time consuming and I'm too old. Many bad habits have set in, and i've not got the capacity to change those on a permanent basis. It IS costly, I daren't tot up how much I've spent on shoes, bras, gels, base layers, compression wear, and not even forked out for a proper sports massage yet.

I'd love to stay 10/15k fit, and do 2/3 HMs a year though

I feel like a fat lump of unfit lard. Half term has blighted any opportunities to do any exercise since last Thursday. I am stir crazy I tell ta! Ugh, just a wee run, just a leeeetle one, that's all I'm asking :-) Am like an addict without its fix !!!!

I know what you mean Please - it is a fix!

Saw a physio today about my niggly knee and clicky hip. Happily she feels I've not done any damage to my knee but does think I have pathetically weak hips! Also thinks the knee problem is related to my weak hips and probable tightness in the IT band. So, no need to stop running, phew, but I have a shed load of stretches to do 3 times a day to strengthen my hips and get a better range of movement in them....fingers crossed.

fingers crossed isit :) glad you don't have to stop running

I've helpfully developed hyperthyroidism - had noticed lots of symptoms but attributed them to all the wrong causes, lucky I have annual checks isn't it? Not sure what impact this will have on marathon preparation, have seen a few discussions about it on RW forum, but am still only very gently and tentatively doing a bit of run/walk.

I thought it was odd that even half an hour of gentle hatha yoga was leaving me with DOMS! Muscle fatigue is probably my main obstacle but have also had chest pains while running. Great!

Gosh Polly, hope you get sorted re the thyroid quickly. How is the calf? Isittheweekendyet good to have that reassurance, do the exercises!
I ran for first time today, 8 sets of 3mins at 9kmph with 1 min walk breaks on the treadmill. Physio cleared me to start back on an every other day walk run. And I have to skip with a jump rope. He videod my running technique so a few posture things to work on. Felt good to finally get a wee bit of a sweat on but also tough to feel so unfit.
How is everyone else getting on?

Had a few weeks looking at this thread though my fingers... bad cold, personal stuff and a sore hip has made it all rather hard work. Lots of 7/8 mile runs but anything longer felt risky.

However, ran a slow half marathon today and feel ok. Tired, but all in one piece. And I've gorra medal...

Well done Deck! I also have a medal after doing the Old Deer Park Half. Lovely day for it and a mostly pretty scenic run along the Thames. 2.12 which I'm super pleased with. Hope everyone else is getting on ok and recovering from illness and injury.

I managed 2.33 which I've worked out isn't too awful considering that its only 13 minutes longer than it took me 10 years ago on a very straightforward course. This one had lots of muddy bits which you just could not run through without risking a fall. And on that occasion I had terrible shin pain for weeks afterwards.

Slightly niggly knee this morning but otherwise all good.

afternoon runners!

i took the bit between my teeth and saw a sports physio - good news my knee isn't knackered at all, but i have a severe case of paranoia and quite tight hammies. fairly easily remedied, and back on track for sliverstone and then VLM!

i went with a niggly knee...

Great news Jenny! I'm out of the marathon stakes for now, I've lost too much fitness through injury and it'd be silly to try and cram too much mileage in over the next month so I'm aiming to get back up to half distance over the next few weeks but I'll keep encouraging/following you all on the thread and maybe I'll try again later in the year. I've triathlons and HM's and duathlons still to aim for so I'm not too down hearted. In some ways it's a relief not to have to think about impending 16/18 milers etc! Keep on keeping on all of you still going for it. It's no mean feat so I admire all of you that can get through to the end of the training and to race day injury free.

Hello,

I have just rejoined. I have been reading this thread with interest. I am after some moral support. I am doing Brighton this year but training is not going well. This time last year I was up to about 16 miles but this year, due to lack of motivation and illness have only just reached a very slow half-marathon. Please can you reassure me that there is a reason to do this run (am being sponsored). I know that I am looking at 51/2 plus at the moment - will the roads reopen on me and will I get run over?

Anybody done Brighton? thank you.

runmummy you are about where I am....

Off for a short one - hoping to do more tomorrow.

Hello DeckSwabber

are you feeling ok about the 26 miles? Do you plan to walk/run or just see how it goes?

Going to see how it goes. Did just over 7 miles yesterday and going to attempt two laps of the same route today. According to my training plan I should be up to 18 today but that's too much of a jump.

I'm under no illusions about running a fast marathon - would just be happy to get to the start.

That is encouraging. My DP says that it doesn't matter if I take all day and stop off for a cup of tea as they will still wave at me. It is just me being frustrated with how hard it is this year. Last year I did the training ok but stuffed up on the day due to lack of sleep and illness that I didn't realise I had until too late. Good luck for your next run.

Bugger. I only managed one lap. Just not feeling up to it today after a sleepless night (other stuff - don't ask!).

Plan is to do 5k tuesday & thursday, another 7 miles Wednesday, and attempt a proper long one on Saturday. I think I just need the recovery time between runs these days (creaky old bones).

Gosh I'm under no illusions about doing a fast one either! Just be glad to get round!! Managed 16 on Saturday and have found a local 20 mile event next Sunday which I'm going to do. It's a week earlier than the plan says to do 20 but it's local and I'll deg be more motivated to do it as part of an event than if I was plodding on my own around my town. Feeling very overwhelmed by it all now. It's the first time there's been a 20 miler as part of this running festival so I'm having nightmares that there'll be about 15 people signed up for it - 19 proper runners and me dragging up the rear about 3 hours behind everyone else . Well done to everyone that got out this weekend.

20 people even - 19+1 does not make 15!!

[Wanders about wondering where everyone has got to]

Knackered after 7 miles yesterday and 14 today.

Brighton only a month away. If I can get an 18/20 miler done next weekend I won't scratch, but it'll be a tough day out on 12th at this rate.

Is a bit quiet on here, Deck! Good luck for the long run next weekend. Did 20 today at the MK festival of running, felt really good up to 18 miles then had to walk/run the rest of the way. Tough but happy I've got that one in the bag.