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?

I'm doing the VLM in April, my first marathon. I did 2 halfs last year. On week one of the Runners World intermediate 16 week programme. Not sure yet time I want to go for. Feeling a bit daunted and suffering from hip pain after doing 13 miles on Weds but also very excited! Pleased to see a thread on here.

hi alphabetsy :) hope hip is ok now?

I get hip pain - worth checking out. For me its because of instability so I try to do balancing exercises.

afternoon all, i get hip pain too, and also know this is due to favouring one leg/footfall over the other, hoping pilates and lots of hip exercises will sort this out

parkrun this morning was brilliant, so windy! the final 1/4 mile was against the wind, you really had to bend into it, just to move

looking forwards to my long and slow run tomorrow though - 80 mins on my feet, a real chance to clear my head and listen to some great music

Hi hip pain much better today thanks. I rested Thurs and Fri and did body pump plus a 5 mile run home today and felt good (despite nearly being blown off a hill in the wind!). I also had my new trainers on - properly fitted following gait analysis at a proper sports shop so that may have helped. I agree balancing exercises and core stability are a good idea so am trying to fit these into my plan. Any tips for fuelling on a long run? At the moment I don't take anything on board (not even water!). I know this is really bad and have just ordered a special bum bag which can carry a small bottle. Any recommendations for gels or are jelly babies just as good?! Tbh the thought of eating anything on a run doesn't appeal but presume I have to if I want to successfully up the miles?

I don't take food or water yet (am up to the half distance) but I have a camelbak thing for the longer (15+?) runs or when it gets warm enough to sweat and I know from previous experimentation that I'm ok with torq gels, diluted lucozade, jelly babies (not all at same time)

but yes now is the time to experiment!

(I do spend most of the rest of my time drinking though, thanks to a medication that makes me really thirsty, so am usually well enough hydrated for a couple of hours)

I once took jelly babies out, but they made me feel sick, so haven't bothered before either.

I bought some gels the other day, going to use one later but since my route is two circuits past my house, if it upsets me I won't be left hurling into a ditch, miles from home. Hopefully

Is anyone else doing the Silverstone half in March?

Yes - I am doing Silverstone! I did it last year (my first half). I thought it was great especially as it is more or less flat!! Going for an 8 mile now in the lovely sunshine. Will try jelly babies/ gels on my long run in the week.

First 10 miler of 2015.... Done!

[sore feet, though].

Hi, I'm doing the Edinburgh marathon at the end of May. Never done a marathon before, have done quite a lot of 10ks over the years and have run the Great Scottish Run (half marathon) a few times. my best time for the half is 1h 50, but I think I just want getting finished to be my marathon goal so I'm not putting extra pressure on myself. I've never followed a training plan before but I've not been running for a few months so am following the Non-runners marathon trainer which seems pretty easy so far.

The important thing is to get to the start line in reasonable shape!

Hi - can I join?

I'm doing Manchester on 19th April - have failed to get into VLM 2 years running and am 40 this year so the plan was always to do one before I fall into old age

Have done a few halfs but had to take some time out over Christmas due to injury so am now following a beginners plan to ease me back into it all slowly and hopefully stay fit throughout.

yay our numbers are growing! Welcome!

anyone get Long Run route anxiety? It's a few weeks off as not planning to exceed 13 miles until after next HM in feb but am already wondering where to go on 15+ length outings

Definitely get that anxiety! I managed to run for 11 miles around where I live but it's hard to stay motivated I find! For this event I'm signing up for as many events as possible if they align with my training plan - have a half and 2 x 20 mile runs in the diary so far....

where are your 20 mile races? I'd like to find one for April

I'm going to try tacking on a couple of miles to my favourite 10 mile route tomorrow, if I've seriously miscalculated I can always have a nice cool down walk but if it's under it will be traumatic getting close to home and then running an extra mile or so

I'm doing the Kingston breakfast run on 15th March and Oakley 20 (Bedfordshire) on 29th March. My marathon is mid April so 29th will be my longest run. Runners World website has a good events section. Good luck with the run today!

Quick 5k after work.

Sometimes I find theses short runs the hardest. Maybe I feel less anticipation? And I get demoralised when I'm still warming up and it feels like hard work. Usually brighten up after about 20 minutes.

10k tomorrow!

short ones are harder aren't they, I take a few miles to warm up sometimes and I tend to think 'it's a little one, I should go flat out'

haven't run since Friday, horrible lower back pain, have stayed off my feet as much as possible and will see how it goes tomorrow - I thought it was riding related but now I'm not sure

I'm doing the Ashby 20 in March which scares the life out if me as apparently very hilly and it will be the furthest I'llnhave ever run. Hope your back holds up tomorrow Mitchy. I'm hoping to do 15 miles tomorrow if my hip holds out. Eaten a big bowl of pasta tonight in preparation!! It'll be very slow run I think!

Hello! Can I join you? I'm hopefully doing Brighton - just getting over an injury, so fingers crossed it stays away.

I'm behind in mileage and trying to balance between not doing too much too soon, and not getting the miles in soon enough and leaving myself too much to do.

afternoon everyone

I thought I'd blown any chance of everything (dramatic, me? ) as i developed piriformis syndrome after my long run on sunday

a couple of days of really intense stretching, rolling and ice packs has released it and it's so much better.

had a chat with my pilates instructor today, and by her observations and knowledge she's confident the strengthening exercises i've been doing for my hip and adductor will very soon kick in, so shouldn't get any increased trouble.

so after class i went and knocked out a very slow 5k on the treadmill - feeling awesome!

hi pootle, welcome and good luck! still 3 whole months to go!

well done jenny, hope it stays away :)

A fellow Edinburgh runner swallowed !

I've not run since Sunday due to a combination of niggle in my left leg, feeling unwell with a cold and incredibly bad weather. At least it's all coming at once!

I'm sitting inside listening to awful wind and rain and I'm quite glad I wasn't doing my long run home from work this evening. I did it last Wednesday in torrential rain - at least it was relatively mild then unlike tonight!

I'm just off to see what long races I can find.

Well, my search was a bit fruitless. I can't find any 20 mile type races that I could get to. I'll just have to manage without!