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Original poster

spring marathoners

344 replies

Mitchy1nge · 06/01/2015 20:06

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?

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orangeflutie · 29/01/2015 13:49

Hi hope no one minds but have been watching this thread with envy as I haven't entered a marathon this year but ran my first one last year which was a fantastic experience. At the moment I'm training for a HM on the 1st March and it seems to be coming round awfully quickShock

Last year when I was training I had an injury for a while and doubted whether I would make it to marathon day, and it's easy for the negative thoughts to push in. So all I really want to say is you're all doing really well with the training and to keep thinking positive. You can do it!Smile

Original poster
Mitchy1nge · 29/01/2015 13:57

thanks orange :)

have been feeling horribly negative, particularly about the calf (how can it be happening? again! I haven't even started increasing my distance or training volume yet!)

found today's run really hard and just awful, and cut it short by a couple of miles, but there ARE lots of positives to be celebrated

my next half is next weekend Shock

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JennyOnTheBlocks · 29/01/2015 14:22

12 weeks Shock just had yet another really annoying email from VLM money giving to remind me it's only 12 weeks Shock

did a speed session today, and bloody hell that was tough. i've never done anything like that before but glad i got it in before the snow started - which it just has here

orangeflutie · 29/01/2015 14:41

Mitchy will be thinking of you next weekend and sending positive thoughtsSmile

Not sure how much snow will be coming south. I got some yaktraks for Christmas. Are they as good as they say?

Original poster
Mitchy1nge · 29/01/2015 19:11

I think they must be! someone on today's run was getting excited about doing a long run in them Grin

nice one Jenny :) 12 weeks is still AGES

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Original poster
Mitchy1nge · 29/01/2015 19:12

thanks orange flutie Flowers

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isittheweekendyet · 29/01/2015 20:36

Thanks Orange - welcome and please share your top tips for us first timers!

Rest day today thankfully looking at the weather - have an annoying dull ache deep in my left calf muscle. Have gone over with the foam roller and now pestering dh to massage it while we watch tv Grin. Going out for an easy 4 miles tomorrow after work

BafanaThesober · 29/01/2015 21:46

Track was cancelled this evening because of the snow, so a group of us went out and did some speedwork at the local park. 4 miles done, and a good average pace for me.
Nice nutritious meal when I got home, and am a hoping the washing machine finishes soon so I can be in bed for 10, that bit is looking unlikely!

Don't know whether to do my long run tomorrow night after work, or Sunday morning.

isittheweekendyet · 30/01/2015 12:05

Too much snow here to go out today, boooo, so managed to tolerate the treadmill for 3.1 miles instead. God I hate that machine. Hopefully the snow clears soon as supposed to be doing 5 miles at some point over the weekend and I'll die of boredom if I have to do that indoors too Confused

Pleaseputyourshoeson · 31/01/2015 17:57

I hate treadmills too. Well I've had two total exercise rest days so am going to try my long run tomorrow and see how I go. I suspect it going to painful with all the niggles but also because I suspect three hours of cold windy wet sleety weather will dampen my spirits. I'm hoping music blasting and running a new route will spur me on. 9 weeks...- or just a smidge over 2 months to go...

Pleaseputyourshoeson · 31/01/2015 18:01

Mitchy, you ok?

Original poster
Mitchy1nge · 01/02/2015 10:16

hi please, my mood is a bit on the low side but my next half is a week today so I hope that will help - I was hoping for a PB as it's a fast and flat course but I think (as usual) it will be a victory just to show up and have a go

my confidence was in tatters after Thursday but objectively there was nothing wrong with pace etc., it just FELT hard

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Pleaseputyourshoeson · 01/02/2015 14:28

Sorry about your low mood. And you are right it did feel hard because sometimes some runs just do.
I just ran a 10k and hoped to go on and run another 12 miles but during the run something went wrong in my ankle, shooting pain as soon as an incline presented itsel. I can't push off on it without shooting pain in the front of my ankle. So right now I'm beginning to think all hopes of running a marathon are now dashed. Spirits are truly sunk. My body really feels like a big let down. I'm so pissed off. I'm sick of something always breaking down. I have orthotics that are meant to help but they are so hard to break in that I get blisters every time. So I'm not having any joy there either.

Original poster
Mitchy1nge · 01/02/2015 15:07

oh noooo, maybe it will come good quickly with ice and rest etc?

can you see the physio or whoever organised your orthotics? Like you said, still two months to go, but I completely know that feeling. I have strained my left calf but it's responding so well to rest it seems possible I can work round it as long as my focus is mainly on that long run and am really aggressive about staying off it between runs

will see how next week's half goes, I still have over 3 months to get from 13 to 20 miles

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Pleaseputyourshoeson · 01/02/2015 17:05

Yes you've loads of time. I hthink what's going on is ankle impingement, ie the soft tissue/ligaments are being inflamed and then pinched by the joint. Hills piss it right off and I've been doing loads of them. Rest and ice/ibuprofen I think is the only thing for it. So infuriating.

isittheweekendyet · 01/02/2015 18:58

Oh no, Please, that's rough. Hope you can get some advice or treatment to get it on the mend soon. Mitchy, hope you have a better run next time. Some are just harder than others sometimes for no reason.

I did my long run in the week so set out to do a quick-ish 10k tonight and ended up with a new pb of 57:16 so very chuffed with that. Not sure how my calf will thank me tomorrow but have stretched and run it over the foam roller just now so fingers crossed.

BafanaThesober · 01/02/2015 21:28

Sorry you are feeling low Mitchy. I am sure that it will all come right for you. Fingers crossed.

My big fear is that I get my mileage all the way up to 20 miles and then get injured, and can't run the marathon, I suppose if I was injured now, i would be devastated, but I wouldn't have put all the time and effort that the next 10 weeks will entail.
I just keep hoping it will all be ok!

I ran 11 this afternoon, after Andy upset me by not winning the tennis, the first 9 were good, and I enjoyed them, the last 2 were dreadful. Does that happen to anyone else? I feel as my mileage increases, the wheels fall off for the increased distance everytime? Not helped by the fact I live at the top of a hill, and regardless of which direction I run, I always have to run up the last mile home.
However - I am chuffed that it's done, and the kids were baking when I came in, so a lovely slice of Carrot cake helped.

Have a good week everyone

hipsdontlieunfortunately · 01/02/2015 23:41

Hope the weekend (and inevitable long runs!) have been kind to everyone. Now finished week 4 of training and did 9miles on Saturday.

Bafana - I empathise with your last mile uphill trauma. I am in a similar(ish) position and feel like I dread the last mile before I've even ran the first. I have no suggestions other than try and save your motivational song for your last push.

Original poster
Mitchy1nge · 02/02/2015 08:21

I think I'd be tempted to reorganise the route so it finishes somewhere else or before the worst bit of the hill and walk the last half mile or so (I have to walk anyway if I've been running for a couple of hours or more) or park my car somewhere the length of the run away so I HAVE to get there

haven't done that for a while, it was one of my motivational tricks when I was trying to establish a habit, last year I did it to force myself to run a particular route alone

anyway legitimately no long runs for me until my half on Sunday and all my hopes are pinned upon that to reset my brain into Excited About Marathon mode and out of 'oh fuck me it's COLD and everything hurts and I am shit anyway'

the cold is my biggest obstacle I think

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LadyBlaBlah · 02/02/2015 20:40

Yeah the cold is just awful. As well as the ice and snow and hail.

I did 13.5 miles this morning. It felt ok. But I feel actually ill now. Fevery, cold, tired, miserable.
I'm waiting til dcs are ready so can go to bed. Zzzzz.

I actively plan my routes to avoid hills in the last miles...I too would be driving to end point if that was impossible Smile

Good luck for the half Mitchy. A week of low distance will be just the tonic.

Original poster
Mitchy1nge · 02/02/2015 20:50

I hope you feel better soon, these cold temperatures are just awful, would a bath help do you think?

Did 4 miles today and horrible sharp sudden 'ping' in my left calf, it still hurts now but have been icing it on and off. I can't even walk properly on it. It's mad, a short, slow and flat run that couldn't have been easier.

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leemur · 02/02/2015 22:19

Sorry to hear you're sore again Mitchy hope it doesn't come to anything.
That's a good run Lady hope you feel better tomorrow.

I did a very slow 6 miles on Saturday - the whole route was incredibly icy. Also did a wee interval session this evening on a half mile stretch of cleared pavement. The conditions underfoot are really hampering my training!

I did read on runnersworld about a marathon training programme based on 3 runs per week. It sounds quite interesting although I'm not sure I'm brave enough to deviate from more conventional plans!

JennyOnTheBlocks · 03/02/2015 20:47

leemur i'm on a 3 runs a week training, plan, and so far so good

had an horrendous run on sunday though, two hours on my feet (longest ever) and i found The Wall. I could have broken down and cried right in the street, almost jumped on a bus and called it all in. But I didn't, i gave myself a right good talking too, and while I did cut the run slightly short, managed almost 8 miles. Even went out and did the recovery run in the snow today

Pleaseputyourshoeson · 03/02/2015 21:26

Well done Jenny. Right I've been to have ankle looked at and its an ankle impingement issue which with lots of ice/ibuprofen and rest should heal ok so I'm still believing that if I keep fit via a bike or upper body swimming I can still get round the marathon. I've done 16 miles and I have the rest of Feb and half of March to fit one more 18-20 miler and then a batch of 13 ish milers and a taper. I'm thinking that If my aim is not about time but just completion that with sheer guts n determination I will do it. I just need to do it uninjured. Loads of people seem to run the VLM on way less training so I think I must be able to do it. I'm mentally persuading myself that I could allow myself a walking break every 5k if need be or something. I'm refusing to get down or fed up as there will be other races and I think if I don't manage this one that there will be another little one somewhere I can do. The one I'm doing isn't a big name one, I am just doing a tiny one so that I can just plug my headphones in and run my own race. But first to mend this ankle....

isittheweekendyet · 03/02/2015 21:26

Well done Jenny on your long run. I had an awful wall experience in my last half marathon, I just wanted to stop and lie down! Are you fuelling well enough while you're out? 2 hours is a long time to be exercising and I take something with me for anything over 45 mins on a long run, usually a gel.

Mitchy, hope things are ok with you. Snow here again today so missed my planned 4 mile which is the first run I've missed in 4 weeks so feeling a bit Hmm Won't be able to go out until Sat and Sun for definite now and Sunday is due to be a 12 miler. Eeek.