2015 Running thread part three

[actiongirl1978]

Woo! How exciting to be the last on one thread and the first on another!

but I am concerned about my alabaster skin, I shall have to smother myself in factor 50,000,000
I will probably come back encrusted with insects which have flown into me and become stuck in the sunblock

Anglaise I have only done one marathon, and looking back I can't imagine how I managed all the training (20 week plan, 4 runs a week, a couple of which were 20+ miles) along with everything else I do. In fact, because I religiously tracked every single run on my trusty garmin, I ran a total of 547 miles/104.5 hours, over 85 outings, in training and the marathon itself. But I did it somehow. You will too .

A far more experienced runner told me when I told him I had a marathon place that the achievement was not just running the 26.2 on the day, but the months of preparation and training leading up to it. I really didn't get what he meant when I was starting my training, but I remembered it at the end of my marathon and he was absolutely right.

Suzanne you basically just described me all summer long. But add insect repellant running into my eyes to complete the full look

Oh haha Hester I cannot remember a jot.

you're lucky

Ohoneohtwo yes, the training required for a marathon is impressive! I've been lucky enough to do most of mine either with the club or running friends so that's made things easier. Did you enjoy your marathon? What was the hardest thing? Can you see yourself doing another? I've done the equivalent distance trail race but it isn't the same thing as you aren't constantly against the chrono like you are for road racing.

I loved my marathon. I was slower than I'd hoped, but I really enjoyed it. The hardest thing was towards the end where the support had thinned out and it was a bit cold and windy.

I would love to do another, last year I did a 3 day event where you ran the distance over Fri/Sat/Sun (5 mile, 8.1 mile x-country, HM in that order) and hope to do it again this year

Ohoneohtwo Your 3 day event sounds interesting. 8.1 miles cross country sounds really tough, especially for women! The long cross country events in France are usually 5-6kms max for us girls, the men usually 10kms max. And to follow that event with a HM the next day... but I bet it is great fun!

perhaps I'm being a bit dim Anglaise, but why is cross country so hard for women?
(surely you dont have to cut down tree's or heft big logs about :o )

2.5 miles in my new runnjng shoes

So 633.89

2.4 in the pouring rain tonight....636.3

Never usually run in the rain, but found myself slightly enjoying it tonight which i didn't expect. Tried out a waterproof jacket i bought last yr but had never worn and found I wasn't sweating to much.

I am in awe of anything who trains for a marathon, such an incredible achievement!

Thank you for all the supporting interval training replies. Was intending to go and do some tonight but it is pouring with rain so went to Metafit instead (still high intensity training so similar ).

I've never done a road Marathon, but have done a couple of HMs. Did a 25 mile trail race last year, different experience I think to road races. You can't work on your pace because the terrain doesn't let you, but benefit is in the variation that keeps you on edge.

-4 here this morning so no shorts and t-shirt yet.

Anglaise is was great fun last year, the weather was lovely and there was great camaraderie among those of us who were at the back in all three races . The winner of the combined distance did it in 2hrs 42mins - which is only marginally more than my usual HM time .

I have found a river path to run along tomorrow morning

My alarm is set for 5.30 to meet my friend at 6 and I can't sleep! Going to be knackered tomorrow!

None of this marathon chat persuades me, will be sticking to hm as my furthest distance but I am missing a 6-10 mile Sunday run I have to say!

Hope you enjoyed your run cinnamon.

I ran a slow 5 miles. Not many other runners around, but lots of stray cats

Suzanne I think I confused things by talking about a traditional cross country race, which is always in winter, usually in mud, you run in studded shoes and there is a huge field of people running so it is very intense, probably because the distance is short. Just running in the country doesn't have to be like that, trail racing for example which is probably more the pace in Ohoneohtwo's 3 day event.
Cinnamon I was never bothered by doing a marathon but once I'd done a few HMs and long trail races I got the bug. Most people my the club have done one. I've only been running properly for 18 months so I have an excuse for not having done one sooner! Being 50 this year has something to do with it too, I'm sure.

It was wonderful OhOneOhTwoOhThree, gorgeous sunrise, mist across the fields and very fresh! 4 miles in 45 mins even stopping to wait for the dogs to come back! Feel great now and only working 7.30-9am today

645.3 with mine and OhOneOhTwoOhThree's miles :)

Morning all. I have 11.7 miles to add from Sunday and then 6.1 from yesterday. That makes the new total 663.1.
Just over a week to go until Reading half marathon. I found out last week that someone I work with is also doing it. He will be considerably faster than me though, but hopefully he will wait for me at the finish.
I want to do four half marathons this year if I can find the time and then I may consider a full marathon next year. Eek!!

5 miles to add here. My not so lovely Garmin went askew and had me running through houses part of the way.....

668.1

No desire for a marathon here. I might put my name in VLM ballot with a friend but hopefully won't get a place .

3 miles last night. 671.1

Low carb leaden-ness seems to be easing a tad. Fingers crossed

I feel more determined than ever to do a marathon! Last year (or maybe year before?) I was thwarted by a soleus strain which, because I didn't ever really completely stop running, took months to heal and left me with plantar fasciitis, achilles problems etc

so enlisted support of rehabilitative personal trainer who helped me run less on my toes and a bit more symmetrically (anyone else quite lopsided? I think it's quite common) and so my other leg, unused to doing much work, developed a calf strain of its own. Then just as I get the all clear to resume training at a gentle run/walk my GP picks up an overactive thyroid, which is putting my body under a surprising amount of pressure (I've lost 2kg of very precious lean mass since January :() but somehow makes it feel more important than ever to have A Goal for when I'm well again.

anyway have heroically banged out 3 sunny miles, annoyingly for someone with a condition that is supposed to cause you to overheat and drip with sweat constantly I am still struggling with being cold!

671.1

674.1

that's what I get for writing an essay about my troubles

Halle - I did that for VLM this year and was mightily relieved when I got the rejection :o
I do want to do a marathon, partly because I think I will regret it if I don't, but seeing the amount of time friends are putting into their training at the moment I know that I would lose out on too much to commit to one at the moment. DC are still young enough to want to spend time with us at the weekends and I need to make the most of that as it won't last for much longer :(

I'd never say never but my feeling now is that a marathon would do me more harm than good.
Then again for an experienced runner it should be possible to mitigate the damage from the occasional extreme event and I fully appreciate that the exhilaration and sense of achievement would be more than worth it.

I'm still finding my feet with running really, so who knows ?

I'm still planning to do the 50k forest thing in October, but it is in 12.5km laps and I will take a break and walk at each checkpoint, you could walk the whole thing if you wanted and you have up to 7 hours to complete if you want a medal. I think that's quite generous and realistic?