London marathoners assemble

[KittyandTeal]

As the ballot spaces start being allocated I thought I'd start a thread for those of us lucky enough to get a space.

I was rejected through the ballot but I have had a charity space since June so I'm running (and raising £1400) I've been training for a half so I can get the distance under my belt. Im up to 11 miles now in just over 2 hours. I'm slow but getting there. I'd like to get in under 5 hours but I'm happy to just be running it.

Yes I get v cold soon after stopping and need hot bath/shower! Know I'm supposed to go into the ice bath but argh. Also get v cold if I drop out on run v quickly (which I suppose encourages me to carry on running!) 5 mile tempo tomorrow come on!!!

Good job on the fundraising!

I am running with a friend later (she's also doing the Manchester marathon). It will be the first time I've ever run with someone (at least, when I've been serious about running). Time to test the "I can run at this pace and hold a conversation" idea.....

Maid I felt a bit like that but now I love it. I only run with someone once a week and we generally potter along but I really enjoy it.

Saying that I couldn't do it every run. Running is my time to myself for quiet.

Well done on the fundraising kitty! It must be a eight off your shoulder to be half way there? Are you organising events to help with fundraising? I'm not sure if you've mentioned it upthread but I wasn't on it for a couple of months so could have missed it!
Maid, I quite like running with company but lately I've been going out myself and im enjoying it.
I got Spotify for my phone so have downloaded some playlists to that to listen to.

Thanks alittle. I a, doing a few things, my lovely friend is a Zumba instructor so we've organised a zumbathon (win, win, fundraising for me and exposure to her classes) I've got a raffle that I'm launching soon for anyone who donates. I work in a school so we're doing a sponsored school marathon where they all run 100m (just over) which adds up to 26.2 miles. I'm going to do a 'guess the finish time' thing at work. My favourite one, that I launched today, is remembrance ribbons for those who have lost a baby. For £1 I will wear a ribbon of their colour choosing with their baby's name and date of birth on it on my vest. The idea is that they come round the 26.2 then I give the ribbon to the parents for their memory box. I've got 16 babies (including my 2) for ribbons already. I'm planning on making them really pretty with a little sequin star on the end of each one too.

So basically on the back of my vest I'm having printed: In memory of and underneath I'm going to stitch all the ribbons. Hopefully they'll look awesome when I'm running too. Might be a tad uncomfortable so I'll have to work out the stitching so it doesn't chaff and coat my back in body glide but so worth it from the responses I've had so far.

That's a lovely idea with the ribbons. And it's a lovely idea to hand the ribbons over.
Is there a lot of people going to your zumbathon? I tried Zumba once years ago but unfortunately, I have 2 left feet! I'm hoping to get back to rep training on Thursday. Dh works away for 3 weeks and is home on Wednesday so hopefully I'll manage and then an exercise class I've not been to in a few months.

The ribbons are a lovely idea Kitty, well done. Will be looking out for them on the day!

Thanks.

It looks like we've got a good few coming so far to the zumbathon so it should be fun.

Just done an easy, recovery 4 miles at a plodding pace but I needed it to sort out my head and shake out my legs, done a few hard strength and Pilates season recently and my legs felt dead. All good practice though.

Maid, how did your run go with your friend?
We have high winds here today so it's looking unlikely dh is getting home today. It's unsafe to get off the rug into the boat. It could change though. I was going to go to rep training tomorrow but won't manage unless he gets home tonight.
I went and did 4 miles today. Was due 3 miles but not sure if I'm getting out tomorrow now. It was tough as the wind was in my face pretty much all the way and I was night shift last night.
3 miles tomorrow hopefully.

Love the ribbons idea! Good luck wit the fundraising, Kitty.

Alittle It was fine. Full easy conversation all the way through. But I ran slower than usual (distractions etc) which is good because my pace is, on paper, too quick for me to run a marathon. At least some splits were over 6:30 min km, which is good. Well done battling through the winds - I am going to try to run later as it's not too bad up here yet (NW).

She left me at 8km, so my last few were quicker. I really really really cannot pace myself

Pacing is so tricky. I cannot get it for the life of me. I pretty much ran and easy pace today but that because I'm feeling ill, had zero sleep and am aching from Pilates!

Glad the run went well. I really enjoy it once in a while.

Alittle that's rubbish news for you. We had a light head wind here today and I struggled with that! I can't imagine running in gale force, good on you!

10 miles of misery today! The distance was fine but doing it on solid ice was not! 10 miles of balancing on a narrow snowy strip at the edge of the ice means I am aching all over. Next week had better warm up! Hope everyone has better runs today

My 6 miles in the rain suddenly doesn't seem so bad! Well done for getting out there.

Well done emummy!

Think ice is the worst weather condition for running. I keep wondering what it'll be like on 23rd April- could be wet and cold, could be roasting hot!!

I'm going to try my first run in a week tomorrow, all my foot pain has gone at rest and when walking so fingers crossed as I've got a Half a week today!

emummy, I feel just under 4 miles of your pain! I went out on Friday in ice, and hailstones and sleet. It was sore and not pretty but I did it. I couldn't imagine it for 10 miles though.
Been out for my long run of 6 miles this morning. Wore a base layer which I didn't need but it wasn't too bad. That's week 2 complete.

I was going to ask you guys about running belts! I need something to hold a hotel key incase my dh doesn't manage to come, an inhaler, my phone and gels. Any ideas?

Chocolate, hope your run goes well with no pain. I wander about the weather too. I'm hoping dh manages to come as I'll give him a bag with a change of clothes for me too

I currently use a belt from Karrimor which has a zipped pocket and 2 small drinks bottles. Dh runs with a flip belt which holds a key and his phone, he finds it very comfortable. I have just done my first run with my new Innov 8 waist pack as I will be on my own in London and wanted something a bit bigger to hold stuff, it was very comfy

I have a karrimor x lite belt. It was ok but rode up around my waist as I ran which I'm worried will interfere with the running number. Is the flip belt the magnet one emummy? I do like the sound of that one!

8 miles done today, could feel the ankle but iced when got home and 5 hours post run no pain so fingers crossed!

No the flip belt has openings you put stuff in then turn it over and they all stay in. The magnet looks good though

Jumping very tentatively back on board with the training. Back/hip still a bit dodgy but physio has given me the to ahead to train for two weeks as long as things don't get worse, then we will reassess. So I'm going straight into week three of the beginner plan this week. Been doing lots of cardio at the gym and swimming and yoga so hopefully have not lost too much fitness despite not having done a long run for over a month. A bit nervous about it but at least if I have to defer I will know I've tried!

Good luck Elba, hope it all goes well

Looks like this is the end for me and any hope of ever doing London. Found out on Sunday I'm pregnant, around 5 weeks along, so would be 19 weeks around marathon weekend. I've already deferred once because I had my son in March 2016 so that's the end of the road there.

Think I'm going to train up to Reading half at 14 weeks (which I had already entered, paid for parking and applied for Mizuno VIP status) and then cut back a little - I'll do it to finish, build to around 12 miles in training.

Delighted that #2 is on the way but gutted regarding the marathon.

TriJo it's congratulations and commiserations in one! Never say never though, I'm 45 with 3 children doing my first marathon so you never know! Hope you & bump are well, good luck

I've actually done 3 marathons (Dublin twice and Barcelona) before but my last one was in 2011. I'm only 32, I have my whole life to do more marathons and triathlons.