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, yes and yes again. I used to complain about the sun and humidity and now I wish it was like that! Brilliant half time chocolate.

My ankle is niggling, I have started some calve strength exercises. What ankle exercises have you been given if you don't mind me asking?

I'd like to try and run with a 5 hour pacer but I'll see closer to the time.

I've just been on the phone to London marathon media who are possibly interested in passing my story on to other media. Was a nice chat. She said they may or may not use it but anything to add publicity to my charity is great.

That's great they may share your story kitty. I hope it raises awareness for your charity. I always feel so emotional watching the marathon on tv and can't quite believe I'm going to be running it this year.

My sister sent a link to me for strengthening exercises. They have a 30 day challenge that includes balance exercises that really work your ankle.

www.kinetic-revolution.com

I'm finding the bleak morning runs tough at the moment too. Warmth would be lovely but I'll settle for daylight.

Omg Oliver I'm the same. I cried watching it last year. I'm going to really struggle getting round with the emotions I think.

My friend ran Edinburgh and raised money for a cancer charity the year after she lost her Dad. She said she cried at every mile marker (and she's not a crier at all!)

Oh and thanks for that link. I'll def have a go

Gah just did my 8 mile long run, just under 1 hr 30. Was looking forward to it, had some really good runs this week, back behaving well, pasta meal and an early night last night to prepare etc etc... I hated every minute of it! Was like running through treacle from the start, and I had absolutely no reserve at the end. I have a half marathon in 4 weeks and no idea where I will find those extra 5 miles!

Please tell me that you have runs like this and that this is just a bad day and not I sign that I really can't do this!!!

I have runs like that too elba
Fortunately the next one normally makes up for it

Yep 4/5 of my runs are like that! Grim.

Well done for getting it done though

I've got 8 miles on Monday but may have to bin it off. My ankle is really sore after yesterday's tempo. Urgh. So annoying and stressful. My half training was hard, tiring and everything ached all the time but I didn't have any niggles or injuries. Why, now I have a charity space riding on it my body seems to be picking up injuries and weird pains all the time!

I've decided to try seeing a running coach for some biomechanics assessment, that way at least I can look at my weaknesses and start addressing them. I think I might have to have a dreaded rest for a little while though

Thanks- think I got a little bit melodramatic but was just so bloody disappointed as it was meant to be a great run (in my head at least!!). Ended up meeting a friend for lunch and a 'quick walk' which turned into 5 miles...think I'm going to be sore tomorrow!

Kitty sorry you're struggling with your ankle. I guess tempo runs are quite high impact- I've not done any yet as advised not to by physio. Biomechanical assessment sounds a good plan though. Can you maybe do a few days low impact cardio instead of running? I used the cross trainer and the pool, and found that a few weeks off running didn't actually set me back much.

Just had a look back at the long runs I did last year- I was actually slightly quicker (only 2 secs/km) when I was doing walk/run (28:2mins) than today's attempt at non stop running. And it was a whole lot more enjoyable. Contemplating going back to that for long runs, and maybe even for the marathon.

Yeah I think I need to cut back on quicker runs (I've done 2 this week stupidly) I'll see what she says on Monday. If I need to I'll get in the pool and on the bike. I'm just really hoping I don't need to defer.

I usually end up naturally walking a little bit as a recovery, or more often to take photos!

I always end up walking far more than I need to unless I structure it or set a target...but think maybe I do need a bit of walking time or I'm not sure I will actually finish!

Hope you can get your ankle sorted Kitty, good luck tomorrow!
I think a walk/run strategy is used by a lot of people in marathons Elba and with great success. The key is I think, as you have said, to set actual targets, like walk for so long every 3 miles or whatever, so you keep up your pace. I think this is the sort of thing Jeff Galloway advocates and his website has training plans and guidance for it.
I am on a recovery week on my plan and have just had a lovely run in the forest on a sunny snowy morning. It definitely made up for the horror icy run of a few weeks ago! Feeling very happy today - see if I feel so happy after next weekend's 12 mile!
Good luck with training this week everyone.

Thanks. In a state of anic I've googled the cut off time. Apparently is 6pm. Even giving an hour to cross the start line that gives me 7 hours. If all else fails I reckon I can run/walk it in 7 hours. It's not what I planned but it seems you're not allowed to defer charity spaces so it's this year or never!

Ok so saw the running coach today for a bio mechanics assessment.

Good news, it's not my Achilles strictly speaking.

I have sciatic nerve fraying which is fetching the mobility of the muscles in my right leg. As a result they are getting tighter and tighter and my right leg is now 2cm shorter than my left! I also have a weak/lazy gluten on my left that is tilting my pelvis round so I'm not getting a full range of motion through my hips and legs. The shortening is putting extra strain on my Achilles which is why it's sore! I'm taped up,have a wedge in each right shoe for wonky leg, lots of exercises and strict instructions to foam roll daily!

She did say no need to rest from running but to give speedwork a miss as it's the most likely thing to cause an injury in first time marathoners. I am not sad at that! All speedwork now being replaced with a steady 4-5 mile run. Yay!

That's good news Kitty, glad you have a plan to sort things and no need to stop running. No speed work sounds good!
Curled up in bed here with food poisoning, luckily today is a rest day but I can see me missing a run or two as a result. Have told Dh am not eating out again till after London!

Oh no, poor you emummy. That's grim. What's it from?

Mussels I think! Had lovely dinner at a tapas restaurant last night, then woke at 5am feeling grim. Never mind, it hasn't been too horrendous. And it's a very effective diet!

Urgh! Fingers crossed you're better soon

Hi all. Can I join? I entered the ballot whilst clearly having a bit of a midlife crisis, safe in the knowledge I probably wouldn't get in. Then I only went a got in. I just wasn't going to tell anyone and not do it. But then I figured it might be years (if ever) before I got in again so might as well do it at 40 rather than 50. Or 60.

I miss alcohol. I barely see my husband because any spare time is spent running. Everyone I speak to says I'll love it on the day. I'm yet to be convinced. Although I'm finding myself getting faster and my long run on Saturday of 11 miles (whilst not being fast) was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. There might be a runner inside me somewhere after all.

I've no idea how rigidly I'm supposed to be following a training plan. I've taken bits of a few of them and picking and choosing slightly. Is that going to end in tears?

Welcome PicleSarnie! I know how you feel, getting in on the ballot was shock to me too! The essential thing about training I think is not necessarily to follow a prescribed plan as long as you do things gradually. Easy to get injured if you do too much too soon, so as long as you are gradually increasing your long run, get some other types of run in during the week and maybe some cross training it should be fine. Have you been running for a while?

Pickle that's really tickled me! Well don't for deciding to go for it.

I'm following the Martin yelling plan pretty closely but then I like following a plan and sticking to it. I'm gagging to get out for my 8 tmrw. Did all my new exercises yesterday, showed dh who did them all without any problems 😂 Goes to show just how weak and feeble those bits of me are. Also foam rolled for 30 mins, like torture. I've really not kept on top of my rolling and now I have to do it daily 😵

I've got a crazy busy week coming up. 8 miles tmrw, zumbathon Friday, meet the experts on sat! Exciting but really busy.

Anyone else doing the meet the experts? I'm meeting some women from the run mummy run Facebook group if anyone fancies joining we're meeting at the cafe inside at around 10am.

Well done not don't! Sorry pickle

Not able to make it down for meet the experts Kitty, so take lots of notes! Have fun with the RMR gang

I lost 3.5 stones at the end of 2015 then discovered that running would allow me to eat a certain amount of cake without putting the weight back on so I've been running since then emummy! Nowhere near as seriously or as frequent as now though. I did a half marathon last June and hated every second of it so feck knows why I signed up to twice as much! The half started at midday in June on the most humid day I can remember. My legs were like lead from the start. Hopefully won't have that problem in April!

I'll go take a look at the Martin Yelling plan kitty I've no idea whether I'm a beginner or intermediate so have been splitting the difference of most plans. All I want to do is make it round without being overtaken by anyone carrying a fridge on their back!

Someone further up thread was asking about things for carrying gels and inhalers etc. I tried a flip belt but hated it. Think it would work better on men tbh - it felt weird to have it round my waist. Felt too high. So I got a running buddy pouch thingy. One of these www.thebuddypouch.co.uk they're bloody awesome. Don't bounce or move. Although I reckon you need to have properly clingy leggings because they attach directly to them so would weigh them down if they weren't tight enough. I had the regular size but then got a Samsung s7 phone so had to get the XL to fit it comfortably. I reckon I'll take both. One with my phone and the other packed with gels. Has anyone found a gel that isn't revolting? I've been trying to get used them sooner rather than later because my stomach doesn't like running (Immodium is the only way I can do long runs without doing a Paula Radcliffe) The sis ones are okay but they taste pretty ming.

pickle you sound similar to me- I also entered on a whim was a bit drunk then reassured myself that there was no way I'd get in on my first ballot! Had done some slow 10ks before that but by no means an experienced runner! I'm also sort of mixing up plans a bit too, no idea if that will prove to be a good strategy or not!

Regarding the gels, I've tried but I just can't stand the texture. I have found Jelly Belly sports beans though which I find much more palatable. Just compared the nutritional values to a gel pack and they are very similar in terms of energy and electrolytes.

Saw my physio today and we are both pleased with my progress regarding my back. Leg symptoms almost gone, so going to push forward to my half on the 26th then reassess. Kitty I asked him about speed work after what your physio said and he also agreed best avoided for the moment, so am going to replace tempo runs with a medium distance faster run and see how it goes.

emummy hope your feeling better!

That's interesting Elba. I think I'm going to do the same, a middle distance/ shorter but more of a steady pace. Glad you're feeling better. Fingers crossed you go from strength to strength