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.

Shoe update. Went back to the shop. Apparently I was the third person that day with the same issue with the new version of the Nimbus. They have ordered me some wide fitting Brooks. Thanks for encouraging me to go back.

How is everyone. I managed 21 miles today gulp. Slowing down was definitely the right thing to do. My target was 20 but when I got there I still had some energy left so kept going.

This has given me my confidence back. I might even make it round!

Well done Two, that's great, and good news about the shoes too.
I am planning 20 miles tomorrow, here's hoping ds doesn't have a nightmare. Two nights in a row he's woken me at 3 and I then lay awake for 2 hours. Having also taken teenage dd shopping today I am short of energy tonight!
Good luck for the weekend all

Wow well done two!

I've got 18 today and am really nervous about it. No idea why but my stomach is doing flips already!

Good luck Kitty. It's entirely normal to be nervous before a long run.

Please feedback on the Hastings half. I don't live too far away, could be an option for next year

And mummy too. Hope you had a nightmare free night

Well done everyone!
When are you guys starting to taper down your long runs? I think I have one more 3 hour scheduled for this week, then it comes down but looking at other plans that seems quite early.
Am really looking forward to the actual day now 😊

Hatty my last long run is next weekend. My taper is partly enforced by the fact that I am going on a 10 day work trip.

Rather randomly I wrote out the long run schedules from 5 different plans and have it on my wall.

I can tell you that the last long run for the Asics plan is the 26th March, Map my run the 19th March , Virgin and 2 other random ones have it on th 2nd April

20 miles done! Oh that was hard! Programmed my watch to buzz at me if I went too fast in attempt to make me do my long runs slower than race pace and it worked, so pleased with that. Also consoling myself that London is flat! Today I did my flattest available route and still climbed over 600 feet!
My last long run is 22 miles on April 2nd - we'll see! There's another 20 miles next week first.

Thanks twodogs that's tealky helpful. I think I'll see how it goes. Will do my 20 this week, have a half marathon the following week, and will then see how I feel.

I'm only up to 10 miles so you are all doing so well. I have a half marathon next Saturday and then I need to push a bit further before I taper. Aargghh!

lobster I also feel really behind! Trying to think it's only a few weeks to really push it- we can do it!

I have only run once since my 14 miles over ten days ago. Partly for genuine reasons (dry socket after wisdom tooth extraction and two courses of antibiotics), but also seem to have developed a kind of mental block on running. I actually really, really don't feel like it and am struggling to make myself go out.

I have 16 miles planned for Tuesday and I have to do it. I think if I don't/ can't then for me maybe it's time to defer. Trying hard to summon some enthusiasm but I'm really not enjoying the long runs. If I do it I think I can still get to 20 and have just under three weeks to taper.

Posting this for accountability mainly; I know I will be so disappointed in myself if I don't do it. Need to get back some enthusiasm for this!

Well done everyone on your runs

Mine went really well. Hastings is so much fun! So well supported and it really got me through! I'm back to looking forward to vlm now

I lost my love of running recently too, I was just forcing myself out and doing it. Today I found my love again

Oh I did Hastings today too. Crowds were great but the final bit on the seafront with the wind was brutal, just felt that I was being blown backwards!

I won't be doing Hastings again, the support was nice and I coped with the hills but I prefer flatter courses - also no cake or sweets at the end and I do prefer a real medal! Had fun though.

Well done to those who survived the gales in Hastings, Emummy on her 20 and everyone else who has been out, whatever the distance.

Lobster/Elba I am ahead of my schedule, but mainly because I knew I had my work trip planned. My friend got round ok having never run further than a half. Not sure how pleasant it was though!
A

Kitty glad you have your mojo back. I'mfeeling a bit like that after yesterday too (hence why I have posted about 8 times today!!)

Tail is was brutal along the seafront. I reckon I could've done a sub 2:30 if there hadn't been such strong winds.

I've done a half hour swim, usual conditioning and an hour and a half foam rolling this morning. Now feeling a bit more human. I'm umming and ahhing about doing some yoga later, I'll definitely do a strength session tmrw.

I'm actually looking forward to London again now. Be lovely to do a meet up if anyone is at the charity start and fancies it?

Final instructions due out this week. Apparently should be here by 23rd but not to worry unless you've not got one by 28th.

Argh! It seems so real now!

On another note my bloody foot has been sore since Thursday. Just in the heel. Can't work out if it's planter fasitis (sp?) or if it's another weird development in my on going sciatic nerve issue. I've found that my sciatic nerve pain/issues get worse just before and during my period. I'm wondering if it's the endometriosis affecting it somehow.

I'm much less achy after Sunday's 18 than I was after my first half back in Nov which is good. I've got a lovely lady coming to do a sports massage this afternoon

Enjoy your massage Kitty. I get occasional heel pain, I roll it - you get an empty 500ml soft drink bottle, fill it with water & freeze it, then it's a roller & ice pack in one!

Well done on long runs everyone. Have my two longest yet to go, 18 this week and 20 the following week. Jealous of those who have the big distances under their belts.

emummy do you mind letting me know what time you are hoping to run the marathon in? My half on Sunday was similar time to yours the previous week. I have plucked 4.5 hours out of the air but won't really know if this is realistic until I do my long runs. I put into a couple of marathon predictors, one says 4hrs 45 and one four and a half.

The predictors say 4:30 oliver but I'm hoping for 4:45. I am trying to balance a good time with enjoying the race! I think 4:30 is doable but I don't want to much pressure. I feel fairly confident of 4:45 (at the moment!) and it feels like a less painful pace to do!

Thanks, I am probably in a similar place. Will see how my 18 & 20 miles go. They recommend doing some of it at marathon pace. Somewhere between doing the best I can and enjoying it sounds good!

Hope the massage was good kitty- think i need to get one!

Did my 16 today- started out in sunshine which had turned to torrential rain then hail by mile 5! Luckily it dried up, but I didn't- was soaked all the way through still when I got back!

Really struggled with the last 1.5 miles though, and had alot pain in calves/hamstrings when I stopped. Sort of like cramp but not as severe. It's happened once before after a wet and cold long run so hopefully it's something to do with that- trying to work out what though!

My massage was good thanks.

I've got pain on the bottom of my heel when I walk, my massage lady said it's achillies but I'm pretty sure your achillies doesn't go down that far. It feels like planter fasciitis. Either way it's a massive pain. I'd just about got niggle and injury free. So annoying.

I should be doing 35 min easy run today but I'm skipping it and resting, I've got a haircut and a school to visit for a job so it's tricky to fit in anyway.

I don't usually mind running in the rain but it was so cold in my 14 miler that I hated it. I found it so hard to get warm after and all my muscles hurt way more. I think it's because it take so much more effort for your body to keep them warm and moving.

Elba that's great well done! So are back on the marathon bus?! You can do this!! Just think how much easier it would have been in nice weather... and that's your 18 achievable!

Kitty hope the ache goes. Rest, Ibuprofen gel and ice helped my heel ache.

Two great to see your enthusiasm and well done to everyone on your long runs!

I've got an ache on the top of my foot since my 18... but googled it and think it's extensor tendinitis but also read the magic words 'you can still run with this injury' Best Sentence Ever .

Waiting impatiently for my race day pack- got a ballot place and can't remember what target time I put so no clue where I'll start and want to get planning!!!

waves

Hello, not been around this thread for a while. 11 days to go for me.

Everything hurts all the time. I may as well start mainlining painkillers (and caffeine, to be honest). It's not injuries, just bone-crushing foot tiredness - getting out of bed in the morning is terrible.

I'm supposed to be tapering but need to do another long run this weekend, just to reassure myself.

My race pack arrived. It's too real.