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Original poster

London marathoners assemble

832 replies

KittyandTeal · 11/10/2016 08:41

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.

OP posts:
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RupertsFriend · 18/04/2017 12:30

lobster I am thinking about this as well.

I have bought a cheap fleece from a charity shop to wear in the pen and perhaps the first mile and then will discard it once warmed up. I think it will be nippy hanging around once I've dropped my kitbag off.

Apparently lots do that and the clothes are collected up and donated.

I have a charity vest but am also debating wearing an old long sleeved shirt or t shirt underneath. And perhaps abandon that in a loo stop if needs be.

chocolatepastry · 18/04/2017 12:37

I've got the start of a cold too Angry Shall pretend it's not there tho Smile

Will be wearing a running vest and charity vest which will be enough for me (Also discarding a fleece at the start).

I'm aiming for under 5 but probably should pick a time and therefore pace to run at. But worried I'll be disheartened if I'm overly optimistic and annoyed if I could have gone faster... common sense says start slow and aim for a negative split if I'm feeling good... I shall continue to procrastinate Grin

Roll on expo tomorrow!!

emummy · 18/04/2017 13:44

Oliver, I think whatever you decide be sure to go out slower then speed up if you wish. I am thinking that I would rather be a bit slower and really enjoy it than thrash myself so will be aiming for 4:40 ish.
AWhole all I can suggest is fluids, vitamins, lots of fruit and as much rest as you can get. Find done good decongestants especially for night time. Good luck, hope you feel better by Sunday

oliversax · 18/04/2017 14:21

Thanks for advice re pacing. I guess on your second marathon you have an idea what you're capable of and can adjust accordingly.

Sorry to those feeling ill, fluids, fruit and rest. Hope you're better for Sunday.

Original poster
KittyandTeal · 18/04/2017 15:32

I'm in shorts and charity vest. I've got long cheap leggings and a zip up top for the morning waiting around. I'm going to ditch it in the pen when I get going. I do get pretty hot and it looks like it's about 14 degrees on Sunday

OP posts:
emummy · 18/04/2017 16:09

Shorts & vest for me too, with sleeves I can take off& put in my pocket. Also compression calf sleeves in multicoloured stripes!

Original poster
KittyandTeal · 19/04/2017 08:38

Emummy I like the sound of the calf sleeves. I can't get on with compression stuff when I'm running. I wish I could because the socks/sleeves look so cool

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emummy · 19/04/2017 10:20

I used to just wear them for recovery but then tried them on my 18 mile run and the difference in my calves afterwards was amazing. Not keen to try the socks though. I shall be packing a pair of compression shorts to wear under my jeans on the way home on Sunday.

oliversax · 20/04/2017 08:11

Does anyone have any good running mantras for when they get tired? I use the Beckett line 'I can't go on, I'll go on', it makes me think of people with no choice but to go on and puts in perspective I'm just doing a run. Also, we've been watching Finding Dory a lot recently and I find myself saying 'just keep running, just keep running'.

In my long runs I always have a phase in the middle where I think 'this is ridiculous, why am I doing this' but it always passes. Trying to keep that in mind for marathon day.

oliversax · 20/04/2017 08:16

How are the colds awhole and chocolate?

MaidOfStars · 20/04/2017 11:14

pom poms

Eeek, excited for you all.

Does anyone have any good running mantras for when they get tired?
"Left foot, right foot, remember-to-smile"
Once you start smiling on every 4th or 8th beat, you'll feel uplifted.

LobsterMac · 20/04/2017 15:19

When you want to go slow, just GO!

RupertsFriend · 20/04/2017 17:35

I count up in prime numbers or work out what % of a marathon I have done.

1 mile = 3.8% of a marathon

The mental gymnastics take my mind off the pain

Alittlebitofthis · 20/04/2017 18:12

I'm also going to the expo tomorrow afternoon. Getting a flight tomorrow morning then Taxi to hotel to dump my bags then heading in.
I hope everyone who was feeling ill is feeling better.
I'm heading out to an exercise class soon for the stretches.

Elba84 · 20/04/2017 22:21

Love the mantras- especially the mental gymnastics!

It's all starting to feel very real now, ive swung between excitement and complete terror for the last few days. Struggling a bit with my left shin/ankle but hoping that the rest will of helped. My 20 miles feels so long ago that I've lost confidence that I can do it, yet still not long enough to feel recovered from it!

Off to London tomorrow morning. The lovely friends that I'm staying with have just asked for my 'orders' for a post marathon feast- I've gone for nachos and cider Grin Another friend who I hardly ever see is also running and we've found out we are at the same start which is great.

Hope everyone's ok and injury free, and that those with colds are feeling better!

oliversax · 21/04/2017 06:53

Loving the mantras too. I'm either going to be smiling courtesy of maid or puzzled courtesy of rupert.

Veering between terror & excitement but mostly excitement at the moment. I'm obsessively reading every guide to running London.

oliversax · 21/04/2017 09:58

On way way to expo, feeling very excited! Have checked about a hundred times that I have my registration form.

RupertsFriend · 21/04/2017 10:34

I'm going to expo today as well. I must have checked everything a dozen times.

I have been quite relaxed other than that but I think expo will see a big kick in of nerves.

RupertsFriend · 21/04/2017 10:36

Relaxed in a que sera type of way, not an it's going to be easy type of way I hasten to add!

MaidOfStars · 21/04/2017 11:57

Ruperts I spend a lot of running time (at any distance) working numbers. % distance left, if I run X fast it will be this time, and so on.

MaidOfStars · 21/04/2017 12:06

I'll put the poms poms away for now, in favour of soothing brows and supportive arm rubs.

You will all be fantastic. You're going to see loads of people that are faster than you - ignore them. And you're going to see loads of people that are slower than you. People walking it, people in wheelchairs, bears with buckets, people who look like they're having a heart attack after one mile.

They will finish it. You will finish it.

Don't go out too fast - if anything, pull your speed for the first few miles, get a rhythm, get your confidence up. You can walk for a few minutes at any time, and loads of people do - you don't feel like you're being lazy or anything. Don't drink too much water. Eat stuff. If you're going to use caffeine at any point, stop the coffees today and save the caffeine until mile 18 - the boost will be enormous. Take an Imodium, and carry some paracetamol or melty Ibuprofen (although the latter is apparently controversial, I reckon it's not a habitual thing so I went with it - 2 ibuprofen before the race, then one prophylactic at mile 18). Shake out your shoulders at every mile marker.

And smile!!!

Twodogsandahooch · 21/04/2017 21:56

Expo tick. Race number tick. Weird pain in my side tick. Am I going to be the first runner ever to pull out due to 'side pain'?!!

Feeling excited and nervous now. Completely disorganised though.. Will need to wash my charity vest to tomorrow.

Thanks for your tips Maid. I think taking it slowly will be so important for me. I'm an ibuprofen fan too. I think my chances of developing acute kidney failure are quite small.

Awholenewstart · 21/04/2017 22:25

Thanks Maid for the tips - really helpful. I usually stop in Costa on my long runs so I think I need to get a caffeine substitute for the same hit.
Also good to hear about ibuprofen. I only just read about that today: I'm sure it will do mentor good keeping a headache at bay than harm to my kidneys. Also like one mid run for the joints!
When to take Imodium?

Also - does anyone know - I am in the final pen in red group i.e. Last lot to start, are we likely to be walking first few miles as simply so many of us?

Elba84 · 21/04/2017 22:46

Thanks Maid! You have become our official cheerleader!

I am in London and realising that it was unwise to stay with friends with baby twins as 1) they don't sleep and 2) they have permanent colds. Not exactly restful so far, and praying nothing comes from being sneezed over a million times. Im braving the expo tomorrow afternoon with a friend.

Regarding the ibuprofen please be a bit careful, there are really valid reasons to avoid it however good your kidneys are and however rarely you take it. Running a marathon puts extra strain on the kidneys due to reduced blood flow and dehydration, but compensatory mechanisms generally kick in for most healthy people. Ibuprofen can inhibit this, and one dose could (potentially) be enough to cause acute damage. Obviously it won't happen to everyone, but ibuprofen is well known for being toxic to kidneys when they are (even temporarily) under extra strain.

Elba84 · 21/04/2017 22:48

Sorry- didn't mean for that to come out like a lecture Blush