Please make me feel better ....

[IrianOfW]

about running both my marathons really slowly :(

I trained with a wonderful woman who has completed over 100 marathons and she always emphasises that its finishing that matters but I made the mistake of looking at the runners world forum and other places and some people are so scathing about anything over 4 hours. Even non-runners seem to be obsessed with my finishing time.

FWIW I finished my first in 5 53 - that was on a really hot day and it was very hilly so I thought a nice flat marathon on a cooler day would be better. So I did a nice flat marathon on a cooler day and I still took 5 40 and I nearly died.

I thought I was reasonably fit but I just feel utterly deflated about this now

I couldn’t even walk HALF a marathon let alone run/jog/ crawl a FULL one so hats off to you regardless of the time!

You get the same medal at the end as the person who crossed the line 1st. Marathon runners will have a time in mind that they want to beat, it's what runners do. Similarly, you beat your previous time by 13 minutes. If you ran another marathon, you'd probably aim to reduce that a little more - it's what people do.

As for non-runners having an opinion on your time? Once they've done it, then they can give their opinion on your time.

I'm another who can barely run 5k, your achievement is brilliant. It's so hard not to beat yourself up, I did similar when I ran my (only) 10k. Others were very dismissive of anything over an hour, I did it is 1 10 ish. HOWEVER, when told of my time, every single person was so supportive and encouraging. Their thoughts are based so much on what THEY want to achieve, but they'll still think you're brilliant for setting foot in the course. As do I. Marvellous work!

Thanks.

I won't be doing another road marathon. Too painful and too demoralising. I might do a trail marathon. I know it will be slow but that's expected and so much more to look at!

I don't think it helped that both of mine were very small races with not much support.

For those who have 'only' done 10K I really advise to aim for a half marathon. It's a good distance and you get a real sense of acheivement. I suspect I should have stuck to that!!

Thanks again.

I'm doing couch to 5k at the moment, which I've done (up to 10k) before so that's a bit demoralising. Getting on okay though.

I don't think I'll ever aim for a marathon, so you're already well ahead of my game!

Hanging around on marathon runner forums will always have you reading things from overly-driven people, that's the self-selected set who post. They may also be flat out lying. Plus the usual way forums easily turn poisonous. Get rid, I would.

I've signed up to a very hilly trail 'marathon' (it's 28 miles) in November. I'm not going to look at my time - I'm just going to be glad to have finished it, as I know I'm going to really struggle!

I was incredibly fortunate with the marathon I did. I did London (as a runner of 10 whole weeks with a recently diagnosed heart condition 😂) in 2017 as part of the Heads Together campaign. The support from the organisers, the charity partners, the other HT runners (we had been connected on social media for 12 months prior) and the people I met on the day, and the stories they had to tell were just unbelievable.

It wasn't quick, it wasn't pretty, I sustained I an injury, I was beaten by a guy carrying a washing machine, a guy running barefoot and multiple flipping rhinos. But it was the most incredible and humbling experience of my life and any other marathon experience would be a disappointment (so I'm never doing it again 😂)

There is so much to take into consideration. A mum of 3 working FT sleeping badly is likely to find it much more difficult to do a marathon at a competitive time than a woman in her 20s studying PT.

I have run two half marathon but have never managed to up it. Then I started the road to the menopause, affected with stress and anxiety and very poor sleep and am now totally incapable of running that distance. I manage a 10k every week without problem but anything above this and its too much. I hope to get back there but I know there is little chance of it until I get my sleep sorted.

I've done four marathons, 3 of them slower than you and my glorious PB of 5:27 and I think I am bloody well MARVELLOUS!

You ran two marathons. Two of them! That's impressive and difficult and intense. Please be proud of yourself! I always think that the race isn't against anyone else, it's against the nasty voices in my head and I can smash those by keeping going. Also, I get much better value out of my race entry than those people rushing around

I think a big crowd can make a huge difference. I did Brighton (my first and pb) with a huge crowd at the finish line which was much "easier" (so far as covering 26 miles can be!) than Barnstaple where they were waiting for me and a couple others to get in to package up the finish line.

You're ace!

Places like the runners world forum are to be avoided by normal runners like us! The wonderful thing about running is that everyone can do it and do it their way. For some - like the men on that forum- speed and performance is the only important outcome. But for others it's the achievement, the experience, the time out from family, the mental health benefits etc. You ran 2 marathons! That is amazing and I know how hard it is cos I ran 2 marathons as well! You have earned your medals and you can be proud of yourself.

Well done on completing two marathons.

When I was training for my one and only marathon a few years ago, a friend of mine, who is a fast and experienced marathon runner, told me that the achievement was not running the 26.2 miles on the day, but all the training and preparation for weeks and months before. You’ve done something not many people could do, and you’ve done it twice!

Thank you x You make me feel a bit tearful.

I know I should be proud but those niggly little voices really won’t shut up. It’s weird as I am 53 and I have finally managed to shut them up in all others areas of my life just not in this one. I think because it’s the one thing that is just mine and I really care about it.

Edith - I just did Barnstaple. Hated it!!!

Isn't it just so bleak?! The publicity is all about how flat and fast it is but I found it such a huge slog!

Yes, exactly. A long, boring painful slog. If the sun had been shining it might have been better but as it was it was just grey... and wet. I think I have learned a lesson though - hills are not all bad! You can always walk up the worst and then you get all that free speed on the other side. Endless flat is just horrible

Marshalls were lovely though, bless 'em.

And another thing, the started picking up the traffic cones on the road bit before we were all through. Very dispiriting.

Look at it in a different way - you can keep on going for 5h 40min. Would the faster runners manage that? It takes a lot of mental strength to just keep going!

I say this as a slow runner myself. Well done to you - it is a fantastic achievement.

Thanks Piggy

Anyone who does any distance in any time is amazing!!!
You went out there, you did it. 26 miles is bloody hard. Well done you
(and every one else for all the running achievements how big or small 😊)

If you're south west how about Bristol? I ususlly very well supported

Thanks iRun4me - so do I for that matter

Another - maybe but I am thinking of swearing off road marathons for now.

It's all about the ultras for me now. If you fancy going big, the Threshold series is fantastically organised and supported

OP I think you should listen to your trainer, not the knobs on runners forums.

Real runners only ever support and encourage other runners no matter how fast or slow they are.

I once had the great fortune to train on the same track as Dean Macey - remember him? Olympic decathlete. He was so so fast. But just so encouraging of my plodding around too. That's a real classy runner.

Next time anyone asks say "I've run two marathons and I'm so proud of myself for that" A you should be