London Marathon 2019 training thread!

[TheMouseInMyPocket]

There's a few of us that got in through ballot or a charity place. Shall we keep each other company in the next few months?

I'm gonna kick off my training with a week off due to sore ankle 😂 Well, I'll still do a parkrun this week, but THEN I'm taking a week off!

The furthest I've ran so far is 10k, so I'm quite excited for the challenge, I also have a 15 mile trail race in January, which I'm hoping will be a good prep for the big event.

What's everyone else doing? What's your training strategy? Is this your first marathon? I want to know it all!

I've not done much trail running, but did a 10 mile one in the Lakes last Easter - nearly died !!!!!!! so utterly beautiful but found it such hard work.

But I wonder whether there is real wisdom in doing trail runs - just because it makes pounding the pavements seem so much easier haha!

Signing up for the marathon has really spurred me on this week - wonder if the novelty will wear off, but feel quite determined to get fit before I start the training programme.

Evening all! I have lurked for a few weeks but thought it is time to say hi!
I have just about got over the shock of getting a ballot place. Have applied for years because I never thought I would get one!!
Was thinking of following the plan in the magazine as I am a total novice. Never run further than 10km so am going to need help. My plan for before Christmas is to get 3 runs a week in as routine and build the distance up. Am now running 4 miles each time (some hills) . Then go for it after Xmas.

Also doing occasional jillian michaels dvds and yoga to build core etc. And swimmig/biking with kids now and again. Would ideally shift a bit of weight before Xmas to make it easier on my joints.
I would be very interested in tiPS on nutrition for during a race and in training. .. ?

Hello @kiwi5 and congratulations!!

Actually, I think getting your body used to doing more than 3 miles is harder than building up to longer distances (that's what I found when doing half-marathons, anyway!). So you've done the worst part.

Assuming I get to the stage of running more than 13 miles, I don't know what to do about nutrition either. For the half-marathons I've had a few Haribo and one energy gel and that's been fine, but I'm aware a full marathon will be a different ballgame! All I know is I HAVE to have porridge before a long run as that's what always works for me 

Haven't trained properly this week as kids being home for half-term has got in the way, as ever! How's everyone else doing?

I did a 10k run this morning! Haven’t been able to get out much with family issues.
Have signed up to a half marathon on the 30th of December. Eek!

Hi Kiwi ! Love the Jillian Michaels DVDs - really helped my strength a few years back.

Well done on your 10K BWatch - how did it feel doing it ?? Good idea to have signed up for a half at that point - my half isn't until the 30th March so it kind of feels a little too late.

We're in Scotland Katie so our half term was a couple of weeks ago - and I've been enjoying them all being back this last two weeks, feel like I've done more exercise than I have for ages. Not necessarily loads of running, but some strength classes at our leisure centre, which feels so good.

Did the same 5mile run this week that I did last week and it definitely felt slightly easier. My aim at this point to try and do at least one 10K a week, possibly sticking a couple of 8s and a 10 in before xmas, but am not sure if that'll actually happen.

Am surprised at myself for being excited about it - it's not necessarily the actual race, but I'm really enjoying the prospect of properly training for something, probably for the first time in my life. But maybe I'm being naive about how well training will go haha

Hi @kiwi5 !

I've done 3 runs this week, only 1 went to plan...

First I was supposed to do 2 mile run followed by 12 minutes fartlek on Thursday, but gave up after 2.5 miles, just didn't have the energy after 2 looong days at work...

Then on Friday I had a plan to run 10 miles! Ambitious, but I thought that, as I managed 8 the week before, I should be able to do 10. Wrong! Ran 5, walked 2.5, ran 1.5, walked 1. So not exactly a success 😂

On Saturday I planned to run 4 miles and I ran 4 miles! Hurrah!

Tomorrow the plan is to run 4 miles and then do some hill repeats, which I am dreading!

@RufflingFeathers I know what you mean by being excited about the training, I see myself becoming this amazing athlete at the end of the process 😂 It might not necessarily happen that way, but we can dream, right?

Been awake since 4am worrying about just getting a charity place to run London Marathon 🙈
I've ran for 2 years but usually parkrun and 10k races.

On the day my daughter was told she on autism spectrum i thought i'd do something positive and applied for a charity place out the blue - stunned my story been picked for a place.

I need a plan. Can someone screen shot this "magazine training plan" mentioned in this thread?

@Stewart2017 I'll try and dig out my magazine later, but tgere is also the first timer's training plan from the London Marathon website you could try?

www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/trainingplans/first-time-finisher/

Stewart, this is the link to this year's training plan: www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/trainingplans/2019-training-plan/

Quite a big deal re your daughter Stewart - I imagine the road getting to this point hasn't been easy. How are you feeling about the diagnosis?

Still running and gym-ing here. Feeling good, and keen to get as much running in the legs before the really cold weather as possible.

Did a 10K this morning and for some reason found it much more difficult than the one last week ! Started questioning whether I could actually do it - but then so annoyed with myself for becoming so demoralised so easily !!!

I was lucky enough to run this year for Macmillan - foolishly entered the ballot for 2019 and got a place!

Not started proper training yet and considering deferring due to other stuff.

I ran this year having done no more than 13m in training and picking up an injury 2 months prior to race day. My one tip would be don't skimp on the non-running training. Gym/bike/swimming great for the core!

To a pp worried about getting round - the crowds are amazing and they really really do make it easy to keep going! The only point I really struggled (emotionally, my body was shot to shit by 18 miles) was in the last 3 miles where I was a mess of sweat, tears and haribos but with your name on your top everyone cheers you on!

Great training plan links TheMouse- makes it appear manageable and quite reassuring.

And so I begain a plan today - opened with a slow 7miles.
16 week plan over the 22 weeks til start line seems realistic, as snow in Scotland plus Christmas festivities mean the weekly long run is not going to happen per plan schedule.

Feels good to have taken the first steps on a plan though.
Next up - where on earth can I find 2 nights hotel in central London for under £300 !?

Hello??? [ponders whether this is an empty room ]

How are we all doing with the training?

I'm mostly managing 3 runs a week and have stuck to 8 miles as my longest. Holding back from any more until I start the official training plan next week. No point wearing out the old knees unnecessarily!

I was given a new Fitbit for Christmas so that's given me a boost

Hello!

My training plan started on Christmas Eve, so last week I did 3 x 5k and a 10k. None of them at ground-breaking speed, but all good solid runs. This week the plan is 3 x 5k and an 11.3k, and I have done the first 5k this morning, whuch turned out to be one of my fastest runs in a while!

New Fitbit, how exciting katie! I am lusting after a Garmin 235, but there is nothing wrong with my current watch so can't really justify it. Might need to upgrade closer to the date cause I don't think the battery will last the whole marathon!

Can I join please? I ran my first marathon in London last year for Alzheimer's... now I have signed up for 2 more, one a week before London then Edinburgh at the end of May. Not entirely convinced it's the best idea ever but here I go... feel motivated at the moment at least! Training really was very time consuming so be prepared

Hi! Hope everyone is doing well! We’re running the marathon this year!!!
I did a half marathon at the end of December. It was long but at least I survived.
Back to proper training this month.

You sound as if you're on it, @TheMouseInMyPocket! We definitely all need a good watch 

Wow, @Lelly78, you're a pro! You will have to be our resident advisor! I'm fully expecting it to be time-consuming, which does worry me...

@BWatchWatcher well done on the half 👍

I've just done my 3 miles (I do my long runs on weekends). No-one out and about except dog walkers and a whole lot of Christmas recycling!

Ha, I can try :) It is actually nice to know I can do it but I'm much less fit than I was this time last year Ran yesterday and today 7.5 and 3.6... feeling achy but good!

Did you do any cross-training or strengthening, @Lelly78? I'm falling down on that at the moment...unless you count dog walking.

Unfortunately I think you do I tried various activites last time but wasn't hugely consistent. I think the main things are core and glutes muscles (I am not an expert though!!) so I am planning to try to do the 7 minute work out app most days plus some crunches, bridges, squats, lunges etc. I think I got caught up in researching the perfect amount of exercises last time but actually just doing something is good!! I am also trying to do a couple of yoga videos a week... let's see how long this all lasts

Hi guys,

Can I join in? Running VLM on a charity place. Training has begun but I’m really worried about finding the time to fit the training in!

Club run last night, a freezing cold 5 miles!! 🥶 racing a 10k Saturday and jr. parkrun Sunday :)

Hey guys - somehow lost this thread for a couple of months so am chuffed to have found you all again!

I kind of forgot that I wanted to start my training plan with an extra week or two, so I find myself at the end of my first week of training, without really realising that the plan has started - whooooops !!
But have been running plenty and doing strength stuff, so enough not to panic.

Managed a 10miler before xmas, so psychologically that was a boost - one of my daughters had made peppermint creams so took some for the run and it was amazing !!!! will definitely try them again........

Hello! Please can I join?

First marathon for me and I’m bricking it! I only started ‘properly’ running last year, done a few half’s and a 30km last year but marathon seems a whole other level. I think the mental side is going to be a massive test for me.

Started my training this week, also been injured throughout December (piriformis syndrome-basically trapped nerve in bum), after acupuncture sessions and lots of VERY intimate massage I’m starting to see a little improvement on pain so crossing fingers.

I have a 15 mile race mid jan also, treating it more as training run though.

How many 20 or 20+ routes are people doing? I have 4 on my plan!

@BusterTheBulldog I’m looking at 20 miles races atm, to force me to do it if that makes sense!

Off plan a little this week/weekend as I am running the Wirral Way 10k tomorrow. Totally in it for the medal 😂 it’s bloody cold here tho, need to dress accordingly 🥶