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 have two twenty mile races planned in that I’m just going to use for training (not that I’d be quick anyway!), and we have a massive reservoir close by that’s just over 20 miles around so I’ll be doing that twice I guess!

Good luck for your 10k runninglondon, I’m all about the free stuff!!

Anyone else following the plan in the VLM magazine?

I'm going with that as I was dithering so much and spending far too long researching the "perfect plan".

This one seems realistic for my lifestyle and tells me exactly what to do on what day...which I like

@BusterTheBulldog thank you! 5km and 10km PB! 🙌🏻

Jr parkrun with the kids this morning. I have an exam this week so not much time to run today; maybe a treadmill session later

@katiescarlett1939 Im pretty much following that, with a few adaptations to match my lifestyle/kids/run club :)

I'm doing the intermediate one that was on the marathon website - am guessing that's the same as the magazine??
Mine seems to have 3x 20+miles runs - more than i'd imagined !

Did a 10K this morning and marvelled at how short it seemed. 10K this time last year seemed like a good proper run, but in the light of what's coming in the weeks to come, it feels much less intimidating!

Amazing runninglondon, well done!!

Katie, I'm also doing intermediate one that was on the marathon website
1 week done, 16 more to go.

Long run on Sunday I did it on heart rate monitor only, keeping out the red and orange zone and running about 1.30 min/ mile slower than usual. I am assured this is ok, and focus too much on pace, instead just go the distance.

stewart2017 that’s interesting, I definitely need to slow down on my longer runs, trouble is a big part of my brain needs to know I can manage them at a faster pace!

I’d ideally like a sub 4 marathon, aiming at around 8:45 pace. I’ve done a half recently in 1:41 (7:48 pace) and is quite like to get a sub 1:40 half in the bearish future, this is also messing with my head though. I’m also injured which isn’t helping anything!

I KNOW I need to slow right down and so my longer easy runs at around 10min miles but I worry that I’ll forget how to run quicker!

@RufflingFeathers and @Stewart2017 I hadn't even looked on the website!! The intermediate plan is more my level (for instance I don't need to do any walking, like on the beginner one in the magazine), so...going to try to follow the intermediate! Thanks for mentioning it!

I am trying to make sense of all the different paces. I can't properly get my head around them at the moment. Do they make sense to you all? I mean...what do they mean by hill running?! Could be interpreted several different ways!

@Katie - haven't quite got my head around all the different paces yet but think I'll give them a try at some point.

So are you on Wk 2 this week?
My rough plan is to following the plan for the length of long run, then into each week add in a hill run, a shorter road run, a strength session/class plus a stretchy, yoga style class.
So that's actually only 3 runs a week - will that be enough???

Hello everyone

Can I join? I learnt yesterday I have been allocated 1 of very few places that my running club got from one of the sponsors.. London has always been my dream marathon and I’m so excited to be doing it! I keep pinching myself as I can’t quite believe it yet!! Now I need to sort travel and accomodation in a hurry for me and my group... if anyone has any tips or advice I’d be very grateful!

@RufflingFeathers no, I'm on Week 1 (I started the magazine one first which said 7 Jan onwards).

My plan is to do the intermediate one unless I'm having a bad/busy week, in which case I will fall back on the beginners one! If that makes sense...?

Beginner = 3 runs a week, intermediate = 4 runs a week!

I know I'm going to fall down on the cross training/strengthening. I just find floor exercises sooooo boring!

@Imnotreadyforthis welcome! Wow- how exciting! No tips I'm afraid, I haven't booked my accommodation either

How are you all doing?

8 miles boxed off last night. Hadn’t managed to stay on the plan this week as I missed Monday run club (3miles on the plan) revising for an exam and then Wednesday I was so knackered it was just under the planned 5 miles.

Off to get new trainers this morning. When OH is ever ready to leave the house!

Anyone else at the running show next weekend?

Hi @RunningLondon, well done! No, not going to the show - bit of a trek for me!

It was 7 miles on my plan today for my long run. Was trying to run slower at 50% effort, listening to my body rather than looking at the pace. I think I do my long runs too fast normally. It was more enjoyable just "ambling" along!

How's everyone else getting along?

Am still enjoying the training programme - am up to 8 miles this week. Have only been jogging 3x a week but doing strength/flexibility a couple of days as well so feel like I'm exercising most days!!

Only downside of all this exercise is having to wash my hair so often!

I'm trying to work hard at eating well - both before and after runs. I tend not to feel hungry after i've run, but then several hours later I feel so tired - so I'm trying to be more diligent in re-fueling !!

@RufflingFeathers I know!! I try not to wash my hair every day, but I am lately!

I'm always hungry but I do find I need to stick to my formula for the long runs: porridge beforehand, then a cup of sweet tea and a packet of crisps after! I find I get a low salt level type of headache otherwise.

I was 'supposed' to do 45 mins interval running today, but I felt so low today that I did 30 mins fast instead. Will that do?!

Would love to hear how others are getting along...

can i join!?

first marathon
have done a few halves
traing was going ok until i rolled my ankle on monday
going for jog this afternoon to assess whether up for a 10 mile race this weekend

Hi madeindevon2, my first marathon too and have also managed to get injured!

I have trapped nerve in bum which is causing sciatica, it’s getting better (lots of acupuncture, massage and foam / ball rolling) slowly, but is frustrating!

I also have a race (15mile) on sun, I’m going to do it but go very slow and steady and concentrate on getting round and getting the miles under my belt.

Also not a fan of hair washing! Sometimes I find on shorter runs wearing a cap and spraying a bit of dry shampoo in before the run means I can avoid a wash.

Hello everyone,

I haven’t actually started training officially because I’m still training for a 13.k race I’m doing in 10 days time. But I did my first marathon last November and have continued running at least 30-35k weekly so it’s not like I’m starting from scratch.

I am absolutely terrified of getting an injury so I’m trying not to overdo it.

This thread fell off my radar somewhat, but the training continues! Had a fantastic 5 mile trail race last week - it was so difficult, but so much fun! My long run this week was 9 miles - I was convinced that I wouldn't manage it, but I did, just took it slowly and got it done. And today I went for 5k run in a freezing cold and got a PB!

I don't wash my hair after every run . But in my defence, it is long, so I just plait it and it doesn't look too bad .

I'm so ridiculously sweaty that there is no option of not washing hair - esp if I've had my bandana on haha !

This is week 3 of my training plan and it's the first week that I'm feeling a bit daunted by how I'm going to fit it all in - and also think I'm a little under the weather so feeling slightly less enthusiastic than I have the last few weeks :(

I did an off-road 8 miles the end of last week and will do 9 on Tuesday. But get the feeling I should be running a lot more - arrgggghhh - I wish it wasn't so dark all the time !!

Welcome to all the new folk !! And especially to Imnotready - you can tell us how it's done !! How did the first one go? do you have expectations of trying to improve your time or anything??

Hi RufflingFeathers

I’m certainly no expert ! I run with a club and there was a nuce little group who were preparing the marathon at the same time, so at least twice a week I was able to run with them. We did all the long runs together and the speed work too, which made it a lot easier! (And more fun)
The actual marathon I ran by myself from 5k on, struggled with calf pain from 25k onwards but apart from that I was doing fine energy wise. I even did a little sprint on the final stretch.
The last 4k I think I ran on pure adrenaline, I was welling up just thinking that I would actually do it!
This time I’m hoping to do it in just under 4 hours... the first was 4h 06. But mostly I want to enjoy London!

im aiming for more like sub 5 hours. my faster half is over 2 hours - 2 hrs 03 mins) so you much faster.
not done a marathon before
have joined running club to help with the speed work.
any nutrition tips? im calorie counting as rying to lose half a stone as well but its not budging..
enjoyed the 10 miler at the weekend - took it steady and ankle feels ok so its onward and upwards....!
hope everyone enjoyed their weekend long runs!

Sounds like a running club is a good idea - I have a couple of friends who are faster than me but both are injured at the mo so not getting the stretching that I usually get.

Imnot - that's such a fantastic time for a first marathon ! I am in awe -
madeindevon2 - yes, that's my rough aim to - under 5hrs. Fastest half 2hrs 5mins :)

The pace thing is interesting - everything I read on the internet says for your first marathon don't put the pressure on of time, just enjoy it - but it's quite difficult. I'm probably hoping for under 4hrs 45 if I'm honest, but have no idea how realistic that is.

Imnot - what had your half marathon times been before you did your marathon in November?

I'm not sure about nutrition - I'm not specifically trying to lose weight (although wouldn't complain if 1/2stone came off!!) - I'm actually going the other way and trying to eat a bit more than normal. I don't mean I'm eating a burger and chips after every run, but I'm trying to think ahead so that there is some hearty soup or a chicken sandwich that I can eat, otherwise I find myself spent later on...

Ruffling my fastest half was 1:51 3 weeks before the marathon. Prior to that one I’d done 1:54 2 months before.

I think you should be able to do around 4:30, but yes time should not be the main focus on your first. The only thing is if you know what your comfortable pace should be you’ll be able to make sure you stick to it, which means you won’t run out of energy too soon. I never hit the wall, and never felt like I couldn’t run anymore, I think that came from obviously the right training, but also not going too fast and managing my pace. (Which is what my coach told me to do)

No long run for me yesterday but a PB in a 10k, so I’m pretty happy with that!