Spring marathon club

[Runningonempty84]

Anyone want to join?
There must be lots of us getting into the high mileage now, in prep for London/Manchester/Edinburgh...or any of the other spring marathons.

How's it going? Are you aiming for a time? And are you finding the long runs so tiring?!

London for me! Heading out for my 17 miler shortly 😬

Training going well so far, I've been building up the mileage since November since I don't usually run more than 25 a week. Lost one week to a cold recently but other than that all good!

I am eating like a horse!

How did the 17 miler go?
I did 16 today and it was tough, as I did a large portion of it at marathon pace. Felt v challenging!

Ah I had a really tough run today, think it's some lingering post viral fatigue plus doing my tempo session too close to my long run. Was supposed to do it on Friday but bumped it to yesterday and paid for it today! Got the miles done but it was very very slow and felt crap. Drinking endless vats of tea now.
Well done on your run, my plan hasn't started with MP miles yet but I'm expecting it to feel tough when it does! Worthing half next weekend which I will use as a benchmarking run. Not sure what I'll be aiming for in the marathon yet but hoping to come close or under 1.45 for next week's half. PB is 1.47 but very old and off much fewer miles.

Good luck in the half - I've got one in a few weeks which I'm using as a benchmark, too. Aiming for 1:35, but that feels optimistic after today!

Where did you all learn how to do a mars a thing? I'd love to do one next year to celebrate Turning 40. I currently just about do 10K in an hour and run twice a week.

Mars a thon!!! I might be a bit more successful at that than the real thing!

Hi everyone, I'm headed to Manchester myself. Did 18 miles today, was supposed to be a fast finish long run but I kept having to stop and check the map on my phone as it's not a route I've done before so that part didn't go so well!

Did Manchester last year as well but this year I'm going for a time that's a bit of a challenge so my training is quite a step up. I'm so tired! Rest week next week thank God. Still got 5 runs to so but they're shorter.

@flowerycurtain you can definitely do a marathon. One for your 40th would be amazing, go for it!

I'm not a running club person, but you would definitely find some help for your first marathon of you joined one. If it doesn't work for you or you prefer running on your own, there's loads of free training plans out there. I've used Hal Higdon a few times very successfully, but remember to start with a half marathon plan! If you can run 10k you can definitely do a half. Plan for that first, give yourself a few weeks wind down after your race and then start a marathon plan.

See you at Manchester in that case, @SexIsAProtectedCharacteristic ! Whst time are you going for? I haven't quite decided yet...definitely sub 3:40, but maybe sub 3:35. We'll see.

Oooh you're much speedier than me @Runningonempty84

Sub 4:30 is my aim. This is my third road marathon, the first one in 2017 I died at 22 miles and got 5:20, it was so bad I didn't run again for a year. Loathed everything about that run tbh.

Last year I was aiming for sub 5 and got that easily, and now I'm actually having to work for it. I'm so tired all the time though it's hard to tell if I'm on track. I haven't skipped a single run yet though and I started focused training at new year. Feeling a bit daunted about what's in store February, everything is another step up again and I'm already knackered. Training 5/6 days a week takes it out of you.

How's your training going?

Training is going well so far, thanks. Done three 16-milers now, one with a large section at MP - and haven't had to miss any of my long runs - so I'm already better prepared than I have been in previous training blocks. In previous marathon training stints, I seem to have been ill halfway through and had to step back for a couple of weeks, but that hasn't happened yet (crosses fingers!)

I've done a few road marathons, all between 3:40 and 4 hours, but this time I'm determined to nail that Good for Age time for London.

Assuming GFA is sub 3:40 for your category? Good luck, I'm always super impressed by people capable of that sort of thing. I'm very much a plodder, it's why I love trail ultras, no one really gives much of a shit about your time

Technically GFA is supposed to be sub 3:45, but last year it was lowered to 3:41 for London as so many people ran sub 3:45. So I've got to run sub 3:40 if I want to be absolutely certain of getting it (yikes!)

I used to be much slower - my first marathon was on trails, and took me more than 5 hours. Trail races are definitely more fun in that respect!

@SexIsAProtectedCharacteristic
Thanks some great advice there. I'm aiming for a half at the beginning of this summer and then if I survive that I'll create a marathon plan for next year.

Am seriously in awe of some of these times!! I've been listening to Bryony Gordon's book on how she ran the marathon and I think I'm more her pace!

Hi
I am also running Manchester , I did it last year and struggled with blisters came in just over 5 hours really determined to get a pb and sub 4.30 but finding my pace is way off in my long runs at the moment .
This will be my 5th Marathon .

Hello there @eatpuddingdrinkwine! How did you find Manchester as a course? Is it as fast and flat as they claim?
What are you up to on your long runs now?

Hi
Yes flat and fast for some ! I still managed slow
Not sure about the new loop , but it was a great atmosphere last time although I struggled I did enjoy it. I should of done 28k last week but only managed 22 will re attempt this Sunday , I am finding it difficult getting up early enough to be back in time for my mum taxi duties !

@eatpuddingdrinkwine I'll see you at Manchester then, we're probably in the same wave if we're both going for sub 4:30.

I'm not too worried about my long run pace, I'm running those probably 50 secs slower per mile. The big test is a 20 mile race for me, if I can do the second half at MP I reckon I'll be fine. This is the theory anyway.

I'm looking forward to the route at Manchester, I liked it last year but getting rid of the no man's land at mile 18 and the new city centre section will be amazing. Can't wait!

@flowerycurtain what half are you doing? There's some good ones out there. I've entered the ballot for the great north run this year. Never bothered before but I thought why not! Always do the Birmingham one as it's my local.

Hi all! I’m doing London, hoping you are all Manchester as you’re much further ahead of me I terms of distance, 15has been my longest so far. Had to have last week off pretty much due to calf strain, hoping this week is better as I do feel it has knocked me!

Hi @BusterTheBulldog! What's your aim for London, and have you done it before?
I've never managed to get a place, but am hoping to be in next year, if I bag GFA...

Hi runningonempty84! I got a ballot place for London last year but unfortunately had to defer due to injury-last chance this year! Aim is sub 3:40 ideally, I feel way off pace at the mo though!

Argh, my half this weekend is cancelled due to weather so its a hasty reorganisation of my training plan, doing a tempo today instead and will do a long run on Saturday before the storm strikes.

Doing Tunbridge Wells half the week after instead, but expecting a slower time as its considerably hillier than Worthing which I had planned to do.

Oooh, how are your long runs going @BusterTheBulldog? Are you hitting MP?

I'm doing 20-22 miles this weekend and I'm just so tired...!

How far are you going tomorrow, @ferretface? I'm heading out super early, in the dark. Not very appealing right now!