Anyone else training for the London marathon this year?

[TheChosenTwo]

To spare my poor friends and family from being bored of me I thought I’d talk about it here instead
To be fair, I haven’t really spoken much about it, I’m still in the stage of crippling self doubt…
Anyway, I’m on the VLM beginners plan, week 1, second ‘run’ day, 10 minutes walk - 20 run - 10 walk.
It went okay.
Anyone else?

I have a place on the virtual marathon this year, and when I signed up I was in good health and had time to train.
Since then, I've injured my knee, aggravated a congenital injury, and been in ITU twice, most recently discharged a couple of days ago too weak physically to walk out of hospital.
I am fundraising for a charity which I care about but so far have been too shy to tell anyone as I hate asking for money and most of my colleagues have run as many marathons as they've had hot dinners, so it's not going particularly well!
I'm pretty determined to complete it, maybe on a "run as far as I can and then walk the rest" basis. I might aim to run the first half. I recently did a virtual 10k on this basis shortly after my first hospital stay and the medal didn't feel very deserved but I did complete it.
Feeling pretty ashamed of this as I know how competitive it is to get into the real marathon but the places for the virtual one seemed to be fairly plentiful!

No, but I have a secret(as in, I'm telling nobody so no one knows if I don't do it!) Place on a 10k for October.
At my current state of fitness and motivation, that will definitely be a marathon for me!
You have made the start, which I have yet to do. One step at a time.
You can do this!

Bloody hell @CeciledeVolanges - that sounds like a lot to deal with at once.
Have you considered jeffing? I think I’m aiming to run the first half and then maybe Jeff the next 10 miles (it’s just a set run/walk method, it’s meant to be a lot kinder on the body, loads to read up about it, perhaps worth looking into?) and run the last few miles…
Blimey don’t feel ashamed
@Scarby9 other than telling dh back in February I didn’t tell a single soul until quite recently because I honestly doubt myself!
I’m not a runner but always wanted to run a marathon. I don’t know why, it’s fucking hard

This thread didn't really get going.

But I hope you all did, and are all set to 'go' on Sunday!!

@AuntieStella it didn’t really, and neither did I
Had to withdraw my place 3 weeks ago with a stress fractured hip. I had been running on it for a few weeks before getting it checked out, felt so stupid when I was told I could have actually broken it Gutted to be honest although actually very relieved last Friday when my colleague was shitting himself with fear
I went to watch and support him and a few others I knew who were running, it was wonderful and sad at the same time.
Hopefully I’ll be fighting fit for next year.
I really struggled with the training and the long runs, I was walking a lot so hopefully when I’m stronger I’ll be able to resume running and build on stamina somehow.

Poor you! Make sure you take plenty of time to heal, and I hope that all goes well. Best of luck for 2022

Thanks, it’s been a pretty crappy time after trying so hard. I still never found a love for the actual running but I did learn to appreciate the time on my own, the fresh air, the beauty in the outdoors, the views, and I always felt proud of myself when I got home. What I can’t work out is when people say they love the time for their heads to just empty and wander - I was always fighting with my head - “how much further? Miles are really long. I can’t speed up. I’m slowing down. Just to the next lamp post. Oh my gosh I’ve been overtaken by a toddler. Just one more minute of the next song. This is really hard. When does this get easier? Why did I decide to try and run a bloody marathon? Can anyone see my arse wobbling? I hope no one I know drives past…”
Clearly not a natural runner, every minute was pure hell
Not looking forward to putting myself through any of it again BUT I still want the sense of achievement