Couch to London 2023 support thread

[thenewaveragebear1983]

So… title says it all really.
i was unlucky enough to get a ballot place for October, however a torn ligament and plantar fascia injury in June put an end to that dream and I deferred. Just had the dreaded deferred place email and so it all begins again….
At the beginning of this year I was running half marathons once a month, and around 120kms each month. Injury and general lack of training later, I am currently managing a comfortable 5km, an uncomfortable 10km, and honestly can’t imagine doing a half marathon again this year unless some miracle happens.

i’m 40 next year, seems as good a time as any to run a marathon right? I could also do with shifting a few pounds as realistically my fitness is being impacted by carrying a stone of dairy milk and Sauvignon blanc around with me.

So if anyone else is in the same boat, come and chat!

I didn't get a place for the marathon, but do have a ballot place for London Landmarks earlier in April. Otherwise I'm in pretty much the same stage fitness wise. I could do with losing a stone.

Last year I could comfortably do a half marathon with no real thought, I'm very far from that now. Like you I can manage 5k ok and I've done a couple of 10ks last month, one was ok if not fast and one a real struggle.

For me it wasn't injury just a slow decline in fitness that I've struggled to reverse - I've been gradually upping my distance for a half in December. That had been going ok, if not stellar, but I had covid last week which I suspect has put paid to that. I'll try a gentle run this weekend but will have missed two long runs.

It sucks doesn't it? It's really bothering me but so hard to get into gear.

Have you got a training plan in mind for London?

@chutneypig I am convinced a large part of my decline is covid related. I had it way back in November 2020 and I am sure I have had mild long covid ever since, and I would have mini relapses every time I had a jab or every time anyone near me had it as if I was fighting it off.

I’m currently at the stage where I am enjoying running again generally, but after 2-3km I’m struggling. I don’t really push myself on times but I know that doing some interval/sprints will improve my overall fitness and I do try to put some in.

i don’t really have a training plan as such. I’m trying to get my distances back up for my longest run of the week, so I can be at half M level by January, which will then give me 16 weeks to follow a training plan to build up to around 22 miles pre-race.

I’ll be honest, I am terrified of another injury, I had a hip flexor tendonitis and a foot injury last year and they have really knocked me, the HFT has dramatically shortened my stride as well. My cardio fitness is still good, but I can feel the extra weight I’m carrying. It’s unrealistic before Christmas but I think from Jan it will need to be a strict training diet and no (or little) alcohol.

How about you? London landmarks always seems like a great race, I know a few who have done it.

@thenewaveragebear1983 that sounds very rough after covid and a timely reminder to me not to overdo it when I get back out.

I've been trying to do cardio, strength and flexibility alongside my running as I was definitely picking up niggles. It must be really hard having had and not wanting to pick up any more.

I've spent the summer trying to enjoy some shorter runs. I go out with my son a lot and he's been joining me in my longer runs - either he stays with me if he wants a very easy run or dashes off and meets me back at the car. That's been a good push to get out. I was just feeling like I might manage the December half too.

I've been doing Zoe which has helped my weight but I'm with you, I need better focus in January. Between now and then I just need to not let food or running go to pot.

I love London Landmarks- I've done it twice. First time I'd just come out of hospital and the second time was when it was rescheduled to August. I don't do well in heat! So I really want to give it a good shot for a PB in April.

I managed a comfortable 10km with my friend yesterday, for the first time in a while I felt like I could have gone further and faster. That’s an encouraging feeling!

I’d like to get a 15-16km in before the end of November and a half in December. That feels a bit more manageable now.

Great to hear @thenewaveragebear1983! Runs like that are worth their weight in gold.

I went out for a careful two miles yesterday - it felt pretty good, pace and VO2 max were the same as my last pre covid run. I'll keep it short for a run this week and see how parkrun goes Saturday. I should have been doing 9 miles yesterday but that really didn't seem sensible.

It would be great to get a half under your belt next month, that's a very good start to next year.

I'm trying to find an interesting but manageable half marathon plan for the new year but haven't quite hit the sweet spot yet.

Also trying to get back into running after an injury. Meant to be doing the LLHM in April too, have only ran 2 miles in the last 6m though...

Coming back from injury must be hard @onelife22 - have you got a plan in mind? I looked at the LLHM training plans this week but thought they looked quite complicated.

I'm aiming for 3 runs a week, 4 starts to get hard to fit in because I have to travel for work. I'm thinking 3 miles this morning - much prefer running in this temperature so hoping it will go well. I'll need my gloves though!

Yes it has been tough. I don't really have a plan in place, I probably should... 2 young kids, full time job which also takes me away/travelling and pets to keep alive means I struggle to fit much in too!

I very nearly didn't bother going out this morning but I did, mostly because I'd said on this thread that I would! Two miles not three but better than not getting out. And it wasn't as chilly as I'd thought.

Do you find it's so easy to talk yourself out of a planned run once you're out of the habit? When there's so much else to do.

Can I join? Doing Manchester Marathon in April. Have run one before but in 2019 and pretty much stopped running regularly since then, mainly because I’d lost focus and enjoyment. I do miss it though so I’m hoping this thread will give me the shove I need plus help me find my love of running again. Going to attempt a 30mins outing later today 😱

I’ve done a few miles this week, a couple of 5kms and a 12km today, plus I’ve done 3 5km walks as well. Todays was quite tough, my Garmin status was poor and advised to rest, but I ignored that and went out, my original plan was 10 miles but I overslept so had to cut short to get ds to football!
i hope to do similar this week as well, but get the 10 miler in as my long run.

@chutneypig I used to be incredibly disciplined and would never ever cancel a run or a workout. I’ve been injured this year (through overtraining) and it’s definitely made me rethink and actually I try to listen to my body, if it’s a ‘I don’t really feel like it’ then I do try to go out, but if it’s a ‘I really really don’t want to’ then I don’t.

@Toffpops welcome! I think Manchester is the week before London, do you have a training plan in mind?

I'm registered for Manchester2022 2023. I thought I was doing brilliantly this time last year, smashed a pb in a HM, shaved out a new parkrun pb, ended up with a stiff ankle and by January found myself on a running ban and not able to get back to C25k until April. Clawed through that gently, finally managed to get milage up late summer.

I've done 10 miles a few times by jeffing and did a race a week ago by jeffing gently, but it's taken a week to get over it, even though I did a training run quicker.

I feel nervous each time my ankle feels stiff because it's taken so long and so much patience to get here and I don't want to undo it and waste another year.

It's annoying because I'm fit, and it's just this one stubborn part that could jepardise it all if I don't read it right.

I'm using the Jeff Galloway plan which happened to fall with my peak distance.

There's some big jumps, but there's lots of recovery time which is good.

Welcome @Toffpops! Did you manage to get out for your run in the end? I tried to focus on routes I enjoy - I've got a utility route near home but I really need to be in the mood for that.

You've had a good week there @thenewaveragebear1983, even without the 10 miles. It's a good mindset and one I'll keep in mind. I often do the do I want to take a walk break or do I need to approach.

That sounds a really tough balance @BogRollBOGOF - must be frustrating. How do you find the Jeff plans? For my first half I did my long runs run/walk but not strictly according to his approach. I've been curious about his Garmin coach plans.

I did some parkrun tourism this weekend- not a brilliant time but I don't feel it's taken a step back since I had covid. Even had a sprint finish in me. I'm still tempted by the half next month but in my heart I know I shouldn't - it comes back to what @thenewaveragebear1983 said. I'd be better building a good base for the rest of the year.

I'm in the first couple of weeks of doing it by plan although what I was doing was pretty close.
Last week was spent on low impact, gentle recovery, no attempt at any running.

Hopefully I'll feel up to a mid-length run this week. I'm waiting for my hormones to calm down too, but they're being stubborn and I'm stuck on a bloaty, tight, low energy phase. Sodding hormones 😂

Thank you @chutneypig yes, I did manage out yesterday so that was good. It’ll be going out in the dark tomorrow tho-I’m not so great at that but will try and do it or else I’m not going to get much winter training in!

Hello, how is the training going? Looks like I am going to be a year behind you. I got a ballot place for 2023 and I have picked up an injury in December my Peroneal tendons during a 16 mile run. I think feeling like I do now I am unlikely to run this year. I have tried to get back to it 5k was fine even 4 miles was fine but as soon as I was over 6 miles the next day was painful.

hope your training is going well.

Mines not going well really, I am just not getting the miles in. My legs feel
so heavy when I run at the moment.