Marathon Training 2023 - Who's in?

[xsquared]

I've registered for my first marathon in Manchester which takes place on 16th April this year.

My half event is next Sunday, so I'm coming to the end of my half training which is loosely based on the Nike Run Club App. My runs until then will be mainly shorter and easier runs, so I will start on week 3 of the actual marathon plan once I've done the half.

Anyone else training for a marathon this year?

Let's keep each other motivated.

I like your style!
I wish my running was as good as my procrastinating!
Today I took my kit to work and got off the train 1 stop early which worked well, no time for faffing or doing other things. I am going to try and do it regularly now it is lighter (part of the route is unlit)

Well done for getting it done! I did a track session, was absolutely miserable weather. I much prefer winter training but sometimes when it’s pouring, windy and dark I do question it!

Also have my long run on Friday this week, I normally do Saturdays but have a busy weekend so booked Friday afternoon off 🤣 I ‘only’ have 5 miles to do of that at marathon pace the rest is pace variation but I’m telling myself it won’t be too bad as I’ve generally been having 12 miles of mp in there somewhere.

@VaulterTech - I'm a novice so suspect that you are both more experienced and a hell of a lot faster than me. I actually started my plan as soon as I got the place rather than waiting until January when it would have officially be 16 weeks so I did get 21 miles in the tank quite early but I'm still finding the prospect of 19 slow miles pretty daunting. Still not quite sure where 26 will come from let alone at the pace I thought would be manageable.

Well done @HoopaPoop on your marathon.

I’ve my 20mile this week. My 2nd 18 last weekend was windy, snowy and cold so I’m hoping if I survived that I’ll survive this weekend. Struggling a bit with grief too so I’m taking every small step as a win.

Still not quite sure where 26 will come from let alone at the pace I thought would be manageable

What time are you aiming for, @londonmummy1966 , and what's your pace been like in training?

@fellrunner85 - as its my first marathon I've not let myself set a time in case I'm disappointed.

Same here Londonmummy. It will be a PB whatever time we do it in.

@GrannieD - absolutely - and in my case it will stand as my all time marathon PB as this is most definitely a unique experience

I was planning my second 20 miles today but woke up with cramp in calf twice last night. Parkrun marshalling this morning so wasnt going out till later. Any advice please ?

Any advice please?

I would see if it eases off while you're on your feet marshalling at Parkrun and, if it does, go out later on as planned.

Which marathon are you doing, and how many weeks out are you? Have you done many runs over 18 miles yet?

Sorry to hear that Grannie. I would see how the calf feels before attempting 20 miles.

If you do decide to go out and run, you could always stop and walk back.

It's not worth the risk at this stage.

Sorry to hear @GrannieD it’s horrible waking up with cramp. Hope it eases off.

I too had a nightly knee yesterday, I didn’t even run on it for the last two days but went walking yesterday and I felt the old niggles from years ago. I’m meant to be doing 20miles tomorrow but also wondering if I should leave it a few days??

@GrannieD unless you are in pain walking on it, I would at least try to run . I’ve woken up with random pains before and nearly didn’t run , only to run it and discover the pain never bothered me …ever again. Ha 😆

Magnesium spray after a run is good for preventing cramps. I would make sure you are properly hydrated and if it plays up cut your run short. The only time I’ve ever had leg cramps whilst running was last week on my race. I think a combination of starting too fast and not drinking enough during the run caused it. I sometimes have cramp afterwards but find the spray really good you can get it from Amazon

Thanks all. It seems to have eased off a bit. I’ve walked about 3 miles this morning. I will do a canal route out and back instead of a circular just in case I need to stop and turn back. I started the magnesium tablets about 10 days ago but didn’t know about the spray so will have a look.

fellrunner I’m on Manchester so 4 weeks tomorrow. Have done 20 and a few 14 miles in the past weeks.

enjoy your runs everyone!

Just did a mile but was massively overdressed so thought I would nip home and change then I realised after running up a short incline how breathless I was. Decided not to go today and do plenty of stretching and hydrating instead. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!

5th 20 miler done today . I ran a 10k race yesterday so my legs were tired . This combined with the wind and rain at times meant I was slower than recently . I should have waited until tomorrow but I want enough recovery time as I'm doing a 5K race on Thursday that's flat and fast and I would like to do a good race .
My legs are the most tired that I've felt for a while. I don't want to move from the sofa.
Well done to everyone and good luck to anyone still to do their long run.

Have done 20 and a few 14 miles in the past weeks
Is there a reason you've only done one long run so far in training, @GrannieD? Have you been struggling with injury in this block? Apologies if I've missed something upthread. But the breathlessness and the cramps don't sound good.

5th 20 miler done today

That's brilliant @Teawaster - I think the feeling of getting 5 decent runs in the bag is really reassuring. I've still got one more to get through in this block.

Just my hectic lifestyle fellrunner85. I'm not running for a time so as long as I get over the finish line in one piece I will be happy.

Been recently told I have low iron - probably caused by too much exercise! I haven’t been feeling too bad day-to-day but have really struggled on the long runs, and recovery afterwards. Am taking my multivitamins and eating well so hopefully it’ll pick up before race day!
I’m going to have a crack at 20 miles this weekend and next then will start my taper. Just need to get round at this point!

Just my hectic lifestyle fellrunner85. I'm not running for a time so as long as I get over the finish line in one piece I will be happy

Ok - I'm sorry if this sounds very negative @GrannieD but I think you need to start planning a strategy now as to how you're going to get round - run/walking from the start is probably the best option, to make sure you don't hit the wall and end up with a DNF.
Just getting over the finish line may sound achievable, but even that is a huge ask when you haven't done the long runs. That's why even beginners' marathon training "get you round" plans have several run/walk sessions in of 3hrs plus, just to get your body used to working for that amount of time, and to try and prevent running out of fuel and hitting the wall.

One thing I really did not appreciate before my first marathon was how a 20 mile training run is nothing like 26.2 miles on the day. Going for six miles further - so an hour at a steady pace - doesn't sound that hard. But it is.
That's why lots of people describe a marathon as a 20 mile run, before a 6.2 mile race. Again, that made no sense to me until I actually did it for the first time, and realised how you can feel fine (if tired and achy) at 20 or 21 miles but quickly collapse entirely at 22 or 23.
In those final few miles things can change very quickly, even for those who have trained well (the end of any marathon looks like the march of the White Walkers, with the number of people collapsing and throwing up). And you don't want that to be you.

I'm sorry if this does sound negative, but four weeks out from a marathon is the ideal time to take a good look at your training and figure out where you're at. Lots of my friends are now deferring their spring marathons til next year for this very reason - they know they haven't got the runs in, because life got in the way, and they also know from dire past experience that running a marathon untrained can be gruesome. You know you haven't got the runs in, and it's too late to do anything about that now - so it would be my advice to get your run/walk plan sorted (and resist temptation to go against it on the day) with the aim of going out and enjoying it. Or else defer til 2024?

I've made the decision today, to defer.
I've done up to 19 miles but ideally I would have included at least 2 x 20 milers.
I think I possibly could get round but my knee didn't feel right on a relatively short run today and I don't think there's any merit in forcing myself to do it, being disappointed with my time and potentially injuring myself further ....and then mucking up the summer season as well.

I'm disappointed because I've got fairly far into training to give it up but I'd rather try and sort out whatever the issue is and hopefully have a decent chance of being fit for some 10ks later in the year.

That's really sensible @Fizbosshoes - hope you're not feeling too disappointed. Deferring isn't an easy choice; in fact I think it's much easier to plough on regardless, and turn up on the start line. Even though running a race you haven't trained for it's only going to leave you with a disappointing result or a DNF, and a high risk of injury.

Hope your summer races go well - and maybe an autumn marathon if you can fit it in?

Sorry to hear that @Fizbosshoes . However, I think it is right that you allow your body to recover properly rather than risking further injury.
I hope the summer races go well.

Those who have run a marathon before, what is it about the 20 mile mark that makes the rest of it so tough? I've heard this from club members too, whose training went beautifully only to get some sort of cramp issue at around 20 miles. Even our captain who does 80 miles a week says the last 6 miles hurt and some even cry at that point.