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.

@xsquared I’m going to go against everyone and say I don’t find the last 10kms the hardest bit. For me the hardest part is 21km-32km because the end feels so far away. By 32kms I’m on the home stretch . Maybe I don’t race them hard enough 😂 ( although my heart rate says otherwise)!

My biggest tip is to hydrate and fuel properly . I can’t stress this enough . And don’t go out too fast . You’ll feel better doing a negative split.

Am I correct in thinking you’re going for a 3:30? Have you considered going with a pacer ? I did a 3:28 years ago ( when I was young and much faster ha) and the pacers massively helped .

@EveryLittleWish . Thanks for the tips.

I do wear a hydration vest and I took with me 3 gels on my last 32K run, but one I gave to my running buddy after she dropped hers in mud.

As it's my first marathon, I would be happy to finish in sub 4, but ideally I would like sub 3:50 and would be ecstatic if I got sub 3:45.

@EveryLittleWish I agree (although I struggle with km!) I think mentally, for me, miles 15-20 are the worst, because you've run a really long way....but there's still a long way to go.

By mile 20 you're counting down but physically starts to feel harder.
I've done 9 marathons and I've never done one without stopping. After 20 miles I allow myself to stop at the drinks stations and walk for a few paces, and I've never managed a negative split!

*I think mentally, for me, miles 15-20 are the worst, because you've run a really long way....but there's still a long way to go. By mile 20 you're counting down but physically starts to feel harder."

I would agree with this. Mentally, I've always hated the 16 mile mark; because that's when you're starting to struggle but there's still 10 miles to go. I like it when I can start counting down in single figures, and doing the maths in my head - so 9 miles means there's no more than 72 minutes of running left, 8 miles means there's no more than 64, 7 miles means less than an hour, etc.

But the physical stuff for me, every time, is mile 22/23. Maybe I've never cracked fuelling properly or maybe it's because I'm usually at all-out race pace, but that's when I start getting dizzy; gels don't take effect like they did before; I can't speak properly to people around me; and I have to just try and hang on in there until the 25 mile mark, when I can start the push for home.

What's also annoying at that stage of the race is that your watch and the mile markers will start getting noticeably out of sync (ie you've run further than the distance because of the weaving). So your watch might say 25 miles when you're not far past the 24 sign. That's never a good feeling, particularly if time is very tight.

What a difference a day makes !!! Yesterday I was breathless after one mile but today I did another 20 mile, same as before but in reverse and knocked off 19 minutes !!! Elevation was 941 feet so would have been even better on the flat. Next long run will be in the canaries next Sunday. Currently recovering in the pub ….dragged out for Mother’s Day lol

So your watch might say 25 miles when you're not far past the 24 sign. That's never a good feeling, particularly if time is very tight.

One London marathon, my watch didn't pick up a signal and so I could only really rely on the clock at the mile markers without knowing exactly what time I started. I knew roughly, but as I had no watch there was no discrepancy . I had a text from one of my friends on the train home, saying well done, was it a pb? and I didn't know and asked her what the finish time actually was. It was my best time at London out of 5 attempts 😊(last time was 2018 when it was boiling so wasn't expecting a great time then)

Have you managed to get in the London Marathon 5 times through the ballot @Fizbosshoes?

Ive never had a ballot place despite a few tries. The first year I got a place (2008) from my running club, and the others were all good for age times.

@Fizbosshoes well done on being brave enough to recognise you need to defer. I hope your knee starts to feel better.
I did my first 20miler today, the run was better than my 18 last week. Still not sleeping but I felt in a good mental and physical place so can’t ask for much more really.

I see. You must be really good then!

Sorry my reply sounded a bit superior which I didn't intend!! Thank you, my best times were about 7 years ago but I'm still hoping I might get a gfa time again if everything goes right!
I'm sure it used to be possible to get a place if you had had 5 rejections in the ballot but they don't do that any more. Some people in my running club have had about 12 rejections, but the charity places need such high sponsorship

Joining late. I have my first marathon on 16/4 Boston, Lincs! 3rd one I've entered and hopefully I'll actually make the start line this time - touch 🪵

I have done London the last 2 years and around Canary Wharf my watch went bonkers each time. For 2 miles it told me that I did my miles in 5 and 6 minutes so by the time I crossed the lines, I allegedly had ran 27 miles.
It really impacted me . The first year in my exhaustion, I sort of forgot about it and was still relying on my watch so the end seemed to never come. Last year I was ready for it but there is nothing worse than your watch saying you had done 22 miles and you had just passed the 21 mile mark.

I'm sure it used to be possible to get a place if you had had 5 rejections in the ballot but they don't do that any more. Some people in my running club have had about 12 rejections

I've had around 10 ballot rejections for London now - not sure of the exact number. Finally got in on GFA.

I got in this year on the ballot on my 15th attempt so I suppose perseverence can pay off.

19 miles today slightly faster than planned - I think my problem is that I'm quite consistent so once I've settled into a pace I stick to it even if it is more than intended and my first mile in particular was faster than intended. Having said that I got round with a bit left in the tank. DC suggested that we had dinner rather than lunch so I had a big steak to look forward to as I ran round.

The extra distance you run in the marathon is often forgotten when pacing too. If you have a time in mind, you need to run faster than you think 🙁. It drives me crazy when websites say things like you need to run a 5:41km/min for a 4:00 marathon when in reality you will need more like a 5:35 pace or even faster .

The one advantage of running a smaller marathon is you run closer to the actual distance though .

I was outraged that my marathon was 26.46 miles! It was a small event so no weaving around crowds just the inability to run in a straight line towards the end.

Morning all,

Achey here after 20 miles yesterday. 3:28 which I’m happy enough about, I also tend to stick to a pace and was a bit slow out the funnel so maintained that. At least it didn’t hurt as much as the 18 miles I did on Monday.

I’m wondering whether to try to do one more 20 mile (or 19) next weekend before the taper? I’m doing London… we are going away for Easter hols so my runs will def be more leisurely in the last couple of weeks!

Welldone @GrannieD - great news that you got your 20 done ok. And sorry you are deferring @Fizbosshoes - sounds very sensible.

I would, @DaysofHoney - I'm also doing London and I've got one last long run next weekend before the taper. I'm going to go out for 3h 20 mins, so that should be 22ish miles.
I'll have got my "big five" long runs done then and can relax - I like to do at least five runs of more than two and a half hours within any marathon training block.
Very much looking forward to taking it steady over Easter!

Thanks @fellrunner85 for the advice

As we’ll as usual weekly training runs, I’ve done longer ones every weekend.

1x half marathon (2hrs)
1x 16 mile (2.5 hours)
1x 18 mile (3 hours)
1x 20 mile (3.5 hours)

Looking at those times isn’t very motivating because the longer runs are taking me a lot longer… perhaps I need to focus on some faster segments in my last 20? Or should I do a 16/18 mile at a faster pace?

Getting a bit confused now between going all out on marathon day for a decent time vs actually finishing it standing and smiling!

Looking at those times, @DaysofHoney ,

I would suggest an 18 miler this weekend with a longer, faster section in the middle. Could you do 3miles w/u at 10 min miles, 10 miles at 9 min miles and then 3 miles w/d at 10 min miles? That would be 18 miles at two and a half hours and, if you could manage it, would be a really decent run.

As for pacing, it's so hard to decide. When I've run marathons more slowly I've certainly enjoyed them all. Going all out for 26 miles is not fun.

@DaysofHoney I would go out nice and steady ( an easy steady )for the first half and if you’re feeling strong then pick up the pace.

I’m at the stage of my training where I’m 10 days out from my marathon and the nerves have suddenly kicked in . I think I’m losing my mind 😩!

Ah it’s just maranoia @EveryLittleWish its the worst though isn’t it?! Maybe go back and look at all the solid runs you have done for some reassurance?

@VaulterTech good idea! I felt so calm up until now ! It’s all I can think about . I feel like I’m going crazy 😜