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.

Some impressive long runs and we're nearly there! My race number came through today so it just got real!

Tomorrow will be my last long, long run before the taper which I'm looking forward to.

I still feel good after the long runs but I still can't work out how I'd like to pace or chunk the actual race. I've tried doing progressive 10Ks over 35k and 5K reps over 30K with jog on the middle, but I don't know how.it will pan out on the day!

@xsquared I feel the same. I did a 20 mile race last Sunday and turned my pace alerts off on my watch, covered it, so I couldn't keep looking and just ran to feel.

This seemed to work really well and it's what I'll do for my marathon I think.

I done a few half marathons but this will be first full one and I don't want to burn out too early going for a certain pace.

I have 22 miles to do Sunday and then taper will begin.

Hi all, can I join please? I've just signed up for the loch ness marathon on 1st October and it will be my first one. I've only had a skim through this post and looks like a lot of you have marathons looming...exciting! Look forward to following everyones journey and sharing my own 😊

I did a 10 mile race today and got a 2 minute PB so delighted with that.
That's the extent of my long run this weekend as I'm going to Poland next week to run a 10k and HM . Then I'm doing my final 20 before London at the beginning of the following week , which is eating in to the taper by a few days but I did that for a previous marathon and it worked out ok.
After my groin strain completely disappearing about 2 weeks ago, I developed a ham string niggle last week. I wasn't worried as it wasn't much but I ran a 5k race on Thursday evening and I thought I was going to have to pull up in the first 100 metres. Something kept me going and it eased but I have been worried about it . Thankfully it was mainly fine today so my concern has eased.
I think I developed it after doing my long run the day after a 10k race because I wanted to give myself an extra day before the 5k, but I think I went off too quick, underestimating how much the 10k was still in my legs from the previous day and should have warmed up more.
Note to self!
Welcome to @Zerotorunninghero . Hope you find the thread useful.
Good luck to everyone running this weekend.
Good your 20 miles went well @xsquared .
I think the nerves will start to set in for me after I come back from Poland and the realisation that London will be less than 3 weeks away!

hope your 20 miles went well @xsquared* not glad they went well, although I obviously am , if they did

@Chesneyhawkes1 I agree that it's probably best just to run on feel. I had set target paces during the Great North Run last year, but of course that went out the window and in the end I just ignored it because I was either going way too fast or too slow. Still got a PB though.

I hope tomorrow's 22 miles go well for you.

Welcome to the thread @Zerotorunninghero . I did have a look at the thread you started, on doing a Lochness for your 42nd birthday.
Do you have a plan from now to October in terms of training? I am sure that there are people here who have done what you are going to do, going from 0 to marathon runner, who will be along to give you some tips.

Well done @Teawaster on your recent PB. Good luck with your races in Poland. They will be real confidence boosters for the marathong.

My last long run ~ 19 miles in the end, went well, but I think I ran it too fast as it was bang on my target MP. Running partner is aiming for at least 15 minutes faster than my time, so she speeds me up while I slow her down!

Thanks @Teawaster and @xsquared . I've broken my plan in to six stages, one a month. First month is focused on improving general fitness and losing some weight. Although i am starting from a low level of fitness just now I have done a couple of half marathons and several 10ks before ( a good few years ago now). After my last half i wrote off the idea of ever doing a marathon, it put me off so much. But a bit like childbirth, I've forgotten the pain and now ready to go again.

I am having a look around just now for a decent training plan...if anyone has one they would recommend, suggestions are very welcome.

20 miles done! Finally! Was orignally planned for Friday but that torrential rain and hail put me off 😂
Although it was tough, I actually felt ok doing it. 7min/k pace inc a toilet stop so I’m hoping to get a sub 5hr time on the day. I just want to beat my 2015 time of 4.55 really! Hoping the crowd on the day speeds me up a bit.
Hope everyone else’s runs have gone well. I might squeeze in another 20 mile next week, leaving a two week taper before Manchester.

Half Marathon race today - a bit disappointing as the first 10.5 miles i was on track for a PB but the final 2.5 were across a very muddy golf course and the runners in front had churned it up massively so it was like running through treacle. I ended up just grateful to have got round without slipping and doing myself an injury. There were a few people on the finish line who were literally muddy from head to toe and presumably had not been so lucky.

@Zerotorunninghero Jeff Galloway has a 6 month marathon training plan - it is run walk which might be a good shout if your're coming to it from not a lot of recent running.

Well done everyone. I have a mixture of fomo and relief this week seeing how horrible the weather has been.
That's a shame the race was set up like that @londonmummy1966 did you know the final part would be on grass? I did a half marathon a couple of years ago in my local town, I made the mistake of not looking at the course route thinking it would all be quite familiar. It was about 11 miles of cross country with 2 miles of road!! Road shoes were a very bad idea although I had always planned to run as a training run but more disappointing for you that you had gone into it as a competitive race. But hopefully a sort of confidence boost for your next run that you know you are in pb shape.
I did a 10 mile run today and even that was slightly painful so whilst not ideal it confirmed I made the right decision to defer.

@Fizbosshoes - although I'm sorry your run was painful at least now you know that you were right to defer - hopefully all will go well in training next year especially as you have a whole 12 months to build up to it!

The half was mainly road/gravel track so trail shoes wouldn't work (although I did see one runner had got someone to bring them so they could do a sneaky shoe change before hitting the grass. To be fair I was well aware that the last stretch would be a mud bath as I've done it in even worse conditions but it was much busier than normal and had a lot of faster runners - first wave is usually sub-2 but there were sub 1.20 and 1.40 waves today - so the grass was a lot more churned up. Knowing that I wasn't expecting a PB but its still frustrating... I was pleased to have managed the first 10.5 miles at a minute below marathon pace.

Hi fellow marathoners!

well done to everyone clocking up the last big miles this weekend.

so since my 20 miles last weekend I’ve had some pain on the outer topside of my foot (??). I’ve been out for two short fairly gentle runs on it (8km pacey and 6km easy), but really unsure whether to do my last 18 miles as planned tomorrow.

It’s easing up a little every day, so should I keep off it until better or get the 18 done ASAP and then let it rest while tapering?? Sorry for questions, it’s my first marathon so I’m a bit clueless!

Any advice much appreciated?

@DaysofHoney can you push your last long run back a a few days and see how your foot feels? How painful is it ? Is it more painful when you run.

I’m 6 days out from my marathon and my right calf has randomly started to ache. Typical 😞

Thanks @EveryLittleWish i can centtainly push it back a few days (period started today too so happen to leave it!). I’m doing London on the 23rd, what’s the latest I can leave the last long run?

The foot hurts a bit, not agony though, and is worse with running. Doesn’t hurt when I’m not weight bearing though so I’m sure it’s just strain and it’ll recover once all of this is over!

Sure you calf will be ok. Ice, roller, rest! I think we definitely become hyper aware of every little niggle don’t we??

I didn't do my run either. Woke up with a sore throat and it was hammering down with rain.

By the time it stopped I didn't have time as had plans in the afternoon.

However woken up feeling fine today and it's sunny! So off to try my first ever Pilates class and I'll go after.

Annoying as intervals tomorrow but I'll just swap my days all about. Long as I get all the runs done ✅ I'm not worried about specific days.

I’m the same @Chesneyhawkes1 theres been quite a bit of swapping days about on my plan for me, based on available time, how I’m feeling etc, the important thing is we get them done at some point!

My heart went out to the runners I saw yesterday, miserable day for the long one.

@DaysofHoney If you are doing a 3 week taper then you can do your last long run this weekend . I would then rest this week with no running but I know that’s easier said than done ha!

Can you cross train instead this week instead ?

There is also the option of the two week taper which is a popular choice for many runners depending on your milage and experience . Personally I’m a huge fan of the three week taper ( and it’s usually the recommended one) but I know plenty of runner who swear by the two week taper .

Eeek 2 or 3 week both sound lovely! I think my foot will have to dictate it, but good to know I can still squeeze a long one in at weekend.

thanks!

My race number arrived in the post last week. It's all getting very real now!

Started taper week this week, although I still feel under pressure as I'm racing in a relay event on Saturday. Although I've not really been doing much running at faster than threshold pace, I will be treating it as a tempo run rather than run my fastest 5k.

Also booked myself a pre event massage at the physio next week, which I'm very much looking forward to.

How is everyone feeling about their respective events?

I can't wait! I'm so looking forward to it.

Garmin says I'm peaking today which is annoying as it's too early. So like most things it says - I will ignore it.

Ordered some new shorts to wear. But not entirely sure about them. I'll wear them for my 17 miles Sunday and decide after that.

I've got my number too......beginning to sink in now !

Had a crazy weekend in the canaries and only managed one 6 mile run but average 30,000 steps each day. Doing a longish run at weekend then starting to taper but will still do PT and pilates.

One quick question tho.... how do I get that horrible taste off the bladder tubing ?

My taper has begun which is a relief as it feels managable now. Just a 6 & 5 miler to go which is doable through Easter.

The last few weeks have been messy. I did my 20mi Jeffing at the start of the month, brought forwards due to the snow. Then I've had a poorly child. What I have done, I've pushed harder and run-all rather than Jeffing to compensate for reduced time on legs. Last weekend was non-running, but was multi-day stamina activity which has its own value.

My goal is to gently Jeff it in roughly 5, 5.5 hours and the 20mi went well on that model despite tired legs. The hard bit will be keeping the start slow and not getting carried away. It will be nice for the semi-permanent tired feeling to wear off!

I’ve got yet another cold, very tight hamstrings and desperately need to squeeze in another big run this weekend before a two week taper. I’m not feeling very optimistic about the marathon (Manchester), I definitely don’t feel my best. Just need to get round!

Oh my days......I have tested positive for Covid ! Feeling like a heavy cold and sore throat right now so dosing on paracetamol and water. Fingers crossed it runs its course in 5 to 6 days.

Oh, what terrible timing @GrannieD and @MatchesinEyes23 .

Fingers crossed that your cold goes soon, and that the rest of your training doesn't suffer as a result!

Might be a daft question, but what do people usually wear on their feet for the actual marathon? I do have a pair of Vaporflys which got me a 5k and a HM pb, but as I am not running anywhere near as fast for the marathon, I wasn't sure whether to go with them or just what I've been wearing on my longer training runs.