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Original poster

Marathon Training 2023 - Who's in?

443 replies

xsquared · 03/01/2023 13:48

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.

OP posts:
GrannieD · 18/04/2023 19:20

BogRollBOGOF · 18/04/2023 12:09

I booked the hotel for the Sunday night too. Demand was low so it didn't make much difference to the cost of the booking. What it meant was that I could get back to the room on the Metro, have a good soak in the bath with magnesium salts, graze on beef jerky, drink oxo and have a gentle few hours before checking out in the evening and hitting the motorways to get home.

It's worth looking into the pricing of doing it if it is a hotel away and was better than having to rush off and faff with left luggage.

DOMS is well in now as expected. My joints were stiff yesterday, so although the muscles are tight and aching, I'm feeling a bit more mobile. The energy in my body perked up yesterday too. I'm feeling in the same league as I have after pushing the pace on HMs.

Another rest day today with just functional walking. If the DOMS eases tomorrow, I might swim. Back to gentle cross-training later in the week...

I must be a sadist as I did Pilates last night and PT session at the gym tonite lol !

GrannieD · 18/04/2023 19:22

As much as I enjoyed the marathon the training is too much so it will be my one and only marathon. I’m so glad I did it even though the nerves were kicking in on Sunday.

londonmummy1966 · 18/04/2023 22:52

@123InTheSky - don't give up on the London ballot - I got in this year after 15 rejections. I'd got to the stage where I thought I'd never get a place (and am currently wishing that I hadn't...) @GrannieD - Sunday will be my one and only too - I'll drop back to halves that are so much less effort.

123InTheSky · 19/04/2023 08:23

londonmummy1966 · 18/04/2023 22:52

@123InTheSky - don't give up on the London ballot - I got in this year after 15 rejections. I'd got to the stage where I thought I'd never get a place (and am currently wishing that I hadn't...) @GrannieD - Sunday will be my one and only too - I'll drop back to halves that are so much less effort.

Good Luck for Sunday! Just enjoy it 😁

londonmummy1966 · 19/04/2023 10:49

@123InTheSky - thank you - I'm trying to convince myself it is just a big street party on the move. The big advantage of it taking so long to get a place is that I am nothing like as quick as I was in my 30s so I will see getting across the finishing line as the achievement and be considerably less bothered about the time! (Just as well given there are some super fast people on this thread!)

RandomUsernameHere · 19/04/2023 21:46

Well done everyone who ran last weekend and good luck everyone doing London! Not long to go now!!!

GHxx · 20/04/2023 08:30

Good luck everyone this weekend 😊 I’m coming to watch my husband. We were be around mile 4 and 24 cheering you all on. Enjoy it and take it all on, I’m so jealous I’m not running it this year! The training is too much but it was only 6 months ago and I’ve already forgot how hard it was and will enter the ballot on Saturday again 😂 it’s so exciting!

Teawaster · 20/04/2023 12:25

Well done to everyone last weekend and good luck to those running in London.Heading there tomorrow.
Last year I went straight to the expo from LCY and then did a hop on hop off bus tour on the Saturday to save my legs. I was bored to tears in it , stuck in traffic and then into streets that I knew I would be running the following day.
So this year I'm going straight to the hotel and am going to go to the expo on Saturday , without my luggage. It wasn't busy on Friday evening last year so I'm hoping it won't be too bad on Saturday .
Getting excited now!

Original poster
xsquared · 20/04/2023 19:23

Good luck to everyone running London this weekend. It's all very exciting!

I'm a bit at a loose end now that the marathon is over. I've been advised by my running club captain not to run for 10 days.

What do people normally do during this time? I'll probably check out some pilates videos on YouTube later one. I feel the need to do something!

OP posts:
OwlsDance · 20/04/2023 20:11

Hi everyone, I've been lurking here for ages!

Got my first marathon next weekend!

Someone mentioned cream/balm for chafing, what brand do people recommend?

Original poster
xsquared · 20/04/2023 20:29

OwlsDance · 20/04/2023 20:11

Hi everyone, I've been lurking here for ages!

Got my first marathon next weekend!

Someone mentioned cream/balm for chafing, what brand do people recommend?

Hello Owl! Are you doing London too?

I just used Vaseline and no issues with chafing.

OP posts:
Chesneyhawkes1 · 20/04/2023 21:01

Good luck to everyone running London this weekend. I'm going to watch.

@xsquared I've been riding my bike. But I'm going to run tomorrow. I miss it. I hate not running. Maybe just 4-5 miles.

Got PT as well, but have told him no heavy weights this week 😂

fellrunner85 · 20/04/2023 21:07

What do people normally do during this time?

Go for a run! I've never heard of not running for 10 days after a marathon. That seems mad.
I just take it very steady; strictly recovery runs only; and supplement with lots of walking and yoga to keep stretching and moving.

Teawaster · 20/04/2023 22:00

xsquared · 20/04/2023 19:23

Good luck to everyone running London this weekend. It's all very exciting!

I'm a bit at a loose end now that the marathon is over. I've been advised by my running club captain not to run for 10 days.

What do people normally do during this time? I'll probably check out some pilates videos on YouTube later one. I feel the need to do something!

I keep running, obviously at a slow pace initially . I hate not running . I'm actually doing another marathon a week after London so I'll be doing very little next week.

MatchesinEyes23 · 20/04/2023 22:13

My legs have only just stopped hurting! 😂 I’ve booked yoga for tomorrow morning then a massage tomorrow eve. Will attempt a short run this weekend at some point. I’m already considering which marathon to try for next year - I’ve got the bug!

good luck everyone running London this weekend!

OwlsDance · 21/04/2023 11:45

Thanks @xsquared ! How did I not think of vaseline? I've got a big tub somewhere.

I'm not running London, mine is the weekend after, on the 30th!

Next week is supposed to be quite cool, I just hope is stays that way for the weekend!

BogRollBOGOF · 21/04/2023 14:43

I'm superficially feeling good now and back to regular cross-training, but just being mindful that my stamina isn't fully recovered yet.

I'm intending on parkrunning tomorrow, but will take it gently, and probably jeff it.

My injury that caused me to defer the marathon from last year to this year was triggered by too many races in close succession (2021) and too much race pace. Pbing parkrun 6 days after pbing a HM was not my cleverest move. I felt fine at the time and it took months to recover. This time last year I was on week 2 of C25k!

I'm trying to be wiser this time!

Good luck to everyone doing London (and any others this weekend)

GrannieD · 21/04/2023 16:27

Managed a slow ish 3 mile this morning so parkrun marshal tomorrow. Good luck everyone running London this weekend and hope there are no disruptions to your racing

GHxx · 22/04/2023 01:10

@OwlsDance Vaseline and body glide are good!

@Teawaster it was my first trip to london last year and made the mistake of going along the embankment on the open top bus before it. It was great due to not walking much but I just remember how long the road goes on for and it was stuck in my head from Canary Wharf onwards on marathon day! We went to the expo at 9/9.30 on the Saturday last year and it was fine, was starting to get a bit busier as we were leaving. A friend went to get hers today with her luggage and said it was mobbed

Original poster
xsquared · 23/04/2023 14:22

How did London Marathoners get on today?

OP posts:
Forestcantrun · 23/04/2023 14:45

@OwlsDance are you doing Belfast??

OwlsDance · 23/04/2023 16:05

@Forestcantrun yes I am! You?

Forestcantrun · 23/04/2023 17:44

OwlsDance · 23/04/2023 16:05

@Forestcantrun yes I am! You?

I am!

OwlsDance · 23/04/2023 18:13

Ooh, exciting! Let's hope it doesn't rain like yesterday 😬

RandomUsernameHere · 23/04/2023 18:45

@xsquared good thank you! The wheels fell off a bit at the end but still super happy to finish in 3:12:58 Smile. Hope everyone else had a great race in spite of the weather!