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.

So am I !

Oh the last 5 miles were tough. I went off a bit quick but managed 3:11:44, which was a PB for me by about 30 seconds. Well done @RandomUsernameHere . We must have been near each other although I suppose that depends on our waves.

@Teawaster well done! Were you in the Championship Start? I was in Yellow 2 but happy to have a Championship qualifying time for next year (just)! Hoping they don't change the standards...

Yes I was, for the first time. It was exciting going off with the elite men , well they were a few metres in front , but I saw them coming out and getting cheered. I think it's been 3:14 for a few years so hopefully you will get in.
It was a different experience in that I was one of the slower people in the wave as obviously the championship men were way ahead, having to get something like 2:41 to qualify . So I was surrounded by fast women for a while and then the sub 3 people from the first waves came by in droves.
But it was great!

@Teawaster sounds amazing, glad you had a good time! I'm excited for next year already.

Wow! Super well done to both @RandomUsernameHere and @Teawaster for your amazing times!

How many times have you done London?

What's next for you? Okay, let's just concentrate on the recovery for now!😁

@xsquared thank you! That was my second London, I also did it last year.
Might do a local trail marathon in June then a half in October but nothing else planned yet (apart from London again next year)! I wanted to do Berlin but didn't get in. Do you have any other races planned?

Thanks @xsquared
That was my 3rd London Marathon. I previously had a GFA place as I'm very old!
Doing Belfast on Sunday. Not sure how that will go! I've never done 2 that close together. It will be an opportunity to relax more, although I'm not very good at that!

@RandomUsernameHere my next race is Blaydon 10k, which takes place in June, followed by the Great North Run.

A trail should be relatively leisurely, I think. Just take in the scenery!

I got serious London Marathon envy with all the updates on our running club's WhatsApp group, so I'm going to try entering again.

I see that the ballot is already open for next year, and I've also got a GFA time from Manchester. Am I allowed to enter through both methods?

They haven't published details for GFA entry yet, and won't do until June but the ballot closes.atthe emd of this week, which seems. rather soon to me. When do they let you know when you've got a place normally?

@Teawaster I hope it goes well in Belfast. I take it that you are used to running high weekly mileage with the races being so close together?

I've only just got back to doing shorter easy runs!

Thanks . Well yes, I am used to a decent amount of high mileage and I do a lot of races in between longer races. I'm not going to do much at all this week , just some easy recovery short runs. That's the plan anyway. I have done a 20 miler the week after a previous marathon as the last long run 3 weeks before another marathon but it's going to be different doing a full marathon. Anyway , it doesn't matter if I don't do too well. There will be other races.

Holy moly well done everyone today. some amazing times there!
@Teawaster weather here a bit less grim today so hoping next Sun morning the same!

Wow amazing times.
I went to watch and it was amazing as always but I was at mile 9 to start and everyone looked drenched as they came past which must have been tough. I felt sorry for the runners who were starting later who were probably soaked before they even crossed the start line.
My 2 training buddies did really well (one got a 20 min pb) and everyone I knew still looked great at mile 24.
Already in the ballot for next year and looking at September marathons pondering whether I could attempt a last min gfa time.

Well done everyone from yesterday. Amazing running.

I went to watch. It was manic!

@xsquared yes you can apply for both, on the website it recommends applying for the ballot if you have less than a 10 minute buffer for GFA. I assume you would be automatically removed from the ballot if successful in GFA.

I had a (very) somewhat slower race with a loo stop but I was pleased with my result and got a half marathon PB in the second half yesterday. I Jeffed it and was glad I did as the walk breaks meant I could really soak up the atmosphere and following the official advice to stick to the sides when Jeffing meant that the crowds really spot you and yell your name. Quite overwhelming in places. TBH although it was an amazing experience I've wanted to do for ages it will be a once in a lifetime event. However the second half has really motivated me to train to cut a fair bit off my half times now.

Well done londonmummy. Would you do another ? I’ve resisted the Manchester marathon emails ! Halves and 10ks for me now

@GrannieD - I'm in two minds over another - probably not as there were some stretches I really didn't enjoy - mainly the loop to the east of Tower Bridge. However I might miss the long training runs on the Thames path so there's a possibility of looking at a trail one. I quite liked the weight loss the long runs trigger too...........

Ultimately I needed to know if marathons were my thing and I now know they're not and that a half is a distance that suits me better. I might try switching up some of my training in future to include a monthly 18 -20 miler where I can (because now I can..... 😁)

I like the knowledge that HM is no longer my cap and I can go further for the fun of it. I had once done about 14+ on a good day while training for an HM, years ago.

The recovery's gone pretty well. Looking forwards to parkrun tomorrow. I went last week and as expected my legs were very sluggish too. I've been to my normal classes this week and performed normally and it feels like that deeper energy is coming back in now.

I'm signed up for my next event now. Just a light 13.1 mile trot 😂
It's nice now the pressure's off and I can run for fun again. The marathon's hung over me since signing up 18m ago as I had to defer then go back to C25k.
I'm not saying never again, but I'm definitely not rushing for this year's London ballot or signing up in a hurry.

@BogRollBOGOF I agree about the HM cap - I will definitely be running more than that on a regular basis in future but I doubt I'll ever do another road marathon as the distance means some tedious stretches are pretty inevitable (unless the route is lapped and I think that's even worse). I'm eyeing up a trail HM in June to see how trails feel as I've not done that much trail running other than cliff paths on holiday. Enjoy the half - its so nice thinking that is not a long way......

I am doing the women v cancer ride the night tomorrow - 100km bike ride. So been doing some cycling to prepare a bit for that.

Then the bike can go back in the garage and I can get back to running.

My next race is 5k, so a lot different. Especially since marathon training seems to have sucked the speed out of me 😂

Well done for London @londonmummy1966 !

Good luck for Belfast on Sunday @Teawaster @OwlsDance @Forestcantrun and for the 100km ride @Chesneyhawkes1 and anyone else racing this weekend. Let us know how it goes!

Erm...

@OwlsDance - other than the thunder that looks much like last Sunday's forecast. It wasn't hugely wet - mainly fine drizzle that was quite nice to run in.

Good luck to everyone with events this weekend. I shall enjoy just having an hours run on Sunday for a change.

The thunder probably won't happen. The rain might be bad or not happen at all, pretty much like any day in NI 😀