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.

My favourite are torq. I convinced myself I should use lucozade gels the first time I did London marathon because that was the sponsor and they were the ones provided along the route. I perservered with them but they made me gag and retch virtually every time. (They might have changed the recipe, it was a long time ago ) But I've tried different ones and torq ones are much nicer and easier to use for me.

Thanks for the recommendations. I have been trying SIS as they are easily available in the supermarket but they just make me feel sick and then I can’t have it all so it’s a disappointing waste. Yuck!

I've had to cut back a little with the training on physios orders but I'm going to use my curtailed 10 mile run this weekend to try out some nutrition. I am going to start with either sultanas or mint cake. I'm Jeffing so have some 30 minute intervals to eat in. I was thinking of tailwind tabs to go in my water bottles as I understand that water is easy to get hold of at London.

Hi, I have a few marathons lined up this year, the first of which is London. This will be my 3rd year doing it. I have been running for years and I have never had an injury where I had to stop running. But I have a bit of a niggle in my groin/thigh area at the moment , which I'm hoping will disappear like others always have but I think I'm clutching at straws this time.

@Teawaster - I also have a thigh niggle so sympathy. I took it to the physio simply because its taken me 15 years to get a place for London and I would rather be safe than sorry. Mine just seems to be a bit of weakness in the hips protesting about the increased mileage in training (done lots of halves but this is my first marathon) so I've got a 2 week plan to follow which the physio thinks should help get me back on track. Maybe just get it looked at quickly if you can afford the fee?

Thanks @londonmummy1966 . I think I'll be taking a trip to the physio next week

My experience of nutrition (based on numerous HMs not marathons) is that I can't do gels because of the sweetners, but also find excessively sweet too much too. I tend to take Nakd bars, weak full-sugar squash and water. My race day breakfast is porridge made with oat milk (dairy hates me) and I'll have some starchy salt and vinegar crisps shortly before starting. On the run, I'll graze gently from fairly early in run. I struggle if I feel too hungry/ empty.

My marathon strategy is not refined at the moment. I've been running loops on long runs as I build up after injury so I've had the car as a base. With the weather being cold, I've had a warm drink in a flask to help keep warm through the late stages of the run, and spare layers that I can adjust as I warm up and potentially cool down again. As it warms up and I've got more confidence in my stamina I can practice closer to my race day intentions.

The only difference you might find with marathons @BogRollBOGOF is that you might need something with an immediate kick to sort you out, if you're teetering on the brink of crashing.
I agree with the general principle of avoiding gels and going for longer-release stuff, and you can certainly get away with it in ultras (where you're running more slowly) or shorter races. But in a marathon where you're generally at your limit the full time, you can very quickly tip over the edge. Eg at 22 miles you might be fine, but 22.5 miles you might be seeing stars and going dizzy - and a nakd bar won't rescue you then. I would try and experiment with instant energy that you can stomach, in case you need an emergency hit.

Had my half race today and beat my pb, so I'm pleased.
Gentle week for me but going to do 10 miles for my long run this coming week.

I took one gel today and need to start practising fueling strategy on my longer runs.

I had my first ever gel last week on my 16 mile run. I waited until 11 miles and had half as I was starting to feel a bit tired and had the other half at 13 waiting at traffic lights. I’m not sure if I got any benefit from it . I did get a stitch though on my last mile. I’ll try again next weekend although my long run is only scheduled to be 10 miles. I’ve tried things like naked bars but I can’t run and eat because I can’t breathe through my nose and run at the same time. I can manage fruit pastilles and I also have a cliff block to try. I did a 5K with my daughter yesterday and she was just 5 seconds off her PB

@xsquared well done on your PB

@HoopaPoop , I think 11 miles to take half with the remainder at 13 is leaving it too late. Certainly the half at 13 wouldn't have kicked in, in my view.
It depends on your pace but for me, if I was to take a gel in a half, I would take at 8 or 9 miles. In a marathon I wouldn't take any gel after 21 or 22, having taken them at regular intervals up until then. I try not to take too many as, although they don't make me sick, I sometimes feel a bit queasy.

I took my gel at half way today and finished as fast as I’d started so I think it definitely helped.
well done on the PB!

I take my gels every 35-40 on my long runs . I use to do one every 45 minutes but I’m experimenting to see if it makes a difference.

With my first marathon I trained for (12 years ago) I didn’t use gels ( packed peanut butter sandwiches and ate and ran 😆) and I felt fine 🤷🏼‍♀️

Congratulations @xsquared - PBs are so gratifying!

I did a cut back long run of 12 miles today. I've never fuelled on a run before but took some Kendal mint cake and had a square after an hour and another half an hour later. I didn't bother with more as there were only a couple of miles left when it was time to take it. Easy to eat and came in a bar form so easy to carry and no problems with it so I will probably carry on with this.

Does anyone use Tail wind? I was wondering if it is helpful as I could take the tablets and put them in a water bottle.

@Teawaster I left it that late in case it made me feel sick and I had to hobble home. I will try earlier next time also I didn’t drink enough. I drank half my drink on my recovery walk up my hill

It's all about trial and error at this stage @HoopaPoop. I have tried lots of different gels. Maurten seem to be very popular at the moment with my running friends and peers. They are very tasteless but I don't like the texture much. Many swear by them so I might give them another go! They come in gel form and then there is an option to add some other form to water a few hours before a long run. But I couldn't face a whole pile of liquid before a race.

With my first marathon I trained for (12 years ago) I didn’t use gels ( packed peanut butter sandwiches and ate and ran 😆) and I felt fine

I can't begin to imagine how you managed that... !! How fast were you running?!

I just got back from a 12 mile run and it went well by my
slow standards! It felt much better than last weeks long run. I was actually able to stomach 2 sis gels.

i will look into the other brands you are recommending. Do you buy them online or do they sell them in shops?

I use high 5 gels, they’re a bit more watery than some brands and I find them easier to take. That said, I can also eat a full picnic if really long run training.

I use high 5 gels, they’re a bit more watery than some brands and I find them easier to take

For the same reason, I can't take high 5s and I prefer SIS - in a really hard race, high 5s are much runnier and go straight through me, to explosive consequences (!!!)

As this thread proves, we're all different and you really do have to experiment in training to find what suits you. You really don't want to discover for the first time on race day that a certain brand of gels turns your stomach..

I always go back to Hi 5 banana flavour as I can't stand any berry type flavour. Always on the lookout for better things

Well done for the new pb @xsquared ! 😊
You Must be chuffed with that.

I did 12 miles with a couple of friends today. Took some haribos in lieu of gels and had 1 at 8.6m. I had a small break fir water/sweets at the bottom of a hill, but then put the other (a tiny star mix bear) in my hand and it took me half a mile to slowly chew it as I was running along! Gels are quicker and easier I think. (I usually have a few haribos before a race, or before parkrun but they are more difficult to eat on the run. Although Jelly babies would have been easier as they are softer)

@fellrunner85 I ran my first marathon in 4:09! Long runs were slower though . I didn’t know what gels were. I had just started running and was naive .

Thanks @Fizbosshoes , @londonmummy1966 , @emmathedilemma and @HoopaPoop .

I only wanted 1:42 and got 1:40:18 chip time, so I'm extremely pleased!

Went out for a gentle 6k this morning to get the marathon ball rolling.