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 that’s a fantastic time 👏!! What’s your marathon goal ??

HI @EveryLittleWish ,
As it's my first marathon, I will aim for sub 4 for now. If I get sub 3:50 however, I will be over the moon.

@xsquared if you’re consistent with your training and get those long runs in, I think you’ll surprise yourself!!

Thanks for the encouragement @EveryLittleWish .

I do try to follow the plans as much as I can, but where I lack consistency is the strength and conditioning bit.

I'm not keen on going to the gym nut happy to invest in some weights to do workouts at home. Does anyone have any recommendations of online workouts that's easy to follow, please?

I tried a day 9f Yoga with Adrian be last year and ended up having a cup of tea and a biscuits watching the next one. I don't seem to have the discipline and patience for yoga, but willing to give it another go if it makes a difference to running!

Well done @xsquared . 3:50 should be very doable with a HM time of 1:40 and sufficient training .

I tend to start the day with a 10 minute yoga session to mobilise and ease any muscle tiredness from previous days.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa4p3v2FWEhxFny4dXuWRxTb8W5qjs5Kx

This one's a good playlist. It's pretty "good to go" with little level change. Not the greatest for S&C, but good for establishing habits. I do a couple of strength classes a week. One weights/ equipment based, and one more bodyweight so I try and arrange the long run so that makes an active recovery.

Thanks @Teawaster and @BogRollBOGOF .

I shall have a look at the videos and try yoga again, even if it's just for warm up.

https://youtube.com/playlistlist=PLa4p3v2FWEhxFny4dXuWRxTb8W5qjs5Kx

Trying to see if the link works again...

this is day 1 if that works any better. Yoga with Uliana morning challenge

How is everyone getting on? Have you managed to get some running done in thus weather?

I was meant to go out for my long run this morning with my running partner, but yesterday's snow meant that surfaces were icy by evening, making it unsafe.

Went out later and did some intervals instead. Rescheduling long run for Subday, so fingers crossed for good weather.

Two club runs cut short this week due to icy conditions we didn't fancy sliding down a big hill on our bums and not being able to get back up the other side. I did a quickish 10K today and then 16 long/slow group run tomorrow.

I did a tempo run yesterday and was supposed to be running a XC race tomorrow about 2 hours drive away and my long run on Sunday . I wasn't looking forward to XC and my delight was beyond measure this morning when it was cancelled...well postponed. So I looked out the window and as it was bright and calm, with windy conditions forecasted for tomorrow and Sunday, I did my long run today!
Can't believe I have it done and can just do easy running over the weekend .
Hope everyone has a good weekend , running or otherwise!

I got my first tempo run in with no problems this week but Wednesday was meant to be a medium run and I just could not rustle up the energy to do anything so I took a day off and added half the mileage to Thursday and did the rest today so I've done the miles but not in quite the way I should. TOmorrow is a rest day with a long run on SUnday. A bit frustating that I've picked up a niggle in my hip so have had to cut the long runs back on physio's orders so only 14 miles on Sunday rather than the planned 20. I'd dearly love to get 20 in the bag as it feels such a milestone.

I'm going to try out fuelling as well on Sunday - probably Kendal Mint Cake as it is easy. I might order some salt stick chews from Holland and Barratt as well.

Good news is that I managed to buy a Nathan running belt on ebay for not a lot and it is a really comortable way to carry my phone and stuff so hoping that will work on the day itself leaving my pockets for nutrition etc.

@londonmummy1966 , I still have my niggle too and am going to the physio next week. I got 20 done today. As you say, it feels like a milestone. Niggle was sore for the first half and then eased . It's not getting any worse and I think a bit better, but it's still there and I'm sure running 20 miles wasn't what the physio would have ordered.

@Teawaster a bit of me feels like ignore the physio and go for it but the rest of me remembers having to pull out of a great south so I'm torn...

My week has been disappointing ! I went into it feeling fantastic!

Last Sunday I ran 27kms. I ran by heart rate and kept it nice and low . I felt great and could have kept going.

Monday was a rest day . I felt great after my long run which is rare .

Tuesday I ran 11kms. I was meant to run 8kms of it slow and 3 kms at a tempo pace but I decided to run it all at a steady pace. Anyway finished strong, heart rate was lower than I thought and I determined that this was likely to be my marathon pace .

I woke up the next morning and my left muscle on the inside of my shin ( not directly behind it but next to it ) was a bit sore. I ran 5kms slow and felt it but nothing too worrying.

On Thursday I had a 7km speed work session . My muscle felt much better so I went for it . By the end of my intervals my leg was worse than ever and throbbing ( I couldn’t feel it while running , only after ). I iced it and it felt fine again .

Yesterday I was meant to run 11kms but I managed 5kms. I felt fine while running but I stopped to assess my leg and the second I stopped running , the pain over came me. So I stopped running.

Now don’t know what to do . I’m meant to run 30kms tomorrow . I think I need to take a week off .

I think that's probably wise until you know what the problem is.

It sounds like it might be your soleus that's hurting. It might be worth seeing a physio about it of ots still bothering you.

Hopefully, it is nothing more than just pain from ramping up the volume of training rather than anything broken. If that is the case, then they'll recommend some strengthening exercises and maybe give you a deep tissue massage.

@EveryLittleWish - these niggles are frustrating aren't they? My hip doesn't seem any worse than it was but I can feel it sometimes. Seeing the physio was reassuring though although the exercises are a bit of a chore.

An OKish week as I managed to get all the midweek miles in even if not quite on the right days and my long run went well, running wise. I tried fuelling with a small square of Kendal mint cake at 1 hour and every half hour thereafter and finished 14.5 miles feeling there was with plenty in the tank. I've decided to take the long runs slower and try to enjoy them a bit more which also helped I think especially as the route ended up impassable at one point as the Thames was so high and the diversion wasn't very scenic.

I've done all my sessions this week but Thursdays session was meant to include some miles at marathon pace but I felt I couldn't really go for it when it was frosty/icy in places.
The weather was better today, and not as icy. I normally do my long run with a friend but they were unavailable and I found the 2nd half really tough. I've had a bit of a cold this week and I literally had to blow my nose every mile. Hoping next week will seem easier!!

I'm just about to order my nutrition on X Miles, and usually go gor Kendal Mint Cake gels.
Having spent a lot of time browsing however, I'd quite like to try Clif blocks as an alternative.
What do experienced marathibers think of them?

Hi everyone, just happened upon this thread in Active 😊 well done with all your training so far! I’m training for Manchester in April as well, just started Week 5 of a 16-week training plan. I’ve run on and off for a few years but never consistently enough to train for a marathon (or I convinced myself that, anyway!). I’m aiming for sub-4 hours for my first time, but secretly I’d love to get closer to a 3:45 which would be a GFA time.

Nutrition is my real stumbling block too. I’ve used Tailwind before on mountain/trail runs, which I really liked. I had a small bottle before starting and then kept topped up during the run, about 20km-ish. I’m trying to remember the flapjack make that went down quite well, possibly Torq? There’s a cherry bakewell that’s quite palatable and seems to be easy on the stomach too. I’ve never been a gel person either but that might have to change! Good luck, everyone, keep on keeping on 😊

@xsquared I’m a big fan of the cliff blocks ! They taste great and don’t give me tummy issues .

@CringeCrush fantastic 👏! The marathon is humbling ! Those are so great goals and you will find your pace improving a lot between now and your marathon . You never know what you are capable of . I’m aiming for sub 4 hours for my current marathon which is Brighton ( more like 3:45-4:00 ) but I currently have an injury so who knows ! I would love a 3:45 but realistically it looking more like a 3:50-3:55!

I only tried Cliff Bloks once and tested them on a run home from work as they’d been delivered that day. Let’s just say I 2 toilet stops in an hour! It might have been unrelated as I did have bad IBS problems at the time but I’ve never tried them since. I also now always try any new nutrition in the gym first.

I am clif blocks fan- especially the margarita ones as they have salt too :)

Welcome @CringeCrush. All the best with your training and on aiming for 3:45!

Thank you for the feedback on Clif blocks. I'd like to try them as they look more compact than having to carry 5 gels, but I'll order a couple and see for myself first.

Just come back from an easy 10k and getting ready for work!

Got 29km done just now with my running partner.

We're used to halfs so trying to increase our long run to 20 miles eventually. Not feeling too bad!

How is everyone getting on?