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.

I've done 3 runs this week after seeing the physio. First one wasn't great but last 2 I've felt OK, admittedly they've been pretty short. Today was lovely weather for a run (bright, but cold and not icy) Big test will be tomorrow when I do a long run. I'll be taking my phone and also passing a station twice so if I need to bail out I have options....but hopefully they won't be needed

Hope it goes well Fizbosshoes, and the recovery is at least heading in the right direction.

Do you have a running partner @GrannieD?
I fund having one keeps me motivated, especially during the long runs.

I have one last long run tomorrow before I start my taper. If I survive tomorrow I’ll finish on 80km’s this week. I’m not sure I feel ready 🙁! I’ve never feel so unsure before a marathon , or maybe I’ve always felt this way but I’ve forgotten ha !

I have a 16 mile “race” next Sunday which will be my first week of taper. I’m using it as a practice run for my hydration plan, race day outfit etc ! I want to get some marathon pace miles in there too but I don’t know how much is too much !? I was thinking of running half at marathon pace . I’ve done a few 15-16km runs over the past couple weeks at marathon pace and felt good after . Actually my marathon pace has been feeling easier and easier . Now I’m more confused . I want to run the marathon knowing I gave it my all but I don’t want to hit the wall. Finding that balance is so hard !

If you remember from a past post , I was debating doing a 10k that week but as it turns out I now can’t because it clashes with a prior commitment.

Anyway, good luck 🤞 everyone with your long runs ! I can’t believe it’s nearly Spring!

Managed 14 miles so not bad considering I didn’t want to go out! Currently lay on bed with legs up the wall lol. I used to be in a running club but left a few years ago. Still see a few people so I could meet up with them. Tried the Dextro Energy tabs today and they seemed to work. Also a SIS gel but had to stop off for the loo. It’s all coming together in a fashion !

I want to get some marathon pace miles in there too but I don’t know how much is too much !?

Sorry @EveryLittleWish but I've forgotten which marathon you're doing and when. If you're starting your taper though, I'm guessing beginning April - Manchester or Brighton?

I would be tempted to do 10m at MP in your shoes. 3m easy, 10m MP, 3m easy.

The only problem will be if you're up at the front and in with a shout of a prize, in which case slowing down at 13m will be very difficult!

@fellrunner85 I think that sounds reasonable . I’m doing Brighton in 3 weeks 😯! I definitely won’t be at the front but I do worry I’ll get carried away with the crowds and atmosphere and try and push myself.

You probably will get carried away and push it too hard (I would!) but you should have plenty time to recover in 3 weeks if you properly taper after tomorrow.
I would be tempted to go out and do it all at MP... to set a marker... but that isn't entirely sensible!

Brighton is a great race and a "kind" marathon IME in that the last four miles or so are slightly downhill. Means you're less likely to blow up than in some others.
Are you going for a time?

The race is next week (19th) and two weeks out from Brighton . I thought about doing it at marathon pace but i think two weeks out might be too little time . I had an injury in January so I’m being a bit careful .

So my original goal time was 3:59 and I was on track for it ( if not quicker ) up until mid January when my calf started bothering me . I took a couple weeks off running all together and it took another 3 weeks to slowly build up my milage after that. Anytime I did speed work I was limping so I took it easy for the rest of my training . My tempo runs turned into steady runs and I dropped down to 4 days a week of running most weeks . I changed my time to 4:13. Except now I’m wondering if I can do 4:00. I think if I tried, it would hurt, I might risk bringing back my injury worse than ever and I would finish in 4:01 or something ha!

Ah - that does change things. I don't think you should be running 16m two weeks before a marathon at all; let alone at MP and certainly not if you've been injured as recently as January...

If you do want to do it then I honestly would take it as a very easy run.

Really ? I normally do about that distance on my first week of taper . Then I do about 10 miles the week after and then the following week is my marathon. I did manage 5 runs over 30kms after my injury healed but I’ve been cautious overall with milage and speed work .

I never do more than 13, two weeks out and then 10. Last 20 miler 3 weeks from marathon day.
I don't think 16 is that much more and some marathon plans advocate 20, 2 weeks before , not that many though.
I think if you generally recover well, it shouldn't be an issue but I'm not really sure what the benefit would be. The work is done by then and I don't think that anything other than ticking over and doing a few long miles in the legs is necessary. I hate taper weeks . I'm itching to go longer and have to resist the temptation.

@Teawaster the taper weeks are the worse !! I always feel like I’m losing fitness .

I’ve always done the same taper and felt great on marathon day so I’ll stick with what I know works for me . I’m tempted to try something new …..but next time ( it’s what I always tell myself 😜).

Thanks @xsquared

I was tempted to do a 20 miler next week - 2 weeks before Brighton but as my training has not gone entirely to plan I think it wouldn't be advisable to try and "catch up" the miles I've missed. I revised my target as well, going to see how tomorrow's long run goes.

I never do more than 13, two weeks out and then 10. Last 20 miler 3 weeks from marathon day.
I don't think 16 is that much more and some marathon plans advocate 20

16 isn't much more than 13 if you're fairly pacey, but for steadier runners that could be almost half an hour more - which is a fair amount.
20 miles two weeks out from a marathon is fine if you're fast and fit and heading for a decent time, but again, if you're steadier then that could be three and a half or even four hours on your feet - and the risk of injury or not recovering in time far outweighs the training benefits.

I'm not that fast (goal is 3:30) and haven't been doing mega high mileage so I'll be doing 12 or 13 miles two weeks before and 8-10 miles the week before London.

I've gone easy this week, longest being 10k in sleety snow. My leg was being niggly following a more intense week including 20mi. Timed quite well for a sports massage that was already booked. Nothing concerning appears to be happening and a tight muscle is easing out. I've got time for another couple of long runs before my taper, and it was more important to manage a potential injury than push myself for the sake of it. I can now carry on with more confidence.

I'm eyeing up the weather forecasts about which day and how far to go. I'm not fast, my 18mi was 7:36 mins/km and 20mi was 8:21 (I wasn't brilliantly recovered from a HM and wanted to get it done before the weather changed this week). 16-18 should be good, but the forecasts aren't great so if it's depleting weather, I'll keep it closer to 3 hours than 4. It's frustrating that the weather's gone cold and looks like it's staying cool until I taper. I remember getting a shock when the weather flipped in 2018 and suddenly racing in heat days after continuing to run in wintery conditions. That was only about 8 miles, but it was still a shock to the system. I remember hearing long-distance races and participants struggling that spring because of that contrast.

An interesting tip I've come across recently is to vary flavours of your race nutrition to break the monotony and keep things fresh. I broke into my Kendal Mint Cake on my 20 miler and it was nice to get that fresh mint contrast after a few hours of fruit flavours.

My marathon today , lots of leg cramps quads and calves and a lot of run/walking for the last few miles, it won’t have helped I fell over on my last run on Friday slammed the pavement . I survived though. It was a hard run in that it was two laps of an out and back and no crowd support so really felt like I was running on my own. I was first lady but it was a small event only 22 altogether but also two staggered half marathons at the same time. Time was 4.11 on strava

Well done @HoopaPoop ! That's a great time.

I hope you've rewarded yourself with your favourite recovery meal and a long bath.

Congratualtions @HoopaPoop - great time.

@BogRollBOGOF hope the niggles die down soon but always wiser to go easy when you have them. Interesting tip on flavours - I do my middle distance runs with a combination of gels and dried apricots but I have a 19 coming up next weekend so might try adding mint cake to the mix. I just hate how sticky it gets once its been in my pocket for a couple of hours.......

THis week hasn't quite gone to plan - I felt pretty grotty on Friday and cut out the 5 miles I usually do on the elliptical - I feel guilty but keep telling myslef that I started the plan early so that I could deal wit niggles/illness/weather/injury and that missing a 5 miler wasn't going to make a bind bit of difference. Today was 14 miles that I ran at marathon pace so happy with that although I'm not sure there was another 12 miles at that speed in the tank.

Well done !!

Just did 18 miles. I want to die. How the flip am I meant to add another 8 to that???

Lol. I did 19 yesterday and given my knee has not been right (and had a few interruptions because of it, yesterday as well) that is likely to be my longest run before the day. I felt the same as you, in fact if I hadn't been with my lovely training buddy I'd have lost the will to live and given up at about 14 miles!!
I'm hoping racing shoes and crowds will make the difference on the day....but I'm sure there'll be moments where I question why I'm putting myself through it (again!)😂

Gosh , I know that feeling well. I remember before my last marathon, I did a 3 mile run at marathon pace and wondered how on earth I could do another 23 at that pace!
But somehow on the day we manage it. The support keeps us going and we have done the work.

I ran a 5k race on Friday evening and did a 10k race on Sunday. Because I only had 15 miles to do as a long run and I couldn't fit it in earlier in the week because I had the race on Friday, I did 10 more miles when I got back from my 10k. It's hard doing that after racing 6 miles earlier but I managed ok.
Today I did an easy 10 miler, as I just wanted to do miles earlier in the week as I have another 10k race on Friday.
Legs were very heavy and tired. Not looking forward to an intervals session tomorrow , but will be taking it easy then until Friday.

Well done @HoopaPoop.

@HoopaPoop fantastic result 👏!! Similar to what I’m aiming for ! How did your pacing go? And how are you feeling now !? Any advice overall?