Spring Marathoners 2024

[Forestcantrun]

Apologies if there is an existing thread, I’ve only seen the London one (maybe 2025 is my London year 🙏)
Just wondering who is doing what Spring marathon this year and how are you getting on?
I'm for Manchester this year, never been so am even excited at going to a new city. Training at a standstill for me this last few days, it’s just been too icy to get out.

Have fellow Manchester runners seen the start times are out? I’m in cyan so the very last wave at 11.10. My nerves are going to be in shreds by then!

I’m in grey. I’m just hoping it doesn’t get too warm as the morning goes on. Definitely feels more real now!

How’s everyone feeling??

Manchester bibs have arrived, starting to taper. 25 days to go!! I have every doubt in myself so trying to mentally think of it as a 42.2k long run🤣

I couldn't believe it when the 1 month to go email came through!

Training going okay and I did a tempo run today that felt strong VO2 max also went up by a point after that a d is the highest its been since December.

Going to do a couple more 30K plus runs before the taper for London. It's getting very exciting.

I felt a bit sick when the bib arrived!

Did my 20 mile at the weekend, which was a mental target I’d set myself. Running a half marathon event this weekend, and planning to add a half hour jog on the way home, but will see how the legs feel at the time!

Very, very tired though and have the vague threat of a cold, so might ease back if necessary

Hi everyone! Good luck with your races. I’m doing Rotterdam in April ( I live in NL). Getting excited !

any tips for carrying gels? I have a spibelt but with phone too it carries probably 2 max. Thinking maybe to slot 2 in bra but worried about chafing. Any recommendations for good shorts with pockets?

Well done on the v02 max @xsquared . These marathons have sort of crept up. We knew they were coming but they still seem to have shot up🤣
@LittleLize get on the fluids! Make sure you’re prioritising sleep, hydration, food if you’re feeling off. I always take a prophylactic lemsip at the first sight of a sniffle. Just in case.

@Ahna65 best of luck in Rotterdam. You’ll probably get various suggestions on the shorts. I have Sweaty Betty Power biker shorts. My phone fits in the side pocket and I have an Amazon own brand belt for the gels. DH uses a flip belt and loves it.

I’ve just bought a Salomon high pulse belt @Ahna65 which sits on your hips and has a lot of capacity. My on shorts have a lot of pockets but I’ve been wearing sweaty Betty zero gravity leggings for my marathon training as the new style has 2 big thigh pockets

thanks both!! Yes I’ve also been mostly training in leggings with side pockets but most shorts don’t seem to have these unless they are ‘cycling’ shorts. But I guess that’s fine for running too!! Think by April it will be shorts weather for sure. Probably I need to start doing some online shopping so I can practice a bit…

I have several pairs of shorts (Sweaty Betty and Ronhill) that have pockets and have run a marathon with 3 gels and a phone in the back pocket, but now I wear a flipbelt to just keep gels (and Kendal Mint Cake) in. My phone goes in my shorts pocket.

The flipbelt is super comfy - I've done a couple of marathons with it, and lots of halfs.

How are the nerves/taper etc?
The Never ending cold and rain landed me in hospital with a bad chest infection so I’m now not sure if I will even be fit to run in a week🫣

Argh @Forestcantrun typical isn’t it. Is your race also 14th? Hospital sounds serious, did you get antibiotics?

I(think) I’m coming out of my cold now but I had a bad one for a week or so, which wiped out my last pre taper week really. wasn’t quite a chest infection but I think running a bit with it made it worse. Now just doing a few runs here and there for confidence. Someone suggested doing a quick 5k this weekend (so one week before race day) which I think is a nice idea for confidence and a bit of testing the mental side of it too. So probably will do a parkrun.

starting to feel pretty excited. A bit too soon to trust the forecast but atm it looks cloudy and around 13 degrees, pretty decent.

I did just find out I have to travel with work the next day on a 7am flight.. that should be interesting !!! :/

@Ahna65 I got strong antibiotics. Didn’t have to stay in hospital, chest sounds were off so needed an X-ray and stuff to make sure I didn’t have pneumonia.
This weather is doing us all dirty, hardly anyone escaped cold/flu/infection that I know.
7am flight , jeepers, you’ll need to be mega prepared with all your packing for run and travel. I’m just planning what I need, trying to manifest being better.

@Forestcantrun hopefully your body fights it fast.. I guess if it’s still in your chest you won’t run? But what a shame. Sometimes these things pass fast. Indeed it is the season for it.

Sorry to hear you’re not well Foresrcantrun- I’ve also come down with something this week! Feel completely rotten and my marathon is this sunday! Hoping it clears up but feeling quite nervous and down about it all :(

Thanks all. Aw no @Casualbrowser21 I hope you’re feeling better today. All the best for tomorrow. Is it Paris or Brighton? Both sound amazing 🤩

Thank you! Mine was Brighton today - stuck with the pacers and finished with 4:32! First and probably last marathon haha but still had a great time!

Hope everyone’s upcoming races go well! Will be thinking of you all!

How was the wind @Casualbrowser21
Well done

I did Brighton today too! The breeze was noticeable and unhelpful, and I found long stretches of it quite hard work. I was hoping for a time between 4.15-4.30 and was bang in the middle of that range. Not my fastest, but not my slowest.

I do have some rather interesting sunburn lines- primarily on my left arm/leg/side of neck, which I wasn't expecting. And I know already that I will be struggling with stairs tomorrow...

I found the wind to be okay. There were a few stretches where the wind was definitely working against us, but was more surprised by how warm it was!

Ah well done!! Great result. The warm weather was such a surprise.

I am so so sore today. If anyone has any tips to help with the pain please let me know 😅

@Casualbrowser21 I am dreading getting out of bed and having to feel the pain in my legs!

From past experience (this was my 7th marathon), try and keep moving, take stairs slowly (going down them is no fun), and just ride it out. I expect to be able to run (very slowly) by Friday, but habe no intention of exerting myself before that.

I have pain in my ribs this time, which is a new one on me. No idea what that's all about?!

Congrats!! I ran a bit this weekend and indeed what a shock to be suddenly running in warmer weather… I shouldn’t complain after the winter but it is def harder work acclimatising.

Aches sound rough. hope the endorphins are flowing though.

@Casualbrowser21 @TheTripThatWasnt well done and congratulations!!! Hydrate plenty today.
Am very jealous that ye guys are done and dusted already!

does anyone have any must have songs they’d recommend?? I’m soo bored of my playlist by now!