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Original poster

Spring Marathon 2025

59 replies

xsquared · 02/02/2025 17:45

There doesn't seem to be a thread for those training for a marathon this spring so I thought I'd start one.

London and Manchester I believe, is in 12 weeks time. How is everyone finding the training so far?

I did London last year but I'm doing Boston this time round which os the week before London. It's a pretty hilly course going by what I've read so I am trying to incorporate a bit of elevation here and there especially in the longer runs.

OP posts:
FeelinTwentySixPointTwo · 02/02/2025 17:48

I'm doing Manchester this time - having that and London on the same day for the first time is interesting. But I chose Manchester this time as it's less faffy and a faster course. London is more of an "event" of course, but the hassle involved and the crowds are a bit much.
Training is fine so far; nothing to write home about. I'm not a fan of the really high mileage weeks but we're not there yet.

Original poster
xsquared · 02/02/2025 17:52

Good luck with the training.

Manchester was actually my first marathon which lead to my GFA time for London last year. You should be fine.

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Pushmepullyou · 02/02/2025 17:56

I’m doing Manchester too! It’s my third attempt having been thwarted by Covid and back surgery the last two years. I did do London in 2021 though.

Training going ok so far - 12 miles today

FeelinTwentySixPointTwo · 02/02/2025 18:10

Manchester was actually my first marathon which lead to my GFA time for London last year. You should be fine

I dunno about being fine - there's so many variables! I should run GFA again no bother, but I'd really like sub 3:30 which is a bigger ask (!)

Original poster
xsquared · 02/02/2025 18:24

FeelinTwentySixPointTwo · 02/02/2025 18:10

Manchester was actually my first marathon which lead to my GFA time for London last year. You should be fine

I dunno about being fine - there's so many variables! I should run GFA again no bother, but I'd really like sub 3:30 which is a bigger ask (!)

If you ran a GFA the first time, there's no reason why you can't a second time and improve to sub 3:30.

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Original poster
xsquared · 02/02/2025 18:25

Pushmepullyou · 02/02/2025 17:56

I’m doing Manchester too! It’s my third attempt having been thwarted by Covid and back surgery the last two years. I did do London in 2021 though.

Training going ok so far - 12 miles today

Well done on the 12 miles. Let's hope it's 3rd time lucky and that you will make the start line!

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RandomUsernameHere · 02/02/2025 18:33

Thanks for starting the thread! London for me. Training has been good this week. Last week was a write off due to being super busy at work. Still a while to go at least. I've done Boston before but not Manchester.

FeelinTwentySixPointTwo · 02/02/2025 18:34

If you ran a GFA the first time, there's no reason why you can't a second time and improve to sub 3:30

Perhaps. But as you'll well know, there's lots of variables you can't control. I've run GFAs every year for several years now, but I'm not getting any younger and I also tend to react badly to heat - so the race being right at the end of April could throw things.

Are you going for a time at Boston or aiming to enjoy it? I tend to do most of my training on hills, so I think I'd quite enjoy Boston!

Runninghappy · 02/02/2025 19:52

I’m doing Paris in April. Training was fine until I had 10 days off as I was really poorly. I felt better on Friday so have done 16 miles in 3 days to try to catch up! Not sure that’s recommended 🤣

Original poster
xsquared · 02/02/2025 21:37

RandomUsernameHere · 02/02/2025 18:33

Thanks for starting the thread! London for me. Training has been good this week. Last week was a write off due to being super busy at work. Still a while to go at least. I've done Boston before but not Manchester.

Pleased to hear training is going well. How did you find Boston? Where did you get your BQ?

@FeelinTwentySixPointTwo I was hoping to beat my London time but when I heard that it was a hilly course, I'm not so sure now!

@Runninghappy Recovery is just as importa t if not more so than getting the runs in, but if you feel good, then it can't be bad!
I'd like to do Paris one day, but here a lot is on cobbled stones, is that right?

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RandomUsernameHere · 02/02/2025 21:53

@xsquared absolutely loved it, it's my favourite race ever! I've BQ'd quite a few times at London and at a niche marathon but only run Boston once, would love to run it every year if I could justify the cost/time away.

Original poster
xsquared · 03/02/2025 20:05

RandomUsernameHere · 02/02/2025 21:53

@xsquared absolutely loved it, it's my favourite race ever! I've BQ'd quite a few times at London and at a niche marathon but only run Boston once, would love to run it every year if I could justify the cost/time away.

That's good to hear. Are the hills really that bad? I've only got London and Manchester to compare with, but they're both quite flat.

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RandomUsernameHere · 03/02/2025 20:14

It's a net downhill, but the big uphills come near the end which is challenging. One of them is called heartbreak hill Grin

Forestcantrun · 05/02/2025 22:31

Mine was back on track after illness late last year and now I’ve just had an unfortunate injury so will know over the next week if London 2025 becomes 2026 instead.
Trying to stay as fit as injury allows until then

NoKnit · 06/02/2025 14:33

👋👋👋

A bit late seeing the thread but I'd love to join. After lots of ummming and ahhhhing I've taken a spot going spare for Hamburg at end of April. I haven't done a spring marathon since 2012 when I did Copenhagen.

I'm not sure what I'm aiming for this time I'd love to run a GFA time to finally get in to London (think I'm on 13 rejections although I did get in once) but anything under 4 hours I'll take with a big smile.

I've ramped up my training this time as in actually following a plan. Well week 1 so far let's see how it goes

Bejinxed · 06/02/2025 20:05

Im planning to do Paris but have just got an injury - tried to run through it today and it worked while I was running but is now horrible so think I have a bit of enforced rest coming up. I guess it depends how long that lasts to see whether it is still an option. I'm only up to about 10 miles so have a long way to go.

Original poster
xsquared · 14/02/2025 10:48

Bejinxed · 06/02/2025 20:05

Im planning to do Paris but have just got an injury - tried to run through it today and it worked while I was running but is now horrible so think I have a bit of enforced rest coming up. I guess it depends how long that lasts to see whether it is still an option. I'm only up to about 10 miles so have a long way to go.

I'm sorry to hear that amd hope recovery goes well. How has your injury been this week? Paris sounds lovely but I imagine it might have some cobbled stone bits, which would make it extra challenging!

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Original poster
xsquared · 14/02/2025 10:55

RandomUsernameHere · 03/02/2025 20:14

It's a net downhill, but the big uphills come near the end which is challenging. One of them is called heartbreak hill Grin

Well, this week's training was me doing a trial week with an online coach. The workouts have been TOUGH and hilly.

Today's run was 14 miles on a rolling hill course, with the last couple of miles on an uphill. Hopefully, if I continue like this, I will be ready by April.

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RandomUsernameHere · 14/02/2025 11:03

Well done @xsquared !

Starlightstargazer · 17/02/2025 13:41

I’m doing London in April. Really struggling with injury at the moment. Did 14 miles on Saturday. Supposed to be 16 this weekend but will have to drop down to 10 I think. How much mileage are you all doing in the week?

FeelinTwentySixPointTwo · 17/02/2025 17:11

You need to let yourself properly recover before your next long run @Starlightstargazer. Struggling through a training block carrying an injury just means turning up at the start line injured and with no chance of a good run - I speak from bitter experience.

Instead, have two solid weeks off now (at least) and pick it up at the beginning of March with a long run of 14 miles. You could then still fit in a 14, a 16, an 18 and a 20 and have time for a decent taper.

Appreciate it's not ideal but it's the better option than getting properly broken in training and not making it to the start line at all.

As for your other question... runs in the week are difficult for me to fit in, but I generally do two short runs of 3 or 4 miles (one of them being hills or speedwork) and one medium length run of about an hour.

Original poster
xsquared · 17/02/2025 22:41

Starlightstargazer · 17/02/2025 13:41

I’m doing London in April. Really struggling with injury at the moment. Did 14 miles on Saturday. Supposed to be 16 this weekend but will have to drop down to 10 I think. How much mileage are you all doing in the week?

Hello,
In your position, I would recover first. You still have 9 weeks to go.

For some daft reason, I thought I was following a 16 week plan, so I did week 7 last week, but I'm actually on a 20 week plan, so I should have been on week 11! I'm up to 40 miles at the moment, but I am doing an intermediate/advance plan. Don't be tempted to compare with others. Do what is appropriate for your goal and level of fitness.

The plan has 6 runs a week, but I've been doing 4 so far. I do a short easy run, a tempo or intervals workout, an aerobic run or some other longer interval at goal pace workout, and then the long run. The plan does have shorter easy runs in between the intense workout days, but I usually just hit the snooze button on those days!

Anyway, I hope the recovery goes well.

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RandomUsernameHere · 18/02/2025 16:14

Agree with others, it's better to turn up at the start line slightly underprepared than to turn up injured, or risk not being able to take part at all. Try not to worry, I know it's hard though when all you want to do is stick to your training plan!

Starlightstargazer · 18/02/2025 20:59

Thanks all for kind messages. I ran London 15 years ago and I didn’t get injured at all on that training. 15 years older and bigger!
Weirdly I never get out of breath but my legs are always so tired and achy and I don’t think my bum works like it’s meant to….
It should do given the size of it!

Ive only been doing 4 runs a week; a hilly 5km, 30 min intervals, a 10km and the long run. Trying to do strengthening exercises from YouTube in the eves before bed.

its really good reading everyone’s stories of training and how it’s going.

NoKnit · 23/02/2025 13:49

So 25km long run for me today. I'm shattered. I'm trying to kid myself that I'm still recovering fron a pretty speedy half last Sunday 😆
Elections here today so have to go out and vote in a bit as well. Leaving the couch is going to be hard work.