Running Thread - anyone got a place in 2009 London Marathon (or any Marathon!)

[hellion]

For the first time I have got into the 2009 London Marathon. Anyone else out there who is training for this? Hows it going?

Any advice from those who have run it before and managed to fit in family life would be gratefully appreciated.

I did it in 2005. Advice is - do as much training as possible, especially the long run. I only trained up to 20 miles thinking that the last six would be fine. They weren't! If I did it again I would probably try and run a bit further in training at least three or four times.

I used to do shortish runs a couple of times during the week, the odd swim and a long run on Saturday mornings. It DOES take up time and you do have to make sacrafices, but if you're not physically up to it, quite frankly there is no point doing it.

Good luck!

Thanks very much. I was going to train up to 20 miles as well. Might need to re-think this plan. I have done a half marathan a while ago, and in the last year have done a couple of 10m but still have a long way to go. At the moment, I am up running for about 2h 15 mins for a long run as well as once in the week, so I need to get in an extra session. The swim sounds a good idea though.

How long did you take to run it?

got a place last year (2008) and found out i was PG so i deferred it to 2009... now with my c-section, it looks unlikely i'll be able to run it..

Shame you can only defer your place once. Have you been able to run since c-section. It took me ages to get back into any exercise after a c-section. Even doing the hoovering was a strain.

I ran it in 2006. It took me 5 hours!
One of my knees has been dodgy since so I don't run much now. Am about to take the treadmill up again in the new year.
I'm glad I did it though. The training takes up a lot of time if you do it properly - I just about managed with a 'get you round' plan (you can find training plans on runners world website). The long run is very important - as branflake says. I didn't do enough of these really and the last few miles were very hard!
Do you have a running partner? I didn't and dh was looking after dd, so I found I had to train alone in the dark sometimes. I didn't mind too much though.
Best of luck - it will be worth it!

Hello

I have a place, i'm running for Beating Bowel Cancer.

My dad was diagnosed last summer and he is fighting it hard and doing really well.

I was a total beginner when I started in September and began from scratch. Did not run even for 5 mins.

I have two girls, run my own music classes and got to college so fitting it in is hard work but I love it and got the bug big time!

I run either early in the mornings before they wake or in the evenings. I ran 7 miles yesterday without stopping.

What programme are you following?

Good luck!!!

By the way I am following a 16 week programme, I do two short runs, a medium one in the week and then a long one on the weekend.

for example

last week i ran
mon 3 miles
tues 4 miles
thurs 3miles
sunday 7miles

it increases each week.

The book I am following is for a total beginner and you dont give yourself an times to run in, just to complete it. so i will probably be one of the last people on the day but so what. Next time I will think about time.

Right now without trying I run 10 min miles, its jusy a comfortable pace for me.

Hi there I too have a place for PHAB kids. I am a beginner too so interested to hear the advice. At the moment I run 3 times a week up to 7 miles and do a 10K race every few weeks but I am not following any specific program for the marathon - need to start soon!!! can anyone recomend one? Dont mind what time I do but would like to run it all.

Hello xfabba
Copy and paste this link into www.amazon.co.uk

www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=T he+Non-Runner%27s+Marathon+Trainer&x=0&y=0

Just read the reviews and you will see its a well loved book.

I am following it step by step and I have never had any aches or pains, as the miles increase I dont noticed it at all.

It is also great for positive thinking. Quite a few people recommended it to me and its especially good for beginners.

You need to start a 16 week programme now really this week.

If you want I could tell you the first fews of my programme so you can get started.

fantastic, many thanks! could you please start me off while I am waiting ofr it to be delivered as am planning to go out Tues, Thurs, Sat this week.

Thanks! Have left it to the last minute as usual and this looks like just what I need. I also noticed there were a lot of useful looking articles on Runners World as well but havent had time to read them yet.

One thing I am wondering is how you go about taking sustenance once you get to 1 hour plus runs? I have never felt the need until now am getting up to 11/2 hours and presumably will get more pertinent as time goes on. Last time I sucked some glugose tablets towards the end which seemed to help but was just wondering what the accepted wisdom was. Ditto with fluids.

just wondering though when I looked on amazon about getting a more recently written book as well - the Non-Runners Marathon Trainer was written in 98 - do you think the advice is still applicable? Would it have changed much? (nutrition etc?)

To be honest I cant answer that but I have just been told great things about it and so far I amazed at what its help me do.

My charity sent me a 16 week programme and it's ridiculous with training 6 days a week! They talk about running at 70% of this and 90% of that. Its all gibberish to me, I just need something simple and that I can fit into my life with kids, work and college. The programme I am following done got two groups of people with same fitness levels. One group trained 6 days a week whilst the other trained 4, both groups finished the marathon with roughly the same times. This proved that you dont need to train mad for success and that rest days are just as important.

Anyway - here is my programme taken from the Non-Runners Marathon Trainer:

TOTAL
FOR
WEEK DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 WEEK
1 3 4 3 5 15
2 3 4 3 6 16
3 3 4 3 7 17
4 3 5 3 8 19
5 3 5 3 10 21
6 4 6 4 11 24
7 4 6 4 12 2 6
8 4 7 4 14 28
9 4 8 4 16 31
10 5 8 5 16 34
11 5 8 5 16 34
12 5 8 5 18 36
13 5 8 5 18 36
14 5 8 5 9 27
15 3 5 3 8 19
16 3 3 walk 3 Mara.. 35.2

oh damn it - its messed up all the tabs

order is

Week number, Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Total miles for that week

I am in exactly the same position - so far only manage to get out 3 times a week even 4 will be a challenge. For example was due to go out tonight, DP has a crisis at work, I am home alone with the dc - what can you do? Only what is manageable and this sounds like it is. Esp since we are not overly concerned with time etc.

so this week need to do 3 4 3 5 miles on 4 different days. I suppose you arent supposed to do consecutive days but I guess I will have to. Up until Christmas when it went tits up for a while with holidays, parties etc I was doing maybe a 5 , 6 and 7 mile and i did a 10K on new years day so hopefully this will be a good way to start off again.

Thanks again and good luck (to me and you!)

Just read this thread after a few weeks and really excited that there were some other postings.

I have a programme for four times a week. I am managing two, sometimes three BUT I haven't reached four yet. Programmes are very scary (esp the one you have RunforLove)

I had a plan that I could go to the gym and put ds (2.5) in the creche while I ran on the treadmill today. I tried it today and nearly died of boredem and managed a measily 2.5 km. I am not an indoor runner, and get bored esp when the stop button is staring right at me.

On the plus side I am up to about 11 miles with my long run, so I think something is going right.

I am waffling now. Oh and for long runs try Go isotonic energy gels. When you really need to energy they taste great - otherwise they are like wallpaper paste. Have also ordered the Marathaon Book as well. This could end up costing me a fortune. Good luck (hope you don't mind running in the freezing cold).

Xfabba - here is the first four weeks of the programme I have been attempting - if I can get out the door. It may give you a framework you can adapt. On the long run, go at a pace you can hold a conversation, and concentrate on spending time on your feet. Sorry if I am telling you how to suck eggs. Good luck.

Week 1
Sun 8-10 miles
Tue 4-5 miles
Wed 5 miles
Fri 4-5 miles
Total 21

Week 2
Sun 10-11 miles
Tues 5-6 miles
Wed 5-6 miles (hilly)
Fri 4 miles
Total 24

Week 3
Sun 11-12 miles
Tues 4-5 miles
Wed 5-6 miles (hilly)
Fri - 4 miles
total 24

Week 4
Sun 12-13 miles
Tue 5-6 miles
Wed 5-6 miles
Fri 4-5 miles
total 26

Hi Hellion

All advice welcome! Was wondering about the energy bars. I know what you mean about the boredom factor too.

So today did first run of week one! Yay! Finally up and running. Only 5 miles but at least I bloody got out in the freezing cold.

That's great you are up to 11 miles on the long run. I still cant even imagine that which is scary. Furthest I have done so far (before actual Marathon program and pre-Xmas) is 8 miles.

It can only get warmer girls! Great to have some support.

I guess you are all too busy out running to be back on the thread yet! just thinking, are any of you near London - are you going to the Meet The Experts Day? If so I have registered to go on the Sunday, maybe we could meet up and introduce ourselves.

Whats the Meet the Experts Day? Is that run through FLM itself?

This is my first marathon. I am beginning to panic that I have left everything too late.

I was sick over christmas and ended up on antibiotics. Now I haven't run in over a month

I am in such a state that instead of getting out running to catch up, I am getting more and more depressed about it and too scared to run. Bizarre. I can't explain it. Think I just need to give myself a kick up the ass.

TT - don't give up. Until last night I was in exactly the same position. I dont think it is too late if we start this week. I did 5 miles yesterday and am going out again this evening. Thia has mede me feel enormously better.

The meet the experts day is run by FLM and was sent to me by my charity - not sure if all charities are involved, think you have to be a Golden Bond Charity whatever that is.

TT - don't give up. It is still 4 months to go, and you can't run when you are not well. Also most Marathan progs run for 16 weeks so you might not be that much off track. Good luck

I got my place through the ballot so don't think I get a meet the experts day. I am running for local charity but don't think this counts.

Xfabba - looks like you are doing fab. I really have trouble running on consecutive days, as I seem to need time to recover esp from long runs. I can do the long runs but the other days in the week seem to go to pot at the moment, by the time I have worked out childcare, avoided freezing pavements etc. I have programmed to go out tomorrow so that will be 2 1/2 out of 4 runs. (the 1/2 is my efforts on the treadmill).

I'm the opposite - I'm fine with 2 or 3 shortish ones in the week say 5/6 miles but I am still struggling with the mental barrier of the long run. I did 6m tonight (tbh am aching now so going to have fri and sat off) and am booked to try for first 8m on Sunday with some friends - wish me luck!!

So glad I stumbled on this thread - I was dithering and you have got me started on week 1 just in time - TT bear in mind week 1 and week 2 are pretty easy if you already run you could easily skip them to give you more time to recover. Also, the friend I ran with tonight hadn't run for 6 weeks and she was amazed that the 6m was fine - and I tell you what it was effing freezing so if I can run in that we will all be fine!!

Go TT, Go!

xfabba - It really helps to have someone to run with on the long runs. Also don't worry if you have to walk a bit of it. After all you have still done 8 miles. It a shame we can't add your two short runs and my long and short run together and make up the total distance. We would be flying.

I am put my running shoes on this evening and will hopefully do about 5 miles. Sometimes when I don't run for a few days, I get myself if a frame of mind that I can't run that distance. Don't know why because when I get outside I can. It is just my brain playing tricks on me.

Hello

Just remembered this thread.

Everyone sounds like they're doing great!

I've read its really important to have a rest day either side of your long runs. Rest days are just as important with allowing your body to heal each time you push it further.

Xfabba - good idea about meeting. I am a golden bond charity too and i have not booked yet. I will see if i can book the sunday then and be lovely to meet you.

Hellion - i so know what you mean - it really is mind over matter. If I am due to go out on my own it is all too easy to say oh im really tired tonight ill leave it. If I am running with some one else it makes me make the effort - and I always (nearly) feel fine once I am out.

RFL - will be great to see you on the Sunday if we get it.