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.

Hi guys, looks like everyone is perking up a bit. I too am feeling a bit more positive as I managed my first 10m today yay! after a pretty crap week. I've had a persistent cold which has gone to my chest so I am going to get some antibiotics tommorow to finally shake it off as it is pissing me off and really affecting my ability to run - it's like dragging around lead weights. Anyway, I did it so am on track for end of week 4 overall more or less in my schedule so feeling better. Put my new shoes on as well (same ones as old pair) which seemed better on my knees so I think the old ones were knackered - always thought that was a ploy to get you to buy more shoes but maybe not. Anyway, I'm rambling, hope we all have a good week ahead (in the snow!), off for a bath.

Hi all - feeling quite happy today - I was somewhat dispirited by the fact that my pace has plummeted since moving to a hilly area. Obviously I know it's the hills - but I didn;t expect it to make quite such a huge difference - I suppose the positive way of looking at it is that it must be effective training. I did 12.8 miles this morning (on one of the few flat routes round here) and was pleased to average a 10 minute mile. well. 10 minute 1 second to be precise. But was pleased to have kept that pace over that sort of distance. hope you all had a good weekend. tallbird - I think doing cross training is really good for your running. xfabba - I need some new shoes too - and I want to get them soon - in time to wear them in - but it's a bit of a schlep to a running shop (well, a car journey - before I moved I could walk everywhere) so I keep putting it off.

Hi. Well done on the 10m xfabba. And with a cold as well. And as far as hills go hatwoman, I am a real wimp on hills. Getting stronger but I stop too easily.

I managed to do 13 miles today. It took nearly 3 hours, although I did have to battle the last mile and a half in a blizzard. I looked like Frosty the Snowman when I got back to the car. (by the way I only live in Kent - although by the weather conditions that I have run been running in lately it might as well be Siberia). Oh well it is all building me up for the big day. Have a good week. If the snow keeps up I will have to resort to the treadmill.

so ladies - are you going to run in the snow? I'm due a day off today anyway...but my schedule says 5-6 miles tomorrow . on the one hand I'm a bit of a stickler for sticking to schedules (I'm frightened of breaking rules. I don;t do winging it. ie I'm a wuss) but on the other hand there has to be line somewhere...

no treadmill I can access either...

hatwoman - im in the same position as you, today was my rest day but I have to run tommorow in order to be able to stand a chance of fitting in the 3 in the week and long run at the weekend. TBH I think it is hopeless as a) we are at the epicentre of the snowfall so far in Surrey (our area has been on sky news all day b) DP couldnt get into work today so if he does make it in the rest of the week I suspect he will need to stay late. You physically could not run out there at the moment - I walked up to the shops a while ago in my snow boots and I was sliding everywhere. I think best case scenario for me is if the roads are ok tommorow night I could go to the gym for an hour at 9. I get panicky too if I dont stick to the schedule.

oh well, at least we had great fun this morning sledging!

On a related note, do you think it would be a bad idea to go skiing for a week in March? We have been invited by friends and, putting asied injury risk, I am wondering whetehr it would be a very bad idea to have a week off at that point (don't think could run anywhere in the resort unless I found a gym I guess) or whetehr I could factor it in to the tapering off?

I'm ski-ing in April - I think it's fine. it's not like a week slobbing out on a sun lounger [note - that is entirely self-interested opinion based on no scientific research whatsoever]

I've just been for a quick walk with the dog and I'm deeply sceptical about my chances of running tomorrow - it's been bucketing down since about 4 (I'm in the Peak District). Although it's possibly less slippy than about 3 weeks ago when it was icy.

well i tried, pavements are too icy and I drove all the way to the gym to find it closed - oh well, guilt free slobbing out this evening!

it's the thought that counts eh?

I managed 3.5 miles in the snow here - it was a bit slippery but not too bad, and the stares I attracted from everyone were well worth it I think there is something of an exhibitionist in me when I run.

no running for me today. but I did an 80 minute v. hilly walk with the dog. can I count dog walking as a form of cross-training?

of course!

oh yeah. i just did 4m today as off work early, only running this week so far eeek! was fine but loads of strange looks. Cant run sunday either as going to the LM Meet the Experts Day - hopefully they will have some worthwhile tips!

Finally managed to run today after a week of snow - it had all gone this morning. Ran 6 miles - on the way back it started snowing again!!!

And I did try a form of ice skaing on the school run this week. Not to be recommended.

Hatwoman - do the hills in the peak district makes the hills in the south look like little humps.

hellion - when I was in London the biggest hill I did was in Richmond Park. thegoodrunguide gives you a climb rate of metres per mile - and the highest I ever got down south was 12. my highest climb rate up here has been 48. and the other day I did one with a rate of 28 and I was amazed when I measured it as it had hardly felt hilly at all!

hi everyone - how are you? I did 16 miles today and it was awful. just utterly awful. everything hurt, still does. I was cursing out loud and talking to myself about how ridiculous this whole project is. I feel ok now - but out there I was just thinking there's no way I can do a marathon. I also want everyone to do one so they have an inkling of what it's like. running 16 miles is not like running 4 miles 4 times and I want everyone to know that!

I was pleased to get at least a bit of recognition - there are some workmen at the end of our road and they saw me go out...and come back again. I was running back past them and thinking "Oh come on you miserable sods I've been running for nearly 3 hours, you could at least say something" and then one said "You've had a good one haven;t you" with quite some awe in his voice. so i was able to say "Yeah 16 miles" and they all looked suitably impressed

Hats off to you hatwoman (see what I did there? ) - 16 miles is awesome, well done

Especially impressive if you were finding it tough - shows you have the mental toughness to get round 26 miles! And don't worry - if you are doing 16 already, you should be well prepared by the end of April.

I have no such mileage to be proud of unfortunately - I only did 10 miles yesterday and although it felt pretty comfortable, it just wasn't far enough! I have re-written my training plan to build up a bit more slowly and think it is still doable - haven't given up yet!

Well done on the 16 miler. I managed 14.5 (very important .5) yesterday. The last three miles were terrible and I ran/walked/crawled. I found it harder running yesterday in the sunshine, than running 14 miles last Sunday in a blizzard. I am finding the longer runs hard - although still over two months to go.

HELLO!

I found you all again.

Every time I found a minute to come on I could not find this thread with the new set up and thought it was deleted.

I was really upset not to make meet the experts day because my dad had a major op last week and i had to do my 14 mile run sunday morning and then spent the rest of the day with him at hospital but the main thing is he is doing well.

HATWOMAN - please dont say that, I have to do 16 miles this sunday. well done though, you must have felt great for doing it but sore

I have done my last two runs to richmond park around it and home and have to keep extending the journey home as my programme goes along. some great hills there!!!

anyone training there now?

i've had to do some runs at a local gym because of the weather, running on a treadmill is SO MUCH HARDER and bloody boring. i hate it. fingers crossed thre will be no more snow here so i can stay outside.

hope you're all well.

Hi RFL glad you found us all again and I'm really glad your Dad id doing so well.

The snow has been a major PITA for me and really threw me of course but I am just about back but playing catch up as only up to 10miles this weekend! Hopefully I will catch up.

The Meet the Experts Day was good but I don't think you missed anything vital. The only thing was that they go through all the logistics of the day which may be a bit overwhelming if you're not prepared for it but I have all the information if you need anything. All the running-related stuff was pretty much what we are already doing I think.

actually I mean 11m - one further along I suppose

Xfabba - nice to hear from you and thanks for letting me know about meet the experts day. Now I dont feel so bad about missing out

I am just about to go and get ready to do my first 16 miler today - excited and nervous but mainly tired!!!

I feel tired all the time and everyone keeps saying to me, "you musnt be eating properly etc". But I honestly am, I'm being very healthy! Although I did have one glass of wine last night. I made my boyfriend a special dinner and her bought an expensive bottle of vino - i just couldnt say no

I know its not the best way to prepare for a run.

11 miles is perfect - you are on target. I need to repeat some of my weeks to get me up to the day which I hate because I printed up the programme from my book and stuck it on my kitchen cupboard. I love ticking off the miles as I do them and now that Ihave to repeat some I feel like I'm not going forward with the training. Maybe I'll have to type up a new form.

So you must be doing a 12 miler today or yesterday? Good luck!!!

Hello

I ran 16 miles today and had a horrible experience. I posted it on a new thread to see if anyone has any idea why it happened. I've pasted it below to see if any of you can help with it:

Today I ran 16 miles 2hrs 40 mins.
? I had a lie in until 9am, ate two weetabix for breakfast, bacon sandwich, herbal tea, banana and water.
? I warmed up by skipping then stretching, bought myself a Lucozade Sport drink (I can only drink half as they make me feel sick)
? I also had a full sports bottle of water which I carry on my waist.
? 10 miles in I was starving and I had hunger cramps
? My muscles were seizing up about 12 miles and I had to work my way through each stride visualising them relaxing one by one
? I felt slightly dizzy and queasy during the last mile and in pain. I didn?t feel like this with other runs except one where I had a small breakfast.
? When I got home, I felt so sick, I tried to drink a goodness shake but I just don?t like them.
? I drank more water, stretched, ate a banana and got in a bath not too hot. I almost fell asleep I was so tired
? When I got out I felt awful and struggled to eat brown rice, tinned makeral, spring onions and carrots.
? My vision started to go really odd and when I looked at my partner I could not see all of his face and it looked slightly distorted. In the top left of my vision were starry shapes. This made me feel anxious and so I went for a lie down. I could not sleep but just rested for a couple of hours and basically just felt dreadful.
? Why do think I felt this bad? My sister suggested I was dehydrated. I know I had enough fluids when running and maybe not enough beforehand but there is only so much you can drink when you wake in the morning, have breakfast, wait for the food to go down and go.

I know I drink enough because my urine is clear and today I had to stop twice to do a quick wee.

What do you think is the best time to do your long run, what would you eat for your breakfast on that day? How much water would you drink before?

Now I am anxious about my long run next Sunday and there is no way I want to feel like that.

I would appreciate to hear what you think.

Many thanks

=========================

Has this happened to any of you? I was so freaked out by the distorted vision.

RFL that sounds a bit horrid, and odd.

I have found that the only real difference that under eating has is that you do tend to run out of energy and feel hungry on a long run - but it sounds like you had plenty to eat and drink and that is quite an extreme reaction!

Usually I get up, have some breakfast - something normal, meusli, porridge or toast or whatnot - nothing particularly special. Maybe a cup of tea, and a pint of water. about 2 hours after that (when I feel like my breakfast has settled) I would do my run.

For a 16 mile run I would probably drink 500ml of sports drink on the way round and maybe some extra water - depending on the temperatures.

When I get home I would probably be starving and eat my own weight in carbs

My best time to run is mid-morning, but everyone is different.

What time did you run? How long after the food? Is it possible you ran too soon after eating?

Have you ever suffered with ocular migraines? The visual disturbance sounds like what I get when I have one of those.

Could you be ill? Have a virus or something? If you are feeling tired all the time it could be possible. Maybe you are overdoing it? A couple of days off might be sensible!

Also - wine is an essential part of marathon training - especially the night before; it helps you sleep

i dont know if this could be a possibility but a couple of weeks ago I felt really tired all the time and a bit dizzy after runs - very slight visual disturbance when I stood up after sitting down for a bit after running. I went to GP who did a blood test and I was a bit aneamic (always get it in pregnancy so I don't think I eat enough iron! - am veggie) - anyway, few weeks later on iron tablets feel loads better and the dizziness has stopped.

Only did the 11 miler this weekend as it all went a bit wrong with the snow and I had a stomach bug but it was ok so I don't feel too far behind. Will do 12m this weekend coming so I think I should just about be back on track.

Only problem is at current pace I will be on for a 5 hour marathon! would like to get it down towards 41/2 but I am still too scared to up the pace on the long runs in case I conk out but I should I suppose.

xfabba - thats interesting, if I have another funny episode then I will go and get a test.

Sorry to hear you had a tummy bug! Hope you are feeling better. Dont worry too much about the timing, you just want to complete it!

After reading everyones point of view on a couple of sites that I posted I can see now the reason that happened to me was I upping my mileage too fast and missed skipped 4 runs. My body was not ready because I've only been running since the end of last year.

Also I have not been eating enough and basically my body was running on empty, I was starving 10 miles in. I ate too much food before I went and should of stocked up the day before. Next week I will eat lots of small high carb meals two days before long run and bring some snacks like pretzels or jelly babies on the run for when I get hunger pangs.

I know I was not dehydrated becuase i drank lots and my urine was clear.

tallbirduk - i've never had migraines before but it was def one, i had the aura thing going on. i guess my bodt was shattered and i was empty on essential salts etc.

Good to hear from you rfl - I was wondering how you were doing. Hope your dad is recovering well from his op.

I have felt a bit like this that after I have ran a race before. Not sure why it happened - maybe just the sheer amount off effort it has taken.

I have not been able to run for a week as I have hurt my foot. It has swollen and hurt when I put too much weight on it. Any advice appreciated. At the moment I am putting ice on it. I can still walk but the running has stopped for the moment.