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.

hellion what a nightmare - have you tried lots of ibuprofen? My book recomends it - I have been using it successfully for aches and pains, not sure if it would help for an actual injury.

hellion - sorry no expert on injuries here.

my dad is doing really well thanks, he had 5.5hr major op on 5th Feb and just came home today. they managed to remove all the cancer but it was bigger than they expected.

he was in so much pain after but is doing really well and so far so good.

hope your foot gets better soon.

i was supp to run tonight but after my sunday exp i've decided to have a few days rest.

hi everyone

i have a place in the london marathon and i am veeeerrry behind on training.

I did a lot of running before christmas and have been on a few runs since (maybe one a week, sometimes two) but my training schedule says i should be doing 16 miles this sunday. The furthest I've gone is 11 miles (which i did on sunday) - am i nuts to attempt the 16 miles? do i jump straight into the training schedule at the week i should be or go slower?

Im getting into a bit of a tiz about it i have a bit of a bad back and it's prevented me from running, and then it got snowy and icy and i didn't force myself to go... and i admit i made excuses for the last week

someone help me!! is there hope for me?! I desperately need a big kick up the bum, please help

Sorry I've just realised I kind of jumped feet first into your thread, sorry!

i actually was lurking for a while and you all sound lovely and thought i'd say hi and ask for advice

not sure of the answer but I too am only just up to 11m - I too am tempted to crank it up this weekend but all the books and guides say don't ......

you two should learn a lesson from me

my episode on the weekend was basically down to increasing mileage too quickly and not the right diet.

do 12 this week and up it by two's. you dont want to get an injury right near the big day and beaniebaby25 - make sure you are running at least three times a week, get that bum out of that door

and welcome to you too!

everyone is lovely on here.

Brilliant, thanks RFL. 12 miles sounds achievable. So you think it's salvagable? I will definitely be more diligent now about training... I'll use this thread to continue to inspire me

I ran 6 miles this morning (I got up early before work) and felt really good afterwards so I think I'm getting into my stride, as it were . It was even raining but I really enjoyed it. I just need to remember that feeling when I'm next feeling a bit 'meh' about it... oh and visualise the embarassment of having to walk/collapse in front of all those crowds on the day...

beaniebaby25 - i am a total first timer so im sure there are people on here who could give you great advice.
if i were i you i would join runnersworld forum and ask the best way to go about it.
it sounds like you have not been doing enough training up to now and you dont just want to jump in and get an injury, i'm sure there is a way around it and you sound very motivated now.
goodluck!

so 12m this weekend - really hard, but at lease i am back on schedule - not sure what doing this week, too scared to look!

how is everyone else doing?

I managed to run (hurrah) this weekend. I only did 6 miles on Sun but my foot was fine until last 1/2 mile so things are looking up. HAve got an appointment to see a podiatrist in March. I haven't given up yet though. Well done on the your 12 m runs.

Don't give up Hellion - you've got time. Could you get an appt urgently with a sports physio? A guy in the running club I sometimes go with has done loads of marathons and has problems with his feet - he says this is the quickest way to getting problems sorted. A podiatrist is maybe better long term - will look at your gait etc, but maybe a physio could do something in the short term so you can train again?

Hello everyone, sounds like you are all doing good. I took a week off and ran for the first time yesterday 4 miles since my 16 mile run. I felt fine except for the muscels on the inside of the top of my legs really ached whilst running. Anyone got tips on building these?

Also dont think I'm eating enough of the right thinhgs and thats what i'm always tired. Im still waiting to feel the extra energy and sexual desire exercise is supposed to bring

I'm 5.7 and 9 stone with a beg appetite, any of you similar, what do you eat in a day?

thanks

Thanks xfabba - I ran again tonight and managed 7 miles without my foot hurting. So I am hoping to get back on track.

I have also started swimming to try to strengthen my lower legs (may work for upper legs - esp if you can do lengths kicking with a float). Also I can swap one of my running sessions for a swim.

RFL - Well done on 16 miler. I think Marathon training does make you feel drained. I have woken up a bit in the last few weeks whilst being injured. I was also starving after the long runs and ate anything and everything.

Hi again everyone. How are you all doing? I managed 16 miles this morning. It was a lot better than the 16 I did a couple of weeks ago. My legs feel quite wrecked - but nowhere near as bad as before.

Has to be said I reach a real psychological low at about 13 miles. I was cursing and saying how completely ridiculous it was of me to think I could ever do a marathon. but I talked myself out of it. literally...talking out loud. does anyone else do this?

It was a good route - mainly on teh flat but with one huge hill...but the views were worth it. these were all taken from where I went. I was a bit nervous about going up on the moors, but the route was so simple, and the path so totally visible on google earth that I guessed it would be ok. and it was. really lovely in fact. (and I managed to chose a route where you couldn;t see the cement works!).

Hi hatwoman - that looks amazing! I did 14m today on my own and I am really pleased as it wasnt actually that bad after the 12m was just awful last week. I am so variable on the day - last week just wasnt hapenning - just got to hope dont get one of those on the day. I dont actually ache too much easier amazingly.

It was good for me to see what it is like on these longer ones now - I had a bottle of lucozade sport which I was sipping the whole time but I ran out at about 11m - I never really valued the importance of the carbs thing before but sure enough I had a massive crash at about 14m - I didnt start talking to myself but was really moaning and groaning (like in labour!) - luckily I had a glucose tablet in my pocket and that sorted it out for the last mile. It is amazing how your body is constantly on the edge when you are running longer distances.

Can't believe I actually ran a half marathon! Never would have believed it. Doing one for real in a couple of weeks - Hastings - anyone else?

but clearly need to go and eat as my typing and words have gone rubbish!

Hi everyone. Am feeling much more positive today as I ran 13 miles. My foot is much better (though still giving me a few niggles). But the best thing is that I felt much better afterwards than the long run I did a few weeks ago. When I got my my dh said I didn't look as tired so that is a good sign. Looks like we are all starting to feel stronger on the longer runs.

It's odd isn;t it? I do 3 5-mile runs in the week - and I don;t feel any different, they feel quite easy these days - and short - and so it doesn't particularly feel like they're doing any good. But, like you say, they must be - as the longer ones are getting easier. I'm not sure I'm looking forward to going beyond 16, though. not sure when I'm due to do that.

I only take water with me - and my bottle's only just enough. I too was a bit of a sceptic about carbs and glucose etc, but I'm going to have to look into it. If they can give me a boost to get through that 13 mile low then perhaps I won;t need to talk to myself

Hello everyone

Its great to hear all your experiences because its just how i feel and so i know i'm not failing but its just part of it.

I can not believe how important it is to have something other than water, you really need to store up on water and food the days before and bring some gels or jelly babies for the crashes near the end.

i have gone back in my prog because i ran once in two weeks, i got myself in a bit of a mess and felt so depressed but i picked my lip off the floor and gave myself a kick up the butt!

I'm going out soon to do a 12 mile run, this week i ran 4, 6, 8 and today wil be 12. I was thinking of going straight back into my prog next week which would be 5, 8, 5, 16 but not sure if thats a good idea. If I dont then I will end up only doing one 18 mile before the big day and on my prog you need to do 2 18 milers before the big day.

on all of your prog, how many 18 milers do you need to do before?

thanks and keep up the hard work!!!!

x

Don't worry RLF. I took two weeks off with my bad foot and have managed to pick up again (not quite where I left off, but I am able to do long runs). It is horrible when you can't run and you know you should be out there training.

I tried putting sports drink into my running bottle, but it turned it a horrible orange colour. I thought at this rate I would turn up on Marathon day with loads of energy and no teeth. So I have gone back to water and energy gels.

thanks hellion - nice to know. hope you are feeling strong again.

i know what you mean, i dont normally drink fizzy drinks or soft drinks and usually have water if thirsty, tea for pick me up and wine when stressed.

i stopped drinking soft drinks when pregnant with my first and i've never gone back to them.

when you are not use to them you can really taste all the sugar and i find them sickly and they leave a lining in your throat.

i do drink one on my long run though because for some reason (even though i'm eating and drinking very well) my body can not cope with these long runs.

since my awful 16 mile run where i had my first miagraine, i ran 12 miles last weekend and had a massive headache after, felt sick and slept for two hours!!! have to say, i felt great after. not sure whats happening because before my 16 mile run, i felt fine after all the other long runs.

i'm eating five meals a day, two are small and drinking lots of not sure where i am going wrong. but anyway, the end if nigh and i cant wait for the big day. i 'm really looking forward to it but also looking forward to not have to worry about fitting runs in.

i think i will always run now, I love it! but will keep those long runs for special occasions.

how is everyone doing?

wine when stressed should have put a next to that!

also for nights when no runs the next day!

Hi again everyone. Hope you're all doing ok. I did 18 today. In some respects it was better than other long runs - I didn;t get my 13 mile low - managed to keep myself feeling quite perky - but when I got home I felt terrible. my legs hurt so much I didn;t know how to take my trainers off! and they had to come off as they were covered in mud. I stood at the door feeling helpless, thinking, I can;t face sitting on the floor. I can;t bend down, wtf do I do? dh sensed my frustration and offered to take them off for me.

sorry didnt mean to write well done twice - im not crazy

WOW - You go girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know I will be doing 18 miles in a few weeks but cant imagine it. I bet you couldnt take your shoes off - well done.

Is that the first time you ever did it? Well done.

Did you feel sick or have a headache after and did you have to take a nap?

Questions questions

Can you tell me what you ate yesterday and today and what time you ran.

With my long runs I keep feeling sick and really tired after. I think it maybe my diet so I am trying hard.

Going for 8 miles tonight - i'll think of you with an extra 10 if I feel tired at any point.

Have a good nights sleep.

x