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London Marathon - six weeks today (eek)

17 replies

karamina · 14/03/2010 10:00

I'm running the London marathon (well, actually I'm run-walking the marathon - okay, I'm walk-running the marathon) in April. The Runners World forums are a bit scary and professional, so I thought I'd come in here and say hello. I'm off to watch Silverstone Half Marathon today in the hope that some fitness will magically soak into my body by osmosis.

OP posts:
TutTutter · 14/03/2010 21:09

hello. i'm running the VLM too. first marathon, started running (properly) a year ago

training was going well (managed 20 mile training run 10 days ago) but have a tear in my calf muscle which i'm trying to get on top of. target time might have to be tweaked...

have the reading half next sunday

how long have you been running? what time are you hoping for? ballot/charity place?

LittlePushka · 14/03/2010 21:37

karamina...wondering if the osmotic fitness theory worked for you? I thouroughly recommend watching othersfor inspiration. Did you see eddie izard marathon man?

Anyway, i am v. impressed at your marathon attempt - it would terrify me, seriously. However, I am trying to get a place in the Great North Run half marathon for 19th September. Very new to running,....faffed about a bit last year and did first run of 2010 today (hurrah!). But AM very keen for an old bird the wrong side of 40

tuttutter - I amwishing you quick recovery well before april. Must be SO annoying to get your training up aso far and carry an injury? Grrrrr

southeastastra · 14/03/2010 21:38

wow, good for you! am impressed

GoJoGo · 15/03/2010 13:21

Hi good luck to both of you there is some good articles on a website called running4womenmembers.com that can help with motivation and training tips.

Never been brave enough to run that far.
Totally agree with watching Eddie Izzard documentary it has been so inspirational as well as crazy thing to watch

LittlePushka · 15/03/2010 17:02

Thanks GoJoGo,...I will check that website out!

LittlePushka · 16/03/2010 00:45

GoJoGo,...I have visited the site you kindly suggested and it looks really good! Can you tell me, do you use the site regularly? if so, what is the best bit of the site would you say?

I thought I would try the one month trial and see if I can get used to it.

WkdSM · 20/03/2010 16:22

Hi - I ran the LM a couple of years ago and I have to say it was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. I had never run before but got drunk one night and agreed to do it for a charity that we had close ties with.

Tips - stay in a hotel the night before with a coach to the start - otherwise you end up walking an additional few miles before the start. Or see if your local running club has a coach going up and hitch a lift

Go to loo at least 3 times before you start - the first set of loos on the course had a huge queue right across the road!

Go off slowly - everyone speeds off, but you pass them is a few miles when they have started to walk because they were too quick

Target things to pass / keep up with if you are running - I can pass the large mince pies / Mr Men / trees / rhino/ man with hod of bricks.

Take the time to high five the kids on the route - if you can, stop and have a little dance in front of the bands - you are not going to win (unless this is Paula R in disguise) so take your time, enjoy it.

Have an absoloutely wonderful day - I still get shivers watching it on TV (though not sure I could do all the training again) - and smile and wave as you come over the finish line so you can buy the lovely photo of you achieving something a tiny minority of people achieve (making myself tear up now!!!)

Good luck - oh - and I must mention you will go completelt loopy the week or so before hand - this apparently is quite normal - just remember buying a £30 pair of socks will not really help you!

SweetestThing · 20/03/2010 17:31

Don't be put off the RW forums - there are loads of friendly people on there who will give you bags of support. Book in for the Mile 17 support group and you are guaranteed jelly babies and a supportive hug on your way round.

I've done London 4 times and have just, sadly, made the decision to defer this year's place as I am seriously under-trained. I second what WkdSM says - the atmosphere is fantastic and the children really appreciate you high-fiving them (tip: don't high five the St John's Ambulance people or you end up with vaseline all over your fingers!), dance to the bands, have a bit of banter with the supporters and just enjoy it - it is the most amazing experience and the sense of achievement is immense. The support is amazing and the marshalls really help you carry on if they see you are flagging.

Write your name on your running top so that people can call out your name as it really does give you a lift.

And I can highly recommend asking your support group to have some champagne ready for you at Mile 17 - it went down a treat last year!!!

Good luck and enjoy. You will also find in the last week that you will be obsessively checking the weather forecast for "The Day"!!

orienteerer · 20/03/2010 21:37

Train by time (on feet) rather than distance, much more effective.

orienteerer · 20/03/2010 21:39

Yes, agree with op, watch Eddie Izzard on BBC iPlayer (BBC 3), totally insprational.

LittlePushka · 21/03/2010 08:58

LOL at a bonkers thrity quid pair of socks and vaseliny high fives!! (I,ve not bought thirty quids worth of socks in the last twenty years...

These posts are great - though am only doing half the distance at GNR in Sept,....will look forward to port-race threads with your tales!!!

Off for a nice spring morning in me "five pairs for a pound socks"!

TutTutter · 23/03/2010 14:32

thanks for all the tips

have booked hotel in the city and am staying with my running buddy (who ran it last year) so we have a pretty straightforward journey

did the reading half on sunday and loved it. happy with my time (1:43) which is on track for a sub-4hr marathon

am 50% excited and 50% nervous, especially as my legs are still a bit unreliable - sunday was great, but have been stiff and sore since, and today limped around 8.5 miles at a snail's pace

stretch, stretch, stretch - tis what i must do...

orienteerer · 23/03/2010 20:42

Good luck TutTutter, your Reading 1/2M went well.

hellion · 23/03/2010 22:07

Hello - great to find this thread. I am running the VLM as well. It will be the second time. Last year it took me 5 hours 23 mins. I got a ballot place, but am still raising money for local hospice.

How are you finding the long runs? Thanks Tuttutter I must remember to stretch.

ExpatAgain · 23/04/2010 09:42

good luck! Am but also relieved as can put my feet up and watch you all on sunday as am recovering proudly from my very first marathon a few days ago!

words of advice from my (vast?!)experience? Remember to enjoy it - the crowds, watching the world go by, drink lots of water and don't set off too slowly (I did this and didn't hit my target)

good luck again!

TutTutter · 23/04/2010 22:22

are you around hellion? and still on for sunday?

i'm in red pen 4 to start - what about you?

looking forward to it but nerves getting jangly. hoping it turns out to be cooler than predicted...

ladylush · 26/04/2010 11:03

Well done to everyone who ran 26 miles is awesome - I am struggling with 3

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