Dublin Marathon 2012 - Mentored Novices Thread

Younganne

It’s that time of Year Again!! People are starting to mention DCM and the Will I, won’t I? Question…. So Welcome to the Dublin Marathon 2012 Mentored Novices Thread!

Back in 2009 the first Mentored thread for Novices was set up by --amadeus-- and one of his Novices, Rainbow Kirby, mentored the 2010 Thread. One of her Novices RayCun, mentored the 2011 thread and as one of his Novices last year I will be mentoring the 2012 thread….so that’s the way it goes. There are lots of people who know lots more that me and will be sharing their wisdom with you all. It will really be a group effort and you will get to know the different names as people drop in and out to share. Some of the more experienced guys will help out with the technical & scientific end of things. But remember Once upon a time everyone was a Novice.

As a Novice last year I got wonderful support, information, tips & advice and words of encouragement on my journey and that’s what I’m hoping you will get from this thread. I hope you get to feel the camaraderie and sense of community that builds up among the posters and there are always silent followers too.

No question is too dumb to ask and I can guarantee there are many others wondering the same things as you, so just ask and someone will have encountered the same things at some stage and give you an answer.

The first piece of advice if you are thinking of doing DCM 2012 is to get going now and don’t wait for the start of the program as you really need to have a base of running fitness before you start training. By the time the plan starts on 25 June you really need to be able to cover 3 miles, using walking break is fine. The first weeks plan is for 3 x 3mile runs and a longer weekend run of 6m so use this as a guide to build towards slowly. The aim is to cover the distance, time is not important at all. Your chances of getting injured are reduced the more of a base you have and if you don’t try to do too much too soon. It’s all about progression and slowly building up your runs. Every year there are casualties from the novices group who have to drop out because of injury. And even if you don’t get injured, you will be completely exhausted by the end of training. Marathon training is hard and it will take time, patience and a good positive attitude to get to Dublin on October 29th 2012. Believe you can do it and you will!! And boy is it worth the effort!!:D

The way the thread will work is that at the start of every week, the plan for the week will be posted. I will be using the Hal Higdon Novice 1 program but feel free to check out his other programs if this one is not suitable for you. It is a tried and tested plan that will get you to the start line and over the finish line! The aim of a first marathon is to FINISH and anything else is a bonus.



By using the Higdon plan, you will be

• Building up steady mileage throughout the weeks
• You will be getting used to running on tired legs as its 3 runs back to back and then a longer run on the weekends
• Every few weeks, there is a stepback week which allows you the chance to give the body a bit of a break.
• Nearer the end of the plan there is a 20m run and this is important both physically and psychologically
• There is a taper section where you wind down the miles in order to get the body rested for the big day!!!

It is a beginner’s programme and if you complete the training plan, you will complete the marathon. The plan is easy to follow, with no complicated sessions to learn about.

Other points about the Higdon novice plan.

• You don’t have to run on the days he says - you might have other commitments, the weekends might be bad for you, whatever. But you should try to follow that pattern - three consecutive days of running, one or two rest days, a longer run, and then one or two rest days before you start the next week. And whatever plan you follow, you will need to do one long slow run (LSR) a week. Very soon that will become two hr and then three hours for a single run, every week. If you can’t make that kind of training commitment then this is probably not a good year for you to run a marathon.[/FONT]
• The plan is an 18 week plan, and the first week will be posted on 25 June 2012 Some people like to start a week or two early, to build in a cushion for holidays, injuries, other races, and so on. That’s completely fine. You’ll want to be back on the regular schedule for the month of October, to follow the plan for tapering, but up until then its okay if you’re a week or two ahead.

So without further ado, here are a few questions for you, feel free to give a bit of information about yourself if you want, regarding why you started running, how long you are running etc…

• Have you raced before? If so what are your PBs? (Date and distance please!)
• Do you still need to take walk breaks in your training? No problem if you do!
• How much training do you currently do? Distances, how many days a week, cross training - whatever you think is relevant
• What do you want to achieve? Dream finishing time and realistic finishing time?
• How many days a week can you train?
• Why are you running this marathon?

As time goes by there will be information about all things to do with marathon running and training. . . but in the meantime read everything you can get your hands on about marathon running and you’ll have a better idea of what to expect. The Web is a great source of information.

So lets get this show on the road:D

Here is the link to the training tracker spreadsheet

Nules10

No better woman for the job. Good luck to everyone you are in safe hands

RayCun

and so the madness begins again
Best of luck to everyone, Younganne (and her glamorous assistant:D) will look after yis well...

BobMac104

whey! Here's to another great novices thread. Well done Anne, no better woman indeed!

Trampas

I am planning for Dublin to be my 1st marathon and break 4 hours but would like to do it faster.

I have been running now for 6 months and manage 10 mile run in 93 mins.

Which I am happy with.

I am not sure how best to start my training plan. If I jump on the Hal plan I feel I will be taking a step back instead of forward.

Any advice in best plan to go with for training.

Younganne

Hi Trampas

What is you current weekly training, how many days are you running, what mileage in each run, are you doing any slow runs or are they all at an all effort pace, how are you feeling at the end of your runs?
have you done any races?

have a look at the questions in the first post and come back with your answers and then we'll see whats best option for you.

doledude86

I ran in 2009 (3:56) but i did precious little after that...Was devastated watching the people run it last year and knew this year I had to be involved so im signed up for the Phoenix park series so am in the rigth place? :pac:

tHE vAGGABOND

Good luck everyone starting on such a great adventure as your first marathon

See many of you at the weekend LSR's in the Park

pistol_75

Good luck to everyone thinking of doing Dublin this year as their first Marathon. Don't underestimate the amount of training you will need to do and definitly don't underestimate the task facing you.

I wouldn't even think about times you may want to run at the moment as you really will not have a clue until probably after the 1/2 marathon how well prepared you are.

Most of all enjoy the training and make sure you are training at the right pace/effort for that day. If you want any advice on how not to run the 2nd half of marathon I'm your man :rolleyes:

BobMac104

doledude86 wrote: »

I ran in 2009 (3:56) but i did precious little after that...Was devastated watching the people run it last year and knew this year I had to be involved so im signed up for the Phoenix park series so am in the rigth place? :pac:

Hey doledude, you're more than welcome to hang around here even if you're not tecnically a novice.

tang1

Never ran Dublin before, have one previous marathon under my belt in '09 in Newry done on no training which i paid for bigtime.

P.B'S:
5km - 20.50 - Bob Heffernan 5km May 2010
10km - 45.39 - Dunshaughlin 10km June 2011
10 mile - 73.07 - Cara Bundoran 10 March 2012
Half Marathon 1hr 41min 10sec - Bohermeen Half Marathon 4 March 2012.

Male 33 years old, 6 ft 1 tall and 86kg heavy, married with the BESTEST little son in the world (bias i know, sorry), ex smoker off them 2 years since March this year.

Am currently running 25 - 35 miles a week, mostly 3 times a week, some weeks 4 depending on my little man. Runs are 2 short of 5 - 7 miles and one long at weekend of between 10 -14 miles. Suffered last year big time with shin splints which was down to wrong runners after being fitted for same by an "alleged" specialist running shop. No injuries this year thank god after change in runner type. My dream time to run DCM '12 is 3.30. Dont know if i'm kidding myself with that goal, but thats the time i have drilled into my head. My reason for running DCM is cause i love running and want to stay in good health to run after our son. Looking forward to your advice YoungAnne.

Younganne

doledude86 wrote: »

I ran in 2009 (3:56) but i did precious little after that...Was devastated watching the people run it last year and knew this year I had to be involved so im signed up for the Phoenix park series so am in the rigth place? :pac:

tang1 wrote: »

Never ran Dublin before, have one previous marathon under my belt in '09 in Newry done on no training which i paid for bigtime.

P.B'S:
5km - 20.50 - Bob Heffernan 5km May 2010
10km - 45.39 - Dunshaughlin 10km June 2011
10 mile - 73.07 - Cara Bundoran 10 March 2012
Half Marathon 1hr 41min 10sec - Bohermeen Half Marathon 4 March 2012.

Male 33 years old, 6 ft 1 tall and 86kg heavy, married with the BESTEST little son in the world (bias i know, sorry), ex smoker off them 2 years since March this year.

Am currently running 25 - 35 miles a week, mostly 3 times a week, some weeks 4 depending on my little man. Runs are 2 short of 5 - 7 miles and one long at weekend of between 10 -14 miles. Suffered last year big time with shin splints which was down to wrong runners after being fitted for same by an "alleged" specialist running shop. No injuries this year thank god after change in runner type. My dream time to run DCM '12 is 3.30. Dont know if i'm kidding myself with that goal, but thats the time i have drilled into my head. My reason for running DCM is cause i love running and want to stay in good health to run after our son. Looking forward to your advice YoungAnne.

Hey guys this thread is open to one and all...it doesn't have to be your first marathon to be a Novice. You both have great times there and will have no problems with the training...you might want to look at the Novice 2 or the intermediate plans.

Last year was my second marathon but my first using Boards for support and i used the Novice 2 with the LSR from Novice 1 as i started out too late to go with the LSR from Novice 2

Younganne

pistol_75 wrote: »

Good luck to everyone thinking of doing Dublin this year as their first Marathon. Don't underestimate the amount of training you will need to do and definitly don't underestimate the task facing you.

I wouldn't even think about times you may want to run at the moment as you really will not have a clue until probably after the 1/2 marathon how well prepared you are.

Most of all enjoy the training and make sure you are training at the right pace/effort for that day. If you want any advice on how not to run the 2nd half of marathon I'm your man :rolleyes:

Pistol_75, don't forget you have a massive PB in Dublin over 40 mins I think!!

Younganne

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

Good luck everyone starting on such a great adventure as your first marathon

See many of you at the weekend LSR's in the Park

And Vagga all i'll say is Paris....:D

Maybe you could share your story to show how hard work and dedication can be paid off!!

BobMac104

tang1 wrote: »

Never ran Dublin before, have one previous marathon under my belt in '09 in Newry done on no training which i paid for bigtime.

P.B'S:
5km - 20.50 - Bob Heffernan 5km May 2010
10km - 45.39 - Dunshaughlin 10km June 2011
10 mile - 73.07 - Cara Bundoran 10 March 2012
Half Marathon 1hr 41min 10sec - Bohermeen Half Marathon 4 March 2012.

Male 33 years old, 6 ft 1 tall and 86kg heavy, married with the BESTEST little son in the world (bias i know, sorry), ex smoker off them 2 years since March this year.

Am currently running 25 - 35 miles a week, mostly 3 times a week, some weeks 4 depending on my little man. Runs are 2 short of 5 - 7 miles and one long at weekend of between 10 -14 miles. Suffered last year big time with shin splints which was down to wrong runners after being fitted for same by an "alleged" specialist running shop. No injuries this year thank god after change in runner type. My dream time to run DCM '12 is 3.30. Dont know if i'm kidding myself with that goal, but thats the time i have drilled into my head. My reason for running DCM is cause i love running and want to stay in good health to run after our son. Looking forward to your advice YoungAnne.

Hey Tang with those times i reckon 3:30 is definately on for you in dublin.

tang1

BobMac104 wrote: »

Hey Tang with those times i reckon 3:30 is definately on for you in dublin.

Cheers BobMac104, happy enough with most of those times. Feel my 10km is a bit soft, running the 10km in Kildare in few weeks and hope to impove on it.

sunflowerRo

Fair play Anne. I would have been lost without this log last year and all the support particularly from Ray.
Good luck everyone!!

Mr Slow

Sorry late to the party, the very best of luck to all this year's novices, you're in excellent hands and remember that getting to the start line is the battle, the marathon, especially your first is the reward.

martyoo

Thanks a million for doing this!

Have you raced before? If so what are your PBs? (Date and distance please!)

Jan 29th - Raheny 5 Mile - 34
April 1st - Connemarathon half - 1:49

Do you still need to take walk breaks in your training? No problem if you do!

No

How much training do you currently do? Distances, how many days a week, cross training - whatever you think is relevant

4 x 5 Mile Cycles
2 x 5 Mile Runs
1 x Long run 8 Mile +

What do you want to achieve? Dream finishing time and realistic finishing time?

3:30 / Sub 4

How many days a week can you train?

6

Why are you running this marathon?

For the challenge.

Trampas

Have you raced before?
If so what are your PBs? (Date and distance please!)
Yes but only 2 so far but intending on more over the next while not including dublin marathon race series.

8km (43.41)
10km (51)

Non race 10 miles 93 mins

Do you still need to take walk breaks in your training? No
How much training do you currently do? 3/4 days a week. Usually Tues/Thurs and then Sat or Sun or both.

Shorter runs turning week about 8kms each day and 10km to 16km at weekend.

What do you want to achieve? Dream finishing time and realistic finishing time? Break 4 hours is main objective but feel I gave my best. I believe I can break 4 hours

How many days a week can you train? Can do more

Why are you running this marathon? I want to do it and do it well.

PDCAT

Just saw this thread.

Best of luck to all novice's for DCM 12.
Your in good hands with Younganne.Their are also lots of folk here with a bundle of knowledge to impart on marathon training.

I was a novice for DCM last year and can't speak highly enough of the guys on boards whom gave their time to help me and others achieve our dream......

All the best and above all enjoy the journey. Best thing i ever done.

red face dave

Has it been a year already. Best of luck to all novice's for DCM 12. Without this log last year I would not have gotten past the finish line,

Ye are very lucky to have Anne's wealth of knowledge.
Hope to see ye all at the start line. Best of luck and have fun

rasher_m

Hi there, thank you for starting this log.
I have run two half marathons in 2010. Time 2.06. I usually run a few 10km races each year just to stay fit. i ran great ireland run this year in 53 mins. i was injured for the guts of 8 months after a fall so only running again since feb.
I normally run about 3 days a week. two short 3 milers and about 7 miles at the weekend i will be looking at increasing this to four days
ideally id love to break four hours but even completing the marathon would be a dream to me.
I want to run the marathon as its always been something i wanted to achieve and id love to prove to myself that i can achieve this in one piece :-D

Nules10

Hey everyone. hope anne doesn't mind me jumping in here with a bit of advice. Having learned the hard way through injury I would like to stress the importance of building up a strong core to aid your running. If you can join a pilates class and incorporate core and strength exercises into your training. There are loads of you tube clips too if a class in out of the question. Oh and don't forget to stretch too.

kit3

Hey Anne, great to see you doing this. Was thinking about this last week and reckoned you would be the ideal person for it.

For anyone still thinking of whether to do the marathon or not, go for it. Did it last year and it was amazing - was on a high for about 3 weeks after it. Loads of advice and support on here (I was one of the silent followers). Don't worry about time -just enjoy the whole experience. Best of luck.

pansophelia

Have to say, very excited this thread is starting! Browsed last year's thread in September/October just as I was starting to run, and found it really motivating.
So I've been running for 6 or 7 months, really enjoying it and can't believe how natural it becomes to run (not easy now, just natural). I am naturally slow, but hope to get a little bit quicker, just by running more.

[*]Have you raced before? If so what are your PBs? (Date and distance please!)
MSB 5k 18/3 - 26:09
Connemara Half 1/4 - 2.09

[*]Do you still need to take walk breaks in your training? No problem if you do!
No

[*]How much training do you currently do? Distances, how many days a week, cross training - whatever you think is relevant
Between three and five days a week - changes weekly. Usually three shorter midweek runs (3-5 miles) and a longer wknd run (8-12).

[*]What do you want to achieve? Dream finishing time and realistic finishing time?
Sub 4.15 would be great, think I can do under 4.30

[*]How many days a week can you train?
Depends, 3-6

[*]Why are you running this marathon?
Because I never thought I could!

littlebug

Fair play Anne for starting this off !
These threads always make me wanna....:( but best of luck to those of you who do

newbie runner

Hi all,
I would like to do 1 , but have only started joging around 8 months ago after 10 years of nothing.Still unsure is this the right year to start, but will decide over this weekend.


[*]Have you raced before? If so what are your PBs? (Date and distance please!)
2 5k's best 24 min
3 10k's, all hilly-best 55 min.

Do you still need to take walk breaks in your training? No problem if you do!
No, unless I bomb out with a half mile to go after deciding to push for home 2 out


[*]How much training do you currently do? Distances, how many days a week, cross training - whatever you think is relevant
jogging only.approx 3 times a week.all 6 miles for some stupid reason.


[*]What do you want to achieve? Dream finishing time and realistic finishing time?
dream time 4.realistic time mighht be 4.20.


[*]How many days a week can you train?
3-6


[*]Why are you running this marathon?
why not I say.running is good for my brain.and my brain needs running to be good.

Best of luck all, look forward to this thread.

red face dave

Newbie just go for it.
I did last years Marathon from a very similar position to yourself. This log well walk you right the way to finish line. You will be well able for it.

JJJJNR

Well I'm still here and survived last years so ok...dotted line signed.

Have you raced before? If so what are your PBs? (Date and distance please!)
Dublin Marathon 6.10, Dublin half 3:40, bray 10k 1:22.

Do you still need to take walk breaks in your training? No problem if you do!
No

How much training do you currently do? Distances, how many days a week, cross training - whatever you think is relevant
Try to go out for a run everyday, I do about 4 - 5km at a comfortable rate, a small bit of circut training which I will be doing more of.


What do you want to achieve? Dream finishing time and realistic finishing time?
Dream finishing time would be 4hr realistic finishing time will be closer to 5.

How many days a week can you train?
7

Why are you running this marathon?
Running this year as its my brothers 5th year passing and want to raise some money for aware.

Younganne

newbie runner wrote: »

Hi all,
I would like to do 1 , but have only started joging around 8 months ago after 10 years of nothing.Still unsure is this the right year to start, but will decide over this weekend.


[*]Have you raced before? If so what are your PBs? (Date and distance please!)
2 5k's best 24 min
3 10k's, all hilly-best 55 min.

Do you still need to take walk breaks in your training? No problem if you do!
No, unless I bomb out with a half mile to go after deciding to push for home 2 out


[*]How much training do you currently do? Distances, how many days a week, cross training - whatever you think is relevant
jogging only.approx 3 times a week.all 6 miles for some stupid reason.


[*]What do you want to achieve? Dream finishing time and realistic finishing time?
dream time 4.realistic time mighht be 4.20.


[*]How many days a week can you train?
3-6


[*]Why are you running this marathon?
why not I say.running is good for my brain.and my brain needs running to be good.

Best of luck all, look forward to this thread.

Hi Newbie Runner,
There is no need to decide yes or no at the moment. You have a good decent base going there with consistent running and you have great times for your races.
Keep tabs on the thread, start the training and see how it all works out for you but one of the most important things IMO is a postivie mind & attitude and a belief in yourself that you can do it if you want to....nothing else really matters as the training, if followed pretty closely will give you the ability to complete the marathon.

All I can say is its a fantastic journey and a fantastic achievement at the end....don't make any decision yet...but its easier to drop out of the training than to drop in!!!:D

Younganne

JJJJNR wrote: »

Well I'm still here and survived last years so ok...dotted line signed.

Have you raced before? If so what are your PBs? (Date and distance please!)
Dublin Marathon 6.10, Dublin half 3:40, bray 10k 1:22.

Do you still need to take walk breaks in your training? No problem if you do!
No

How much training do you currently do? Distances, how many days a week, cross training - whatever you think is relevant
Try to go out for a run everyday, I do about 4 - 5km at a comfortable rate, a small bit of circut training which I will be doing more of.


What do you want to achieve? Dream finishing time and realistic finishing time?
Dream finishing time would be 4hr realistic finishing time will be closer to 5.

How many days a week can you train?
7

Why are you running this marathon?
Running this year as its my brothers 5th year passing and want to raise some money for aware.

Welcome back JJJJNR, you are a great advertisement for the marathon as you're back for more:D

shortie_chik

Hurray! I'm delighted to come across this thread in such good time! Decided just this very morning that I am going to do the DCM, & headed out on the first run of my official DCM training programme this evening, so I'm full of motivation at the moment & happy to have some guidance.

• Have you raced before? If so what are your PBs? (Date and distance please!)
  Never done a marathon before. I've done 6 half marathons (Dublin 2011, 2008, 2007. Paris 2012, 2010, 2009). PB is probably Dublin 2011 in 2h21. Did Paris 2012 in 2h30 but hadn't really done much (any) training.
  
• Do you still need to take walk breaks in your training? No problem if you do!
  Nope. Just plod along slowly if I get tired.
  
• How much training do you currently do? Distances, how many days a week, cross training - whatever you think is relevant
  It's been sporadic over the last few weeks, but probably two or three 3 - 4 mile runs a week. I'm quite slow, ~11 mins per mile I can do for a fairly long time. I'm going to aim to get that down to 10 min miles (in training. For the race I don't care as long as I finish). Last summer I followed the Hal Higdon Novice programme religiously (for the half-marathon) & I felt he had me well prepared.
  
• What do you want to achieve? Dream finishing time and realistic finishing time?
  Really I just want to finish. If miracles happen, maybe about 4h20 (10 min miles).
  
• How many days a week can you train?
  4-5 (was going to follow Hal's novice 2 programme)
  
• Why are you running this marathon?
  I only started running a few years ago. Up to that point, I couldn't run for the bus. To complete a marathon is a secret dream, so don't tell anyone :cool: I would really like to see if I have the discipline to achieve this.

I think this thread will help keep me in the game psychologically. I haven't told anyone ever that I'd like to complete a marathon, because I can just imagine all the :rolleyes: reactions. I can tell folks I'm doing the half-marathon, cos I know I can do that if I just show up & don't quit. A marathon is quite a different challenge though as I don't want to be crippled for the rest of my life.

Without someone to talk to about this, I'm likely to just sneak off quietly & pretend I was never aiming to do a marathon!

I'm interested to hear other people's nutrition regimes as I think this could make a big change to my training. I eat fairly healthily usually, but I suspect I should be eating specific things before & after short / long runs. Sometimes I'd run but just find I hadn't the energy for it, probably from not having eaten enough of or the correct type of food before training.

Excited to have some beginner training buddies; I'll probably be doing all my training in Phoenix Park, so if you see a little tomato-faced runner, give me a wave!

Younganne

shortie_chik wrote: »

Hurray! I'm delighted to come across this thread in such good time! Decided just this very morning that I am going to do the DCM, & headed out on the first run of my official DCM training programme this evening, so I'm full of motivation at the moment & happy to have some guidance.

Excited to have some beginner training buddies; I'll probably be doing all my training in Phoenix Park, so if you see a little tomato-faced runner, give me a wave!

See fate brought your attention to this thread so therefore you are destined to do the marathon...:D

As for nutrition we will go into that in more details later in the thread but for now seeing as you already eat pretty healthy just keep going with that but plenty of fresh fruit & veg and make sure you get enough carbs to give you energy.....don't forget good hydration, plenty of water!!

so are you doing the first couple of weeks of Hals plan to bring you up to the 18 week start of the plan or what way are you working it at the moment?

shortie_chik

Younganne wrote: »

See fate brought your attention to this thread so therefore you are destined to do the marathon...:D

Well I can't argue with fate, so here we go!

I was going to start Hal's novice 2 programme a bit early (from Tuesday), and do some of the beginning weeks twice (then back on the correct dates for the rest of the programme to get the LONG LONG runs & tapering on schedule). If this is a terrible idea, it's better for me to hear it sooner rather than later!

I probably need a week or two of just doing 3 short runs + 1 longer run to get myself back into a regular routine, then going to try to do his recommended distances. Just shaking the cobwebs off this weekend, so I shouldn't be too creaky on Tuesday.

Younganne

you don't want to go back into running and end up doing too much too soon....what did you run last week & this week?

aim to be able to run the 3x3m runs and 1x 6m run in 5 weeks when the plan starts but only increase by your current distance by 10% so as not to get injured...

Edit: Novice 2 is 3m, 5m pace, 3m and 8m LSR...if you have not done this much in the last couple of weeks then its too much to do in the first week back!! Don't worry about the pace, it will come down as you move through the training

shortie_chik

There's a 3.75 mile loop nearby that I've done 3 times this week (takes me about 40 mins). I'll aim to go out for an hour tomorrow & see how that goes, not going to stress too much about distance / pace just yet!

I know I can manage the 3 short runs on Novice 2 Wk1 reasonably well, but 8m would definitely be too much for me by next weekend! Might do a few weeks of Novice Supreme until I'm ready for the 8m LSR.

Already this is helpful, managing expectations of what I should be able to do by when!

Mr Slow

A sensible approach would be to get comfortable with 8 miles by the time training starts then you can move forward. Don't grow your total weekly mileage by more than 10% though.

shortie_chik

A sensible approach, eh? Interesting idea
There's very little fear of me pushing myself too hard, hence the need for others on the thread to help keep me motivated with their tales of discipline & mental fortitude!

That hour today was on my bike in the end. It's like I'm afraid I'll get bored of running if I start too soon...

Mrs Noc

Hi, I've got my place. I'm Irish and living in London. This looks like a great threat.

• Have you raced before? If so what are your PBs? (Date and distance please!): I did a half marathon in 116 minutes in 2003 and then quite a few 10kms. No long distance running in recent years though.
• Do you still need to take walk breaks in your training? No problem if you do!: Not usually.
• How much training do you currently do? Distances, how many days a week, cross training - whatever you think is relevant: I do a couple of 30 minute runsand usually do a bootcamp session for an hour every week. I do a PT session every second week. Today I did my first long run for 80 minutes. I'm not very good on distances so not sure what distance I did! Any tips on calculating distance would be appreciated.
• What do you want to achieve? Dream finishing time and realistic finishing time? Dream time would be 4- 4.5 hours. I'll be delighted if I complete in under 5. However, still figuring out what I'll have to do to achieve this...I guess that's where the plan comes in.
• How many days a week can you train? 3-4
• Why are you running this marathon? My mamhad a serious heart attack a few years ago. It was the same weekend as the London marathon. I promised myself then, I'd do a marathon and collect for the heart foundation or similar. She recovered really well. Now years later, my main reason for doing it is to become fit again but I intend raising some money for a heart foundation.

Looking forward to following the thread and doing the plan from the end of June.

Mrs Noc

I've had a look online. Today's run was about 6.5 miles. A tad slow but considering the wind and rain, I'm pleased.

Mr Slow

shortie_chik wrote: »

It's like I'm afraid I'll get bored of running if I start too soon...

You won't, once you get into double digits and make the weekly targets 16,18,20 you'll be buzzing off of your success, I guarantee at the race series half, you'll be saying 'It's only 13 miles'

shazkea

Throwing my hat in the ring for an autumn marathon. Goal is to get to the start line injury free...if I can do that I'll worry about the time on the day

Roller coaster ride here I come!

Mr Slow

shazkea wrote: »

Throwing my hat in the ring for an autumn marathon. Goal is to get to the start line injury free...if I can do that I'll worry about the time on the day

Roller coaster ride here I come!

Fantastic!!!

shortie_chik

Mr Slow wrote: »

You won't, once you get into double digits and make the weekly targets 16,18,20 you'll be buzzing off of your success, I guarantee at the race series half, you'll be saying 'It's only 13 miles'

Indeed! I'm looking forward to that! I was looking over the schedule again today, adding up the weekly totals in my head & thinking "imagine I could be covering insert-large-number-here miles a week!"

Was on the marathon website & saw there are toilets & water stations every 2 or 3 miles, so those were my two biggest concerns for the day. The course is open for 7 hours, so even if I'm walking, I'll cross the finish line.

Going to put my money where my mouth is now & register online. Then I HAVE to do it.

Nules10

Plenty of water on the route and loos a worry i had last year too. never need to stop for the loo once as it turned out despite the amount of water i drank. :rolleyes: And signing up do make it more real too

BobMac104

shortie_chik wrote: »

Mr Slow wrote: »

You won't, once you get into double digits and make the weekly targets 16,18,20 you'll be buzzing off of your success, I guarantee at the race series half, you'll be saying 'It's only 13 miles'

Indeed! I'm looking forward to that! I was looking over the schedule again today, adding up the weekly totals in my head & thinking "imagine I could be covering insert-large-number-here miles a week!"

Was on the marathon website & saw there are toilets & water stations every 2 or 3 miles, so those were my two biggest concerns for the day. The course is open for 7 hours, so even if I'm walking, I'll cross the finish line.

Going to put my money where my mouth is now & register online. Then I HAVE to do it.

That's the spirit best of luck.

shortie_chik

I did it! (I registered I mean.) I am both very excited & very terrified right now.
I expect at many stages over the next 6 months I'm going to be very tired & very frustrated, but the thought of earning a marathon finisher t-shirt will keep me going. Then I'm going to wear it every day for the rest of my life!

red face dave

shortie_chik wrote: »

I did it! (I registered I mean.) I am both very excited & very terrified right now.
I expect at many stages over the next 6 months I'm going to be very tired & very frustrated, but the thought of earning a marathon finisher t-shirt will keep me going. Then I'm going to wear it every day for the rest of my life!

Congratulations welcome to mad, frustrating and very very tired world of marathon running. One thing to always remember smile for the camera :):):)

BobMac104

The group is getting bigger by the minute. Thats great as i think one of the biggest helps is sharing the new aches and pains along the way.

Younganne

sshh Bob, don't mention aches and pains yet;)

Shortie Chick, congrat on entering..there's no stopping you now!!

as shazkea said...welcome to the Rollercoaster.....:D