Random Running Questions

Pace it much more easily. Once you're not injured there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to trot around. (I could give plenty of examples of ultrarunners doing much more over a shorter timeframe)

I'm doing the exact same combo. I did it last year as well, same two marathons but with a two week gap between them. My aim is to keep doing them with an ever decreasing gap between them, eventually I'll run both at the same time on the same day. There might be a flaw in my plan but if so I'm unaware of it.

On a serious note, I am actually doing the same two marathons and my expectation is that I'll race Amsterdam and run Dublin. Dublin is a better supported marathon in any case and a nicer one to soak up the atmosphere on. Amsterdam has good support as well but, perhaps I'm biased but it is not on the same level as Dublin.

In terms of timings, I've done back to back marathons a few times with Dublin being the second one every time and every time I run it slightly slower. Last year I crossed the line two minutes slower than Amsterdam which I'm pretty happy with given that I thought I was taking it easy and the Dublin course has hills whereas Amsterdam doesn't really.

I had a foot injury late 2020 that was never fully diagnosed but wasn't plantar fasciitis. Then 2021 a hip injury again never fully diagnosed with covid and all that. I never stopped running but consistency wasn't great with flare ups. When I finally got consistency built up and doing sessions again I was in a car crash in Decmember 2022. Finally this summer I've built back up to around 25 miles per week and doing sessions again. Previous to late 2020 I was running 40 to 50 miles per week. So I understand that a marathon next year might still be a push, and have to wait until 2026 until I've enough miles in the legs again. But it's good to have a plan to stay focused.

Just a follow up here, I completed my own marathon today. Delighted with myself. I was definetly undertrained and aware of that. I had a busy august with gigs and fesitvals so a lof of drink was had. I only went out once in the last 9 weeks though.

I didn't follow a training schedule (bad idea i know) but I did run over 200km in September with runs of 25, 27 and 32km. I didn't do many medium runs, or run slow enough. I typically did 8km 4 days a week and a longer runs on a Friday.

I didn't go with 42.2 laps of the park, I had an out and back route of about 11km total which i did 4 times (the last time i shortened it). This meant I'd water and lucazade sport every 11km or so and i carred some water pouches and small bottle of lucazade at times.

I knew the last 10km would be tough and they were, I had been under 6 min km before that and then started to drift to 7 or even 7:30. Little twinge in my calf coming up to 39km I used as an exuse to walk for a little bit, then ran about a km and did a bit of walk run. I actually enjoyed that as I took time to realise I was going to finsih.

4hours 27mins or so, which i was happy with given my lackluster approach to training I wasn't very good at training slower than race pace! I probably drank too much lucazade sport and didn't have enough water, i had 4 gels and i'd only ever tried one once before so was a tiny bit bloated.

I was going to do it yesterday but weather was horrible, so waited till today - perfect conditions. That was an advantage of doing my own one. My half marathon time earlier in the year about 1:49 so with proper training I know I could have done better but I knew i did'nt have that sort of commitmet in me. Maybe no I'll be inspired, but at the moment just happy i finished wihout injury.

It was lovely finishing at home and doing a few stretches and then having a shower. Obviously I had little in the way of atmosphere or anything along the journey though!

I'm not advising anybody to do it without a proper training program and I'm sure I'd have enjoyed it more if i did! Maybe someday I'll be able to compare doing it with proper training and an atmosphere vs what I've done. I'm defintly very dehdrated finished it at 14:30 and still not gone to the toilet! Better drink more water.

Yeah, the ice is a real pain isn't it.

Got a couple of stitches in my chin last year because of it.

Now I run slower, with my hands braced for a fall and if dark the head torch pointing directly at the ground in front.

See some people out at the moment and I'm not sure how they run with all the layers on them. It's never really that cold here compared to other places.

Shorts ,T shirt, long sleeve if you feel the cold that much,and a pair of runners with some good grip and run on as normal, slow down a bit if you have to.

People are gone a bit soft imo.

Also true, I'm all for people getting out running.

Though it doesn't change my opinion that people can overdress for runs in weather that isn't particularly cold. Dress for the second mile not the first is my motto.

Each to their own though and all that.

Although my running days are behind me, I always wore running tights in the winter, they were the lighter version and I found them extremely comfortable, and they also looked so good on, 😉🤣. And never with shorts over them, that's just wrong 🤣

There's no debate: real runners don't wear shorts over tights. 🤣

There was a debate about me looking good in tights 🤔🤣.

Gloves were a must for me also

While it's freezing or lower, I'm wearing:

• 2 layers of long sleeve running top
• Jocks, leggings, and shorts
• Crew socks and regular running shoes
• Merino wool buff to cover the ears
• Cap if it's raining
• Lights when it's dark

I can run a 3:22 marathon, so I'm faster than 90% of other marathoners, but maybe I'm still just soft and not a real runner, who knows!

Ah you're a real runner alright don't worry about that,anyone who runs is a runner regardless of times, you do sound a tad soft though 😂

Speaking of Marathon times, and it was you who brought it up not me..I've run a 2:45 Marathon and only ever wear shorts and t-shirt, make of that what you will 😜

BTW wear whatever you want I really don't care that much!

Aye but you lads are walking half the time of course you're gonna be a tad colder 😄