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Virgin London Marathon 2011 First Timers
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I still have admiration for anyone who completes the distance, and I'm bloody proud of myself and everyone who crossed the finish line, especially those carrying injuries.
I'm sorry you feel this way, but maybe here is not the place to say you no longer have admiration for London when most of us are still totally buzzing from it?
Stephen - yay! Pleased you got the image upload sorted. Love the photos ... that cake is absolutely fantastic!
Shielsy - got the hang of it now
Cant believe I still had the energy to smile for the camera and give the "thumbs up" in the last few hundred yards and how did I not see Buck Palace on the day?
Squeakz - have read somewhere that its not unusual to feel deflated after a marathon, I was on a real high Mon/Tues and then on a downer Wed/Thurs, tip-top now though.
Congratulations: you've run your marathon! Now, unless you wish to spend the next few weeks plagued with soreness, sniffles and a soul-sapping sense of apathy, read on.
What you do in the days following a marathon is just as important as what you did before. Running 26.2 miles places high demands on the body and you’re likely to end up with depleted fuel stores, accumulated fluid in the muscles, dehydration and perhaps some damaged muscle tissue. So, not surprisingly, you will be susceptible to injury and infection after the race. You may also be feeling disorientated – or even depressed – in the come-down after achieving such a significant running goal.
Unfortunately, there’s no formula for calculating how long your body will take to recover – this will vary from runner to runner. A seasoned marathon runner – or someone whose training plan included a high mileage base – can expect to bounce back quicker than a marathon novice for example.
What you can do though, is make sure you know exactly what your body needs. Here’s how to deal with the most common post-marathon ailments, how to combat the blues and, of course, top advice on when and how to resume running.
Thanks for the info Stephen
its been really helpful. I have been trying to undertand how I have been feeling for a couple of days or so, and its just been getting worse.
Just been reading up further, on the subject. It seems like post Marathon blues is quite common. Im not sure this is what I have but I don't really know. It most certainly makes for interesting reading matter. It has been documented that choline, a neurotransmitter precursor, is depleted with marathon-like efforts, thereby having a bearing on depression in a similar way.
Awesome cake by the way.
squeakz dont worry you are not alone! I had to keep telling myself i was running the london marathon as it didnt feel like i was, doesnt look from the ground like it does on telly, well not to me anyway! i mean the supporters were amazing and some of the sights pretty cool but generally i was pretty underwhelmed, my first marathon, dont know what i was expecting! not going to enter another one as i don't suppose it would get any better than and i am not sure i could run so far without such alot of crowd support anyway
Have just spent ages reading everyones stories....really emotional....the highs the lows etc
I said NEVER again after nearly missing the start and injury coming back at only 8 miles in . But I finished, avoided the wall, ate and drank myself around the course and finished half hour longer than I would have liked at 5.20.19.
A day or so later I entered the Brighton 2012. I want to put right what didn't go to plan. Non-runners can't understand that but that's fine.
I am so proud of us all for getting over that finish line. It's totally surreal but amazing.
Funny story-my sister high-fiving the St.John's Ambulance people...only to end up with an unexpected handful of vaseline
God Bless you all
xxx
Squeakz it took my son 2 years and a bad bad episode to feel anything but depression after his first marathon. I didnt really know til way later. I think its just brain wiring ultimately. Its fine to feel however you feel dont let anyone say otherwise. Do whatever works for you, (fishy nibbles?) Ive ventured over to Facebook now and dont really like the format but hoping sons going to give me a training later on.
Any thoughts on that vest or is it just a bit much?
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I would most certainly like a memento of that.
hope every one is OK
Squeakz I felt a bit like you do I think I had built the London marathon up too much in my mind and when the day didn't meet the expectations was really down for a few days but I have set myself a few races to do and will do a marathon in Nottingham next year . went running on Tuesday and before the run was really ready to pack in running for good but after the run with the club started to feel good about running again then coached on Thursday and that's when I put things into some form of prospective why did i fell so bad about somthing I realy enjoy did a park run today and was just 22 seconds of my PB so I'm running again and looking forward to new challenges not looking back on old ones whats done is done and dwelling on things will not change anything I can only learn from my mistakes to make me a better person , I'm not saying that's what your going threw Squeaks but the feeling that London has lost its magic for you may be because as for all of us it was our first time something we all wanted to do one day , we got the chance we did it and that's when the magic stopped London will never be the same again for us we can no longer stand on the side lines and say one day i would love to do that somtimes we bild somthing up so much that in the end it doesnt mater how good it was you will always feel that it didnt deliver what you wanted it to
Just to say
as i've been away all week, straight after spectating at London
hope you ALL had a great day, a super run and hope you all achieved your dreams
boy was it warm, so i hope no one suffered undually
wishing you ALL many, many more happy marathons
hello everyone and a very belated race report from me. Been trying to catch up with all the posts but that may take some time!
I too felt a bit deflated, both with my own performance and with the day itself. been battling knee injuries for months and on the day they got the better of me- pain set in about 18 miles and I was shuffling to end. Aiming for 4:30 and was gutted with my 5:18. My family and friends have all said the usual things about doing well to finish and doing well in the heat etc, but I'm 27 and feel I should be able to do a much faster marathon than I did.
Since the day I ve actually had problems with my foot and ankle, which interestingly didnt bother me before! had an xray yesterday but was advised stress fractures dont show on x ray anyway. . . .
Re the race - organisation: excellent. Support: excellent. Route: excellent - so why didnt I enjoy it as much as expected? Who knows! I too have watched the marathon every year and been overwhelmed by the event but just didnt feel that way on the day. Maybe the pain, maybe the heat, I dont know but that makes me feel really sad, cos I feel I didnt do it justice.
Before sunday, I said never again. I love running, but have decided this isnt the distance for me, I dont enjoy the long long training runs. Back to 10k and halfs for me now. On finishing on sunday I said never again. but now........thinking would I like to do another and better my time? Maybe. Life as a medical student, plus working part time is a bit hectic so may have to wait a few years but think i may be tempted in the future. Crazy!
So no running for me just now - physios orders were 2months off. Missing it already! spin classes and swimming for me this week.
Thanks to everyone for all the support and well done everyone!
ps - I have seen my race photos but where did you get the videos?
Without a doubt the best thing to do is to enter another race asap. Some other marathons are much more fun than London and because they are less hyped - you don't get quite the same crash afterwards.
Nearby for example - Dublin is excellent - wonderful atmosphere - easy to get to the start etc and enough of a buzz without being overwhelming. Edinburgh is similar. Nice size - not too busy (and the fastest course in the country).
Another one that is the exact opposite of London is the Loch Ness marathon - absolutely beautiful - simply stunning - and barely a spectator for miles. Great fun.
Nope , want to do it again and will get into the registration on Tuesday . I know I can do better than the 4-18 -51 that I done . My training splits were much better than race day , yes it was hotter than usual , might well had an affect on matters , what got me though , was there were many runners way further up the 'pens' than myself , who , rightly or wrongly who I thought maybe should've not been [maybe a few white lies on their applications?] , as they were struggling from near the start and were passed by numerous runners who were way further back in the pens . Although on reflection , it may well have been the weather / injury / bad day with them as well ?
If I do get in , I will concentrate on doing more races before the London one , as I only got the one in [Lliswerry 8 , Newport ] .
Another thing I'll have to save big time for that w/e , it cost me a bloody fortune , with travel , hotel , kids !
Can't wait till Tueday
oh dear poor bloke no wonder he looked at me in a really strange way cant believe he didnt ask th st johns to take me away for hallucination problems!!!
he was so taken aback he kinda just went "oh err well done!!"
oh squeakz i feel so sad that u feel that way not being offensive to anyone else on this forum but u made this forum what it was and was the back bone of the whole thing and a wealth of knowledge i hope ur feelings changed
i just entered London 2012!!!!!!
Decided not to tell anyone about entering & just plan to hopefully get a place & plug away with training by myself !
Good luck everyone !
Morning all
I think we shold just keep this one going so we don't inundate RW with new threads
This has all our info on it as well....not that we can ever find it mind!! 
Doddy40 - Snap! Will just wait and see and then do this one quietly if I get in.
Be interesting to see how many of us actually get in! I probably will just when i dont really care either way! can forget about it now for 5 months... cant actually believe i entered...one quickly forgets