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Virgin London Marathon 2011 First Timers
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NSGNR all the pics of me are of me walking so it looks like i walked round thats what i ment by it looks like I was out for a strole
I eventually worked out how to do this - thanks to Alison C - I saw her instructions a few pages back. I think this is the only photo where I am not looking at the ground
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Foofighter - oh no!! We'll both have to be better prepared for the photographers next time- work out where they are beforehand so we can fly past them with smiles on our faces!! I was too busy looking at the ground to notice any photographs being taken...
Good pic NSGNR as FF say!
finally feel better, cough going! and have run a 4 miler and 3 miler this week so far
time to cheer up and look forward to the next race/run challenge.... probably Gairloch 10k and then the JogScotland 5k challenge.
short I know.. but there are a few half marathons to pick from in the next few months too!
I'm the same with FB as well , as you said , just trying to keep up with the forum users , much easier on here , I was originally on there though , just for the Trust Fund members over the rugby and keeping the parents informed of what was happening with the mini-football team that I coach/manage , but it's gone absolutely mental with 'friends' and 'friends of friends' etc . ,coming out of the woodwork , who I don't even know or hardly know fom the past , might just deactivate anyway and concentrate on this and the other forums I'm a member of . Anyway whats wrong with texting !?
wow couldnt have put it better. I was beginning to think it was my age! I just want to communicate one to one when I need to and then have this for mutual interest. Simples!
I don't mind fb myself but I do find the format of this forum much easier to follow. Before this one I'd never followed a forum before but everyone on here has been so helpful and supportive in preparation for my first ever marathon. I'm really interested in what everyone goes on to do now so I'll keeping checking in on this page and I hope that some of you continue to post.
For me, I've decided that I must do another marathon!!!! I hated London so much that I need to run the distance again so that I can enjoy it this time. And besides - I still have the appetitie of a marathon runner but I'm currently without the miles to burn those extra calories off!!! Not a good mix at all!
not just me then, think i have put half a stone on in three weeks!
Im still uncertain about how I feel about the VLM but I think I have unfinished business with the marathon distance
Just feeling really good at the moment and enjoying my running, which is great
Had a good run today at Sheffield Half got 1.51.16 so took 3.06 off my last PB was aiming for sub 1.50 but the wind/hills and lack of speed work put a dent in that ambition realy happy with how things went though as at a few points in the race the sun came out to try to spoil the day
I was promised rain
good to hear things are going well Squeakz
what Half did you do Mattys mum ?
well done MattysM and FooF. I on the other hand chickened out of a 5 miler!
glad the foots going good Squeakz. I toyed with the 'natural running' and 'chi running malarkey' . Thought about doing a course but they all go quicker than me! That whole being concious of what you are doing cant be bad. Have you looked at Alexander technique too? Did you see those shoes with seperate toes at Expo?
Hello everyone
I haven't been posting as I thought everyone had gone to the dreaded Facebook, but it seems not everyone has! It is way too complicated and time consuming for me and I like a simple life.
Great to hear some of you are racing again and training. I managed to knacker my legs so badly in the Marathon that I still can't run! I can just about manage a mile and then my left knee starts to hurt, and as I have no race to train for I have decided to wait until it is better before attempting any more training. However, I am swimming though and going to the gym as I don't want to lose the fitness I gained training for London.
I have not entered the ballot for next year. I would want to beat this year's time and would be disappointed if I didn't. The amount of training I would have to do to better my time would probably almost kill me anyway! And I rather doubt I could do much better. My time wasn't fast but I was happy with it so I think I will just leave it at that.
I will be looking for a new challenge soon though, just not quite that far. Maybe a half later in the year if I can get my legs working properly again!
I know this is very early but I hoped previous runners could give me a bit of advice in regards to handy hotels in London for 2012.
I’m crossing from Northern Ireland on Saturday 21/04/12 and after the marathon will be flying out of Gatwick on Monday 23/04/12 to go on holiday. I therefore plan on staying at a Gatwick hotel on Sunday night and a hotel handy for the marathon on Saturday.
So can anyone give me any advice on a good hotel to stay in or even what area would be best? I will need to get to the Expo on Saturday and then after going back to my hotel on Sunday will need to get to Victoria Station to catch the Gatwick express. Obviously a hotel with a late check out would be beneficial.
I don’t know London at all so any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Badbark
I would suggest staying at a hotel near Victoria station on the Saturday night. It's easy to get to Expo from Victoria on the Saturday afternoon and on race day morning its only a couple of stops on the tube to Charing X where you get the train to Greenwich Park. After the race you can easily get back to Victoria from the finish - a few tube stops. You can leave luggage at the hotel (possibly) or left luggage office at the station.
Or stay near Charing X. Even easier to get to Expo on Saturday (Jubilee line then DRL). Trains to the start of race leave from Charing X. Its also probably the nearest tube station to the finish line. Very short walk to Embankment tube station from Charing X will get you on Circle/District line to Victoria Station (a couple of stops) to get train to Gatwick. Luggage can be left at Charing X station.
However, hotels in central London are very expensive and not always that great. Travel Lodge are good if you just want a place to sleep. Hard to advise further without knowing your budget! Or whether you will travelling with other people who can look after bags etc for you.
You don't want to be doing too much walking/carrying after the race - I could hardly move, just seized up, so unless you are a seasoned and experienced long distance runner, beware!
Hey all, nice to see chatting stil going on here as well as FB
We should all be able to find each other at least!! 
Good to hear you did the half MM and enjoyed it, sounds like it's going good for you too FF & Squeakz.
Squeakz we should sort a Virginia Waters run at some stage, be lovely to get over there and see the sights. Saying that though I'm offf to the docs finally tonight to see what I've done to my knee in the VLM. Ran a half yesterday and it wasn't best pleased with me but I cracked on. Now it's nice and fat again to show the doc