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Loch Ness Marathon 2012
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<a href="http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/localiser/member.asp?sp=&v=1&MemNo=363562" title="Visit tricialitt member profile">tricialitt</a> my MAX HR is 195 i roughly worked that out to 195/100 = 1.95x80 =156bpm and so creeps up a bit with the hills im hitting
im not worrying about pace at all just out with the heart rate monitor and try keep it to a max of 160bpm EVENTUALLY managed to get a pair of new running trainers from 'Run and Become' in Edinburgh size 14.5's are pretty hard to find!
going to have to look into hotels now though as the sounds of things i might be struggling if i leave it any later!
Stephen - Thanks for the info. I think my 'cheerleaders' will be more than happy to stay in Inverness whilst they sample the local brew!!
Really looking forward to this - have done London twice and Liverpool once so it will be nice to do a countryside marathon. Doimg lots of hilltraining at the moment as part of my prep for the training plan I will start in June.
Chester HM on 13th May then a couple of weeks rest (incl a holiday by the pool somewhere warm) then start the training in earnest. Everything I have heard about the run is very positive so it will have a lot to live up to!!
Happy training
Hi All,
After a disasterous VLM this year, I have decided to go back to where my marathon running started four years ago, i.e. Loch Ness for my 11th marathon. Already looking forward to the 'slope' at 18 miles. I had had been warned about it by my brother, who ran the year before, so it came as no suprise.
Just need to get rid of my hamstring injury in the next few weeks so I can get back in to training to receive my jar of beetroot or pickled onions or what ever else Baxters hand out in the goody bag
LD
Yes- no pickled onions last year in the bag
. Pity- I do like them, but far too heavy to carry about at the end of a marathon!
Hey folks i'm taking a drive up to see the route tomorrow (also going to walk my vizsla along a bit of it too)
where about is the actual start?
gotta do my run early morning aswell so i can go up so looking forward to it
Never heard of a 'vizsla' sounds interesting though.
Too far for me to try out the route. I have got a 728 mile round trip to look forward to in September!! Fortunately I have 3 cheerleaders coming with me.
Hotel booked and entry in - not had email confirmation though - money gone out of the bank so should be fine. I have emailed to ask but no answer as yet.
Happt training everybody
JO5
he's a beauty! thats alot longer than me although going to take me about 4 hours to drive up tomorrow! 180miles to the start line
going to be a long day!!!!!
SNB That's a fair old drive for a training run!!
Never been to Loch Ness before so really looking forward to it. You will have to give to let us have a full review!! Happy training!!
Its slight downhill for first 2 miles(undulatly small amounts)
A rise at 2-2.2miles (little climb)
2.2-3ish kinda downhill
Down hill until about 3.4 then STEEP uphill for 0.1
3.5-4 is downhill
Then 4 - 4.5 is VERY STEEP still climb to about 5 but much more gradual
STEEP downhill from 5-5.2 before STEEP 0.2 up into Foyers
STEEP downhill until 6.1 then little climb to 6.5miles
Levelish from 6.5-7 then climb for 0.2
Levelish till 8.2 then downhill for 0.5 then undulating until 9.8
Uphill for 0.1 then undulating until 11.4 miles then graduall uphill untill 12.5
From 12.5 to HALFWAY POINT it undulates
13.1 to 14 reasonable gradiant then 14-15 is downhill ish
15 until 17 is undulating
Start slow climb from 17 little rest at 18 then BIG HILL at 18. 3 till 18.6 slows but still climbs until around 19.2
Then pretty much downhill to 20.9
Pretty steep to 21.5 then downhill undulating to 22.8
Then reasonably flat to finish line
I think this is kinda right ... I hope
Was a good day out anyway so was worth it - I can't wait till september now!
SNB - Sounds like a challenging course. 18-19 mile should be interesting!! I will definitely have to have the energy drink at the ready - no wonder there's a drink/energy station at 17.6 miles.
Last bit sounds good. I believe the last 2/3 miles will have plenty of people cheering us on - after the hill at 18/19 mile we will all probably need it.
Chester HM for me next weekend - so lots of rest this week for me with just a couple of easy runs. Off to Italy after that for a sit by the pool and then back to start the LNM training. Still looking for a 20 mile race in july/august - not found one yet though.
I'm in too. Was signed up in December but was concentrating on Monday's Belfast Marathon up until now.
Did my 1st Loch Ness last year and it's a really great race with World class scenery and a brilliant atmosphere.
The hill section is do-able but still pretty tough and comes at a very tricky point in the race. I remember managing to get up the hill (which seemed never ending) but subsequebtly feeling utterly drained for the last 5 or 6 miles after it. I get home in 4:15 (a PB at the time) but it was hard going!
This time round a sub 4hr run is the target, and I've learned a few lessons from the last few marathons I've trained for so fingers crossed for an injury free 20-odd weeks leading up to the race.
Kenny the course profile looks quite good mainly downhill, but I've heard it's not easy, if you've run it before can you shed any light on it?
Yes I've heard it's a MONSTER.
Yes EG, the opening 7 or 8 miles are pretty easy going.
They undulate a little but have a big overall drop in elevation including some downhill sections that are steep enough that you have no choice but to run down them pretty fast.
After that there's one fairly sharp climb worth looking out for at 8 miles - I remember this being shorter but steeper than the more talked about later climb. It doesn't look like much on the profile but there were a lot of walkers on it as I recall and my slowest mile of the entire race was at this point.
After about 10 miles the course flattens out a lot more as it moves along the Loch-side, and while having a few mild undulations it shouldn't cause many problems.
The hill at 18-20 miles is the big challenge. It's not that steep really but it just keeps going for a very long time, and psychologically it can be tough if you undersetimated it. It also has a few "false summits" where you think "I must be the top by now!" only for it to continue round another bend in the road. Don't let this put you off though - it's hard but it isn't Ben Nevis.
After that, the worst of it is behind you and it's a predominantly flat road back into Inverness.
Hi guys, quite tempted by this marathon. Im a bit unsure as to how hilly its going to be - ill have to do some reserach. The thing thats slightly off putting is the fact that theres a bus at 7.45 but the race doesnt start until 10. Its a shame you cant drive to the start. What time will this mean I have to have breakfast. Lots of things to think about. Swansea to loch ness what a journey
Il have to keep my eyes peeled for nessie
Hi Triggerfish I'm in for this and was concerned at the hilly reputation, then I saw the profile and it looks downhill, but Kenny (up above) tells me there is a serious hill at 18 miles, not spotted the bus business, will need to check that out
Hi EG, your name looks familiar, did you do the llanelli marathon last year or saxon shore? Im going to have a think about the bus thing.
Dont be put off by he bus journey. It takes a bit of time as there is a procession of them escorted to the start and there are toilets/tea/coffee there for the wee while that you wait. Depending on weather its really not bad.
I have done this run three times and the last time (2010) remains my fastest. I am returning this year and it is extremely well organised and overall a superb experience.
As has been said throughout this post, from 18m onwards it is very challenging but train for the hills and you will be fine.
Really looking forward to this.I have built a big hill into all my long runs at 17 miles. Hopefully that will help.
Bus is a good idea for the start - at least you know you will be there in plenty of time - I believe everything is laid on so the wait shouldn't feel too bad.
Had a quiet week on the training - Chester HM on Sunday - hoping for 1.45 weather permitting. That would be a veteran PB for me - 1.47 is my VPB at the moment - already done a 1.48 this year and I am in much better shape now thaan I was in February when I did that.
Still not had email confirmation about my entry - payment on bank statement though. Anybody else had their email confirmation?
Hi Triggerfish, yes I did do the Welsh Marathon at Llanelli, enjoyed it too, I went back for the Born to Run Ultra in March just gone, it's a nice place to run. Also Bus don't seem too bad now I've worked it out, I'm going to go up enjoy and take a couple of days up there, I've got the Loch Ness, then Chester, and possibly Liverpool on three consecutive Sundays this year
Am planning to run this in 2014 - so giving myself a bit of time !!
Have done a dozen Londons but this seems much hillier. So to give me some idea can people post their best London time (and year) and best Loch Ness time (and year) so I can compare. To give you some idea I am only doing 3 mi;les a day at moment. So a long way to go !!
Hope I've not put you off in any way.
The challenge of the hill is more to do with it's length than it's steepness, but it's most certianly do-able, and I say that as someone who's not the fittest by any means.
Certainly not Kenny, I'm an optimist it's all downhill for me
I cna't compare with London- as I've never done it, but I need to add 10 minutes to my "flat" (lochaber) time to get my Loch Ness time- and I'm crap at hills, so thoers may fare better.
Don't worry about the buses- timing is good- finish breakfast, get on bus, (get one with a LOO!) and by the time you're ready to start the race, breakfast is well settled in stomach. No bother ( except the year when there were problems with buses , and startwas delyed, so much hanging around).
Best of all- free coffee being given out whilst waiting to start!- magic!!
Good idea to put a hill into LSR's , just to get use to the idea, honestly- it's better to run/walk it on race day, (if you're in slow territory, like me- 4:15-20 'ish, ) rather than try to run all the way up it, then suffer for the next few miles ( been there. done that!)
The busses were OK but did seem to take an absolute eternity to get to the start line (think it took the best part of an hour and a half) but at least it gives you time to have something to eat on the way.
The particular bus I was on must have been the oldest and most decrepit of the lot and on the big hill out of Inverness it was struggling to keep going.
I can only echo the sentiment about getting one with a toilet on board, we had 2 or 3 unscheduled stops along the way.
yay, I found some other people doing the loch ness mara. It will be my first one and am v nervous. Been running for the last year after 6 years off having the children. Currently up to 12 miles on my long run and seem fine with those at a current 9 mm pace. The 10ks at tempo pace are proving harder. I do prefer the longer distances.
My big question is that at this stage should I be working on getting my speed up or increasing the miles?
MORE SNAIL THAN HARE - I would concentrate on the miles - thers a big difference between 26 and 12 miles. The speed will come naturally as you get used to the long distances, getting used to running for hours on end is very difficult in my experience. I am up to 16 miles already but it is tough as I am running too fast - trying my best to slow down a bit but I just get carried away. I am finishing the long run and am completely knackered!! So I definitely need to work out how to slow down a bit so that I can run further. Plenty of time yet - still 17 weeks to go.
Still not had comfirmation of my entry - I will have to email them - again!!
Yes- I can echo john's advice- SLOW down, get used to running for 2, 3, or more hours- (probably counter-productive to run for longer than 3.5 hours, though), to manage this, you need to go really slowly. Do a tiny amount of tempo running ( 10k pace -ish), and little/ no speed training until much nearer race day- a few warm up races over the summer will get your speed up, the main thing is to get the endurance side going. There is an argumnent that at this stage we should all be base building- ie running at 70% max HR or lower, all the time, and only bring in faster running much closer to the race.
tricialitt - thats the part I find the hardest - running slowly!! Getting there this time but still need to slow down. Longest run so fr is 2hr 15 to do 16 miles - need to slow that down as I will never get all the way round at that pace. If Ican slow it down to 9.30 per mile I m sure that will stand me in good stead.
Finally got me email confirmation today - I had given them an incorrect one - felt like a right idiot!! Any way 16 mile again for me this weekend - just slowly does it!!
Doing the Polaroid 10k series starting with the 10k at Helensburgh this evening - thought doing a few shorter races at this stage would help me get my speed up a little over the next few months.