Still waiting to hear if I have got through the ballot like everyone else.
I have done 3 marathons now: 5hrs 11, 5hrs 40 and 5hrs 28. So I don't feel as though I need to follow a beginners program.
Am recovering from latest marathon at Loch Ness in 5hrs 28min, have a hamstring tear in July which cut training time a bit and so I decided to aim for sub 5.30.
Am aiming to build up a base for the next 3 months and then do a bit of faster work. I also plan to do a few longer and shorter races.
Today went out with a beginner so did 30 mins, I call this an easy recovery day. Aiming to do 45-60 per day 5 days a week, and one longer run of 2 hours plus once a week when not racing. And build up from there.
Anyone else aiming for sub 5 hours?
Next race Amsterdam Half marathon on Sunday, aiming for around 2.15-2.20.
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but my training programme is a little different to yours
Good luck for Sunday.
5.41(FLM)
5.43(Potts)
6.04(Wolves)
5.16(Cardiff)
I think i could---------
FLM 2000 - 6:30ish (pre chips)
LNM 2002 - 6:04
LNM 2003 - 5:50
LNM 2004 - 6:02
BUT, I've not really stuck to a training plan for any of them, so.....................
Nessie I am not good at sticking to training plans thats why I thought I would post here and ask for comments and suggestions.
I am feeling fairly fit and nearly recovered from Loch Ness I think easy recovery runs do help and I plan to do them after all my long runs in the build up to London or Spring Marathon.
After Amsterdam the aim is to build up to a regular 40 mile week and hold this for a month or so before building up to a 50 mile week through longer long runs.
I did 70 mins yesterday with lots of walking to keep my HR < 140 and felt no ill effects at all, so I think this is feasible.
I'll do this to the end of the year, then I'm thinking about Hal Higdon's Intermediate 1 schedule (although that book you bought sounds tempting Pix)
and racing lots-whoops!
adding in one to two work sessions a week, one if its a race week
40-50 mile weeks sounds good, though I expect ill be doing the odd double day
;o)
no rest days
(but i dont half fancy one today)
1 Your best half marathon time this year
2 How long you've been running
3 Your splits in a marathon, first half and second half.
4 When do find it hard in a marathon, what do you feel is your weakest part of the race and why (if you know, which I expect you do).
I started running in 1999 and ran for about a year, took a break for 6 months and then started again so running continously for 3 years.
My splits for Loch Ness, halfway 2.39 and finished in 5.28.
For Lochaber halfway 2.25 and finished in 5.40. Wasn't use to running in the afternoon, and didn't feel right on the day.
For Abingdon 2003, 2.27 half way (I think) and finished in 5.11. My best marathon time.
I find it hard to concentrate on the correct pace throughout a marathon, it is a long way. I think if I start to fall behind too much I lose the drive to work hard at the pace and maybe give up? I find the hardest part of the marathon around 15/16 miles and once I pass 22/23 miles I tend to pick up again. It is the middle parts of most of my races that I do find the hardest. Haven't done emough marathons to know why?
I actually find training for the marathon the hardest part, if you don't get this right the marathon itself isn't going to go correctly.
When I started churning out the marathons my times slowed and I went 5 years before I broke the 5 hour barrier again. I ran the IOM in 5.06 in 2002, I knew then that if I could just push myself again I could break the 5 hr barrier again. I went home and prepared a pace chart on a spreadsheet for a sub 5, carried it in my sweaty hand for my next 9 road marathons and broke 5 hours on all of them. I put that down to mental concentration not an improvement in fitness. So much of marathon running is mental strength. I also find I can't make decisions when running a marathon so I decide beforehand what I'm going to do (and it must be realistic)and then give it my best shot. Of course there will always be off days.
Sorry, got to go and back up the computer, night not be on line again until tomorrow
Thanks.
I know everyone recommends even pacing or negative splits but the majority of runners aren't able to do that. My pace charts allow for slowing in the 2nd half with a couple of miles at a really slow pace like a sort of reward! Still possible to do a PB even with a slower 2nd half.
What do you take on board in the way of fuel?