I do when I can although with teenagers I often end up spending the weekends as an unpaid taxi service so I just squeeze in a run around family stuff. Do you run in MK?
Hi Vanessa, I've a friend who walked to base camp, she lost a stone in weight and hearing her stories it wasn't the easy option at all. I would love to do it but I don't think I could handle the temperature!
On our way back from Base Camp to Lukla we were overtaken by the Everest Ultra runners - the winner ran in 5 hours 7 minutes what took us 2 1/2 days to walk .
Glasgow to Edinburgh Double- along the forth and clyde canal- it's a new distance for me- my longest so far has been 40 miles ( well, 41.5, 'cos I got lost). It clashes with the Lochaber marathon, which I usually do in spring, but hey, you have to try these things, don't you!
Good luck to all that enter, I may throw my hat in the ring next year as I wouldn't be ready for a spring marathon, an autumn one might be plausible if I can get a strong enough base in place before June.
As you can see from my PO10 profile I haven’t run a Marathon yet, but I have been involved in club running for a bit over two and a half years now. So I am coming at this as a Marathon novice. I do have some ideas about how I want to approach training. In fact the geek in me has already written a schedule, to me this is the beauty of this particular process, it’s about working with a mentor to bounce ideas off, but the approach is still my own. What I hope to get from the process is to create some decent training chat, especially aimed at the first time Marathoner who is reasonably ambitious. I am sure there will be mistakes a plenty and it’s these mistakes (as well as a few triumphs I hope) that will make a thread tick and provide the talking points. I lurked on Martin and Gobi’s thread a couple of years ago found that particularly useful, I want to be part of a thread as successful as that was. Those that know me from my regular thread haunts (waves at Minni) will know I am no-nonsense kind of guy; I will post up the good with the bad and don’t mind some decent banter as we go along.
A bit of background: Sporty as a kid, hit my 20s got drunk, smoked and eventually got fat. As a new year’s resolution in 2010 I decided to lose some weight, so started dieting, running with folks at work over lunchtime and bike rides on a weekend. This worked pretty well and I shed a couple of stones fairly quickly. In April 2010 I was persuaded to run a local league race for my work running club. Well what do you know, I enjoyed it. So a month later I did another then another and thought to myself “if I’m going do this properly I need learn how to train properly” so I ended up posting on Runners World and joined my local running club. In August 2010 I ran my first proper race, the Ray Harrison Memorial 10k in Billingham, I ran it in 43:11 and I was hooked. Check out my PO10 to see how I have come on since then.
Other stuff: I am 34, I am married with a little boy who is 20 months old! Mrs YD isn’t a runner but is pretty supportive, though I do have to negotiate to get races in. As long as I do things like run on a morning before work, or at lunchtime to minimise impact on family she doesn’t complain too much. So I think part of the challenge for me will be time management as I look to increase the training load. Nothing unusual or special in that, but particularly relevant to plenty on these boards I would have thought.
If it helps me get a spot I can post up fat pictures from pre 2010
Hello YD! Great pitch and yes I can confirm you are a no-nonsense kind of guy who readily shares the highs and lows (not too many of those though) of your training. I didn't know all your history and that makes your times even more impressive. All good stuff. One thing though - I'm sure you've told a lie in there. There's no way you are 34 ! When I was chatting to you a couple of weeks ago I was thinking, 'I'm old enough to be this boy's mother'!!
Just a quick plug for those who are at the slower end of the scale. If its your first marathon, or you are struggling to break 5 hours this is still for you. Keep those pitches coming - its going to be a good 6 this year again.
Vanessa - usually when I am at Willen I am RD for parkrun . I mostly run to the west of MK in the country but sometimes venture in. Did MK Mara last year - splish, splash, splosh!
I’ve been a regular forumite for a few years now and finally stepped up to marathons this year using the Shades plan. Previously – the most I ever ran was half marathons and I thought that I had found my distance. I was wrong. Ive followed the various Forum 6 threads for the past year and avidly last year as we were ‘in the same’ boat. I did my first marathon (VLM) in 5.30. I had stomach issues from Mile 17-22 and felt like crap when I ended…. But somehow entered another marathon… and another…. And another.
I’m not due for just one marathon next year (which may put me out of the running) but 13 so far. I have been known to enter marathons online whilst drunk and am known to run them with friends 'just for the fun of it'.
I’m looking for a voice of reason and support from someone who deals with the distance on a regular basis and everything that goes along with it (taper, rest, training). I’ve targeted some of them as my “A” Race and others as just enjoyable long runs with friends. I need structure and a detailed plan to follow as this works best for me.
RE: Speed: I ran Amsterdam in 4.55 and felt strong and good throughout so I know that I have room to improve and push forward. I’m hoping to get 4.30 in Paris and then see how I can improve after that but I’m looking for someone who knows what they’re talking about and not just my ‘try it and see’ method.
I always try my best and if I say that I’m going to do it – I’ll do this (this also comes across as stubbornness I’ve been told). I work stupid hours at work so most of my runs are done at SOC (stupid o’clock) and in various locations wherever I’m travelling that week.
PBs:
- 10km: 1.02 (June 2012)
- Half marathon: 2.10 (Oct 2012)
- Marathon: 4.55.53 (Oct 2012)
I’m not the fastest speed demon out there but I’ve always got a smile on my face and always looking to help out others at the ‘back of the pack’.
Based on the thread from last year – I cant offer anything cute…I’m allergic to anything with fur - but I love dogs and will regularly run with dogs from the local shelter if I can.
I'm a pretty useless self-publicist, so I didn't even bother entering the Asics contest (I was shunned last year anyway). The begging process is awful IMHO. However, I could certainly do with some help. So hope I'm not too late for a fairly short pitch.
I'm male, 51 years old, married with two children (6 and 4) and a pekingese dog (7). I'm self-employed, although this is increasingly more like self-unemployed, so I have reasonable flexibility with my training schedule for the foreseeable future. I'm studying for a degree part-time with the OU. I started running to fill a void when I stopped drinking alcohol, shortly after my son was born. One of the best decisions I've ever made. I'm determined to be a positive role-model for my kids, and to be able to keep up with them as they get even more active!
I have confirmed places in the 2013 Brighton and London Marathons. All being well, I plan to run Brighton and then defer London to 2014 (they made me wait five years for acceptance, so one more won't hurt). I ran the Shakespeare marathon in 2009 in 4:38 and Milton Keynes in 2012 in (cough) 4:38. It's fair to say, my Asics category would have been “on a plateau”!
This might make my running appear unambitious, but this isn't the truth of it. I really would like to achieve a GFA time in the long term. Stop giggling at the back! This summer I brought my 10k race time down from 54:51 to 49:55, and broke the two-hour barrier for the half-marathon (01:54:58). I have a thread I started earlier this year which gives more background on my idea for a five year plan. I'm a regular poster of high quality posts and insights and have never harmed small animals (at least, not intentionally).
I am training to achieve a sub-4:00 marathon in the Spring, though I realise that I likely have an outside chance of achieving it. Regardless, I want to knock a serious lump off my previous marathon times. If I run 4:38 again, I will actually cry. Fact.
I'm starting my “official” marathon preparation from today, and today is a rest day I'm loosely following the P&D up to 55 mile schedule to start with to see how things go on. I feel that the longer runs and tempo work might suit me better than shorter interval workouts that I have used while following other programs, though I reserve the right to change my mind. I could do with some help on adapting the schedules when necessary, otherwise I tend to make things up as I go along. It's fair to say I could also do with additional “encouragement” to pay more attention to core work and nutrition. “More” meaning more than none.
I'm waffling now.... so to summarise.... I want your help, please.
Comments
Hi Bridget, Yes I live right by Willen Lake in MK so I'm very luckky to have fab running routes on my doorstep.
Do you parkrun then?
I do when I can although with teenagers I often end up spending the weekends as an unpaid taxi service so I just squeeze in a run around family stuff. Do you run in MK?
I now wish I was running a spring mara- but actually I've entered a double mara in april instead- I presume that excludes me?
Some great pitches already!
what double marathon is that tric
Some great pitches to to read.
I have a friend who held the record for running to base camp for many years until it was recently broken by Lizzie Hawker.
On our way back from Base Camp to Lukla we were overtaken by the Everest Ultra runners - the winner ran in 5 hours 7 minutes what took us 2 1/2 days to walk .
They must train heavily at altitude.
Glasgow to Edinburgh Double- along the forth and clyde canal- it's a new distance for me- my longest so far has been 40 miles ( well, 41.5, 'cos I got lost). It clashes with the Lochaber marathon, which I usually do in spring, but hey, you have to try these things, don't you!
Goodness, any more pitches and i'll have to find some more mentors!!
Keep pitching folks
Good luck to all that enter, I may throw my hat in the ring next year as I wouldn't be ready for a spring marathon, an autumn one might be plausible if I can get a strong enough base in place before June.
Thought I had better pitch seeing as I am running my first Marathon in April
Marathon Entered: Manchester Marathon in April (proof of entry can be provided)
Target: sub 2:55 maybe even sub 2:50 we shall see……
My power of 10 profile - http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=273014
As you can see from my PO10 profile I haven’t run a Marathon yet, but I have been involved in club running for a bit over two and a half years now. So I am coming at this as a Marathon novice. I do have some ideas about how I want to approach training. In fact the geek in me has already written a schedule, to me this is the beauty of this particular process, it’s about working with a mentor to bounce ideas off, but the approach is still my own. What I hope to get from the process is to create some decent training chat, especially aimed at the first time Marathoner who is reasonably ambitious. I am sure there will be mistakes a plenty and it’s these mistakes (as well as a few triumphs I hope) that will make a thread tick and provide the talking points.
I lurked on Martin and Gobi’s thread a couple of years ago found that particularly useful, I want to be part of a thread as successful as that was.
Those that know me from my regular thread haunts (waves at Minni) will know I am no-nonsense kind of guy; I will post up the good with the bad and don’t mind some decent banter as we go along.
A bit of background:
Sporty as a kid, hit my 20s got drunk, smoked and eventually got fat. As a new year’s resolution in 2010 I decided to lose some weight, so started dieting, running with folks at work over lunchtime and bike rides on a weekend. This worked pretty well and I shed a couple of stones fairly quickly. In April 2010 I was persuaded to run a local league race for my work running club. Well what do you know, I enjoyed it. So a month later I did another then another and thought to myself “if I’m going do this properly I need learn how to train properly” so I ended up posting on Runners World and joined my local running club. In August 2010 I ran my first proper race, the Ray Harrison Memorial 10k in Billingham, I ran it in 43:11 and I was hooked. Check out my PO10 to see how I have come on since then.
Other stuff:
I am 34, I am married with a little boy who is 20 months old! Mrs YD isn’t a runner but is pretty supportive, though I do have to negotiate to get races in. As long as I do things like run on a morning before work, or at lunchtime to minimise impact on family she doesn’t complain too much. So I think part of the challenge for me will be time management as I look to increase the training load. Nothing unusual or special in that, but particularly relevant to plenty on these boards I would have thought.
If it helps me get a spot I can post up fat pictures from pre 2010
Great pitch and some very impressive times there YD
Hello YD! Great pitch and yes I can confirm you are a no-nonsense kind of guy who readily shares the highs and lows (not too many of those though) of your training. I didn't know all your history and that makes your times even more impressive. All good stuff. One thing though - I'm sure you've told a lie in there. There's no way you are 34 ! When I was chatting to you a couple of weeks ago I was thinking, 'I'm old enough to be this boy's mother'!!
wishing all well
Just a quick plug for those who are at the slower end of the scale. If its your first marathon, or you are struggling to break 5 hours this is still for you. Keep those pitches coming - its going to be a good 6 this year again.
his Sis
I wasn't going to, but I've changed my mind. I'll post a pitch later today if I'm not too late.
Bloody hell - a lot of familiar faces on here
I’ve been a regular forumite for a few years now and finally stepped up to marathons this year using the Shades plan. Previously – the most I ever ran was half marathons and I thought that I had found my distance. I was wrong. Ive followed the various Forum 6 threads for the past year and avidly last year as we were ‘in the same’ boat. I did my first marathon (VLM) in 5.30. I had stomach issues from Mile 17-22 and felt like crap when I ended…. But somehow entered another marathon… and another…. And another.
I’m not due for just one marathon next year (which may put me out of the running) but 13 so far. I have been known to enter marathons online whilst drunk and am known to run them with friends 'just for the fun of it'.
I’m looking for a voice of reason and support from someone who deals with the distance on a regular basis and everything that goes along with it (taper, rest, training). I’ve targeted some of them as my “A” Race and others as just enjoyable long runs with friends. I need structure and a detailed plan to follow as this works best for me.
RE: Speed: I ran Amsterdam in 4.55 and felt strong and good throughout so I know that I have room to improve and push forward. I’m hoping to get 4.30 in Paris and then see how I can improve after that but I’m looking for someone who knows what they’re talking about and not just my ‘try it and see’ method.
I always try my best and if I say that I’m going to do it – I’ll do this (this also comes across as stubbornness I’ve been told). I work stupid hours at work so most of my runs are done at SOC (stupid o’clock) and in various locations wherever I’m travelling that week.
PBs:
- 10km: 1.02 (June 2012)
- Half marathon: 2.10 (Oct 2012)
- Marathon: 4.55.53 (Oct 2012)
I’m not the fastest speed demon out there but I’ve always got a smile on my face and always looking to help out others at the ‘back of the pack’.
Based on the thread from last year – I cant offer anything cute…I’m allergic to anything with fur - but I love dogs and will regularly run with dogs from the local shelter if I can.
Hi Emmy
Hiya Micknphil - how are things going? :0)
I'm a pretty useless self-publicist, so I didn't even bother entering the Asics contest (I was shunned last year anyway). The begging process is awful IMHO. However, I could certainly do with some help. So hope I'm not too late for a fairly short pitch.
I'm male, 51 years old, married with two children (6 and 4) and a pekingese dog (7). I'm self-employed, although this is increasingly more like self-unemployed, so I have reasonable flexibility with my training schedule for the foreseeable future. I'm studying for a degree part-time with the OU. I started running to fill a void when I stopped drinking alcohol, shortly after my son was born. One of the best decisions I've ever made. I'm determined to be a positive role-model for my kids, and to be able to keep up with them as they get even more active!
I have confirmed places in the 2013 Brighton and London Marathons. All being well, I plan to run Brighton and then defer London to 2014 (they made me wait five years for acceptance, so one more won't hurt). I ran the Shakespeare marathon in 2009 in 4:38 and Milton Keynes in 2012 in (cough) 4:38. It's fair to say, my Asics category would have been “on a plateau”!
This might make my running appear unambitious, but this isn't the truth of it. I really would like to achieve a GFA time in the long term. Stop giggling at the back! This summer I brought my 10k race time down from 54:51 to 49:55, and broke the two-hour barrier for the half-marathon (01:54:58). I have a thread I started earlier this year which gives more background on my idea for a five year plan. I'm a regular poster of high quality posts and insights and have never harmed small animals (at least, not intentionally).
I am training to achieve a sub-4:00 marathon in the Spring, though I realise that I likely have an outside chance of achieving it. Regardless, I want to knock a serious lump off my previous marathon times. If I run 4:38 again, I will actually cry. Fact.
I'm starting my “official” marathon preparation from today, and today is a rest day I'm loosely following the P&D up to 55 mile schedule to start with to see how things go on. I feel that the longer runs and tempo work might suit me better than shorter interval workouts that I have used while following other programs, though I reserve the right to change my mind. I could do with some help on adapting the schedules when necessary, otherwise I tend to make things up as I go along. It's fair to say I could also do with additional “encouragement” to pay more attention to core work and nutrition. “More” meaning more than none.
I'm waffling now.... so to summarise.... I want your help, please.