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VLM 2016 - First timers?
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Blithe, my pacing has been getting a little quicker too don't worry about it.
14 miles tomorrow, should have been today but I'm a day out with my training this week for no particular reason other than I overslept on Thursday so did my run yesterday instead.
Hey (anxious wave), have stalked for a while, and now need to get more involved!! This will be my first (and only marathon!!) I'm not really a natural runner, but I entered the ballot first time and was lucky enough to get a place and thought, what the hell, I need to go for this, however 2 weeks out and I'm not sure I can really do this- is anyone else suffering this fear?. I've followed a fairly long plan, since I got my place, and I did my 20 mile run around 5 weeks ago, it was hard but I managed it ok, and felt confident, since then I've had several pretty disastrous attempts at the same distance- one where I virtually just gave up after 14miles, not because my body wasn't in it, but my mind really. A race half last week, which was much harder than I expected, some due to unexpected hills and sunny weather, and then today I barely managed 5 miles, before feeling tired and worn down by the whole experience really. Again, legs could have probably carried on, but mind just shut down, and I limped round another 3 something miles. In contrast I did 4 miles in the week, and enjoyed every minute in the pouring rain!!
I'm not totally bothered by time, although I feel that I should be able to get in by 5.5hrs, but I'm concerned that mentally I'm not quite tough enough! Is anyone else feeling like this, or any seasoned peeps out there that can out my mind at rest, that I will make it! I've raised a bit of money for charity and I don't want to let people down!
Welcome WAID, don't worry we're all carrying the same fears about being good enough, can we do it etc etc. You've done the training now is the time for rest so you can tackle the 24th with fresh legs. As Midlands Lass says, training is supposed to be hard so please don't worry.
Welcome to the taper madhouse!!!
Spot on Kieran! My family were laughing at me when I said that it took me 3 miles to get warmed up so a 5 k race wasn't worth it. This from the woman who, as my brother says, was breathless just walking to the fridge!
http://youtu.be/WmabgZ_0SbU
Done it, yes am mad - 584 miles this year with a target of 600 originally.- might push it to 630 to make the equivalent of 24 marathons. Also it will be over a million metres.
10 miles in 96 minutes in the morning and just over 20 in the afternoon in 4:46 but I was helping a first timer with that ITB thingy - never heard of it before I joined this thread - honest.
The Big Mac meal was sooo tasty.
Welcome WAID, hi Jackygirl
The pacers are expected to do the same pace per mile throughout - me, I am asked to do 11 minutes and 27 seconds a mile from the start - I suspect that the first mile may be a bit congested and the Green lot join just before the 1 mile marker from the left - I shall therefore stay to the right hand side of the road until just before the left hand bend as we turn towards the Woolwich Barracks.
During my run today from just before Cutty Sark I noticed there were quite a few bits of construcion going on until just after the 9 mile marker. This means that the roads may well be narrower at certain points or have restricted crowds. Just thought I should flag this up. Am sure the roadworks would have been cleared up in the next 300 hours though.
If you note the time of this posting I clearly need to go to sleep now.
Have a good run on Sunday.
It's really funny to see all of us trying to reassure others, when we are probably struggling to reassure ourselves! Yes we can!
Kieran, loved the timelapse. Terrified by it too, of course.
WAID, fantastic username! The mental battle can be the toughest part of training, especially when you're out pounding the pavements on your own. Some mental techniques can help (I like positive self-talk when I'm feeling a bit worn down - just repeating 'I am a marathoner' or 'I can'). Hopefully on the day, the sense of event and the crowds will make a big difference to those kind of problems.
Harmander, mad indeed, but inspirational too
I did a 9 mile 'long run' today. I can do that three times in a row in two weeks' time, right?
Love that video Kieran but yes - blimey its a long way. You still up for a long walk with tea and biccies??!!
I am putting off my 'long run' today as head not in the right place at the moment. Knee not sore at the mo but I am worried it will be if I run and that this will worry me. I truly do have taper madness. I need to chill the heck out.
I can't do anything for a couple of hours as I have just eaten so instead I am going to go and make 2 chocolate cakes for a charity bake sale at work on Tuesday to raise money for my cause. I am lucky that lots of colleagues are going to pitch in and my wonderful secretary is in charge of collecting donations in a hastily converted plastic tub.
Yes, Midlands Lass - you bring the cake, I'll bring a rucksack full of tea.
Did 10 miles today. Really easy and no issues with the knee.
Thing is, it was on a bike. Do you think they'll let me go round on a bike?
Was feeling pretty confident having accepted my injury/lack of training issues and regularly reading this thread. However, my friend (who is fitter than me) completed his first marathon today in Manchester and hit the wall at 20. Cramps, walking etc. Ended up around 30 mins slower 2nd half. Starting to worry more now, may rethink my pacing in an ATTEMPT to avoid the dreaded wall 5/6 miles out.
Did your friend eat enough sugar DB7X?
I think getting carried away must be so common. The effect of fresh legs might make you feel amazing for the first 10 miles, but won't see you to the end. I had to really force myself not to go too fast today, since I felt able but know it's not a good idea at this stage.
I'm going to try hard not to go faster than 10 minute miles, except for the last few miles in the very slim chance that I can.
Midlands Lass - glad you got your 10 miles done and less pain, sounds like good news
Might have been better off just faceplanting the gravel path at least I wouldn't have knackered my leg!!
Oh no Jacky - sounds like a hamstring (it's what I did playing hockey last year !). Just keep icing and stretching it - I ran a half marathon 2 weeks after tearing mine (not advisable, but I did it anyway), so I'm sure you'll be fine.
From what I've read and heard, the wall is just a lack of energy for the muscles (and the brain), so yes - don't go out too fast and keep on those gels/lucozade after the first hour...
...or walking along drinking tea and eating battenburg with us at the back will probably help too.
Given that I'm not expecting to finish until well after tea time, I think Midlands Lass' cake is all that will keep me going
Great to see moral support all round.
Only managed to make a start on the garden - no running today.
Those in Pen 9 at he Re Start are going to be the Great and the Good - because at every mile marker I am going to shout out 'Hows the pace?' and hope to hear a collective 'GREAT', then like Joey from Friends will shout out 'How you doing?' and hope to hear 'GOOD'.
What do you think runners?
Disclaimer: I may or may not have watched far too much Friends during my university days...
If I can catch my breath lol
Harmander don't worry about catching your breath, I'm fairly convinced that as the appointed forum Superman that you will finish the marathon with enough energy to spare that you will promptly jog to Edinburgh at a modest pace to rescue a cat in a tree followed by a quick Big Mac and fries.
Sorry to hear about the leg Jackygirl. Ice is good. Try ibuprofen too as it will get rid of any acute inflammation. Two weeks is plenty of time. I pulled a calf muscle last year and it took about a week to heal.
Thank you ladies.
I will do my best to see everyone through to the finish line.
Yes, you all deserve the rest periods during tapering - to heal the injuries and reward yourself too.
Please come and say hello at the RW stand 212 at the Expo, I have offered to be there on Thursday and Friday afternoons between 2:00 and 5:00 pm but happy to wait a bit longer if you are coming after work.