Oh dear! So here's my sorry tail of woe! I have managed to run a sub 4 hour marathon twice in my life - a couple of years ago. Now I am 50, I decided to train hard again in an attempt to hit sub 4 - this time with a view to getting a GFA for London 2019. Training for this time is not easy for me and has meant running alone (club runs regroup a lot) in order to hit time targets in training. Everything was going well, and I had entered Manchester marathon as my qualifying race, hoping as it's flat I would have a chance. However, at mile 15 I started cramping in my calfs despite early ontake of electrolyte tabs and regular water sips. I still managed to keep going, but it was getting tight for time. I finished the race with a chip time of 4 hours and 20 seconds and was absolutely distraught. It meant so much to me and I had worked so hard for this. The most upsetting thing is that my pace was under the required overall pace to achieve the time - had the race been 26.2 miles. I needed to run 9:09 pace and I ended up running 9:06 pace. However, the race (or the lines I took in the race) amounted to 26.4 something, meaning that I lost out timewise. This is so hard to take. However, take it I must. I realise that all marathons need to make the race distance slightly over and it's impossible to totally follow the optimum route in a big race.
So...my question is this. Is it possible to recover enough in the next few weeks, to have another stab off the back of the same training? I'd like to - the thought of starting all over with training later in the year is not a nice one right now and I really want to tick this achievement off so I can get back into ultra running (not naturally fast, but can do long stuff) OR...do I not stand a hope, because by the time I'd recovered sufficiently to be able to attempt it again, my fitness will have dropped too low?
Has anyone been in the same situation and attempted it again after a short recovery?
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Recovering in time to have another go at your GFA is possible but something only you could know. You have enough race experience to know how fast you recover from a marathon, I'm assuming you're back running now, short easy runs at the very least. As you're an ultra runner you should recover quickly. I don't know what the deadline is this year for GFA times, but another thing to factor in is that the weather is getting warmer so your next attempt maybe in 18-20 degrees, do you deal well with warmer conditions?
Have you found a suitable marathon to do?
I've run marathon PB's on consecutive weeks and I know others that have done the same so it can be done.
Yes, you could recover and try again - effectively treating Manchester as just one long run in the plan towards the second one. As Shades said though, it will be a warmer one unless you find one in Norway or somewhere, which won't help if you're prone to cramping. There's only one way to find out!
I was really hoping to hear from someone that might have been in a similar situation. Any positive, constructive advice out there?
I think this forum is littered with runners that just missed their target times, some by a little some by a lot, that's what happens in marathons.
I'm not sure what you mean by constructive advice, are you back running, chosen another race? You're still marathon fit, recover from last week ASAP and plan your next attempt. I've already said that I and other runners I know have run PB's on consecutive weeks so of course it can be done. However, you do need to find out what caused the cramps to ensure that doesn't happen again, it could be that the course was too flat for your liking, it's not uncommon to cramp on a very flat course where there's no change of cadence due to small undulations.
Not sure what else I could do about cramps. maybe I could take on more electrolytes ahead of the race rather than just during? Not sure if that would help.
I went straight to the lake district after my race and did some fell walking (inc to the summit of scarfell Pike) so not perhaps as much immediate rest as I'd like. I have run a couple of 4 mile easy paced runs this weekend.
I have a race in mind with a small field in Exeter - flat again, but just waiting to find out if it can be used as a qualifier for GFA. They have a licence - just checking if it's a road licence etc. It's on 20th May so 6 weeks after my Manchester attempt.
Maybe rest up a little (gentle runs) for a week or so, then try and get a bit of pace back again. Would I be better to try and get another long one in before or benefit more from the recovery from long miles do you think?
That Exeter race is local to me, yes it's RunBritain permitted race and should count for GFA but be warned the course is run a lot on footpaths around the canal, lots of twists and turns and I think some gates to go through. I think it could be difficult to get into a steady rhythm and carry on like that on that course.
Worcester is the same day, a 2 lap road course. Or Shakespeare the week before.
Re training, you should be OK to do a 10 miler next weekend then do an 18 or 20 the following weekend, then almost time to taper again! Focus on easy/long run pace, eat and sleep well and that bounce will come back to your legs.
're the cramps maybe increase your salt intake slightly the day or so before the marathon. Or I believe you can get tablets online but obviously you would need to train with them before race day. Good luck!
Rodeoflip, your comments are very much appreciated. I think it's important to go into a marathon feeling mentally strong, and I guess hearing other's successful stories will help me with that. I think you're right, and actually I rally have nothing to lose from giving it a go. With 6 weeks in between the races, would you suggest I concentrate more on recovery and then picking pace up a little again or do you think I'll really want to be getting another long run in before?
I'd go for MK if I were you, no need to do a long run, do a couple of 10 milers when you've recovered fully. Work out your pacing for 26.4 and what I do is check the mile markers against my GPS as I go round then I know what extra I need to calculate for in the last mile.
Agree. Your body won't let you run to much for a couple of weeks, then there's your taper for the last few weeks. So you might be able to get a long run or two in, but I wouldn't worry about it, your stamina will still be there. I would run a couple of 13-15 milers at the most maybe 2 or 3 or 4 weeks after the first marathon. Play it be ear, and bear in kind that if you didn't run a step between the two marathons then you'll still have the fitness gains from the first one.
I have a 3:02, run in October aged 39, which I was going to use to get in for the first time in 2019 aged 41.
It used to be that your age on race day was what mattered, so my 3:02 had to beat the 3:15 standard for the 41-50 age group. I knew they might tighten up the standards, but I figured I had enough of a buffer to be safe from any changes.
But now it's your age on the day you ran your time that matters, and my 3:02 fails to meet the new 18-39 standard of 3:00, so I need a new qualifying time.
I'm now 40, so need to run sub-3:05. I'm doing Newport the weekend after next. Training has been mediocre, but better over the last month. Nothing I can do about the GFA changes other than re-qualify. Suddenly the pressure's on...
Cougie/tmholt that's hard to take
I am entered into Abingdon later in the year, so worst case scenario is I have to train up again for it and have one final shot later.
Thanks everyone for your help.
You also have a longer period now to get that GFA for 2019, 10th August is the deadline now. That means if you don't get your time at Exeter you could do Gloucester on 5th August, I haven't run that course but I believe it's quite flat. I have entered this year.
I thought you were fairly close to me, I'm in Devon.
I believe he does have plans in the future to put on a proper road marathon in Exeter, by proper I mean not along the canal using footpaths etc.
A 3 lap route around Exeter Riverside Valley Park. A flat route, along the cycle/footpaths that run alongside the River Exe, with a very short section, on a quite urban road.The start is at Exeter City Football Club and will run through Exeter City Centre on closed roads, before arriving at the Exeter Quay.
Venue
Haven Banks
Exeter
Devon
Ex4 6PX
Communication
Details
Haven Banks
Exeter
Devon
Ex4 6PX
I just looked at the website, can't see the course but on RunBritain (pasted above) it does say unmeasured road race so he hasn't got it certified yet. I think for GFA you will need to ensure he has a course measurement certificate.
The guy did say it was about to be measured as they'd had to wait due to some work being done on the route.