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Anyone else REALLY scared??!!
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I thought it was just me, but reading all the posts has really helped me get motivated again.
Can I join you all plodding at the back please!? Zoe
Keep with your plan and take advantage of the huge wealth of advice on this website. Also I would recommend you sign up for a half that fits in with your plan. It will get you used to both the atmosphere and an idea of what the day itself will be like. Hopefully as well it will also give you some confidence.
London Marathon is a great atmosphere from the expo where you regsiter to the day itself starting at Greenwich and all the way to the finish. Do the preperation and you'll be fine.
You're worrying about running round in the company of thousands, being cheered on by huge, enthusiastic crowds. Meanwhile, I'll be in the company of about 1000 other (no doubt, significantly faster runners), trundling through the Warwickshire countryside to the accompaniment of sheep baa-ing and birds singing!! And the more I read about the crowds and pens at FLM (and having done 3 GNR's) I'm beginning to think that maybe missing out on FLM isn't such a bad thing after all!!!
Or maybe not?
Ask me in May!!
Stilldreaming good luck with the Stratford marathon. I'm hoping to do the GNR this year, is that hill as bad as it looks??
Take care everyone
I've made some key decisions already - booked onto an organised tour to sort transport to and from and overnight accommodation; I will be wearing a vest with my (real)name on in BIG letters - it must be a huge boost to have people addressing you by name to cheer you on; and (key) to enjoy the whole thing!
I wish you all the very best in training and luck on the day!
Mmmmmmmm jelly babies!!
Stop worrying you lot, we'll be fine!
Hi everyone,
I too am doing my first marathon this year and only started running on boxing day!
Did 6 miles outside on saturday, hoping to do 8 this week
Cardiff staggerer - well said, we should all stop worrying! dont worry about your time, just enjoy the day!
starburst i've found to be magical in my long(ish) runs!
are any of your running for charity? check out my page
www.justgiving.com/sarahdarby
I thought the finish line looked abit disappointing but I suppose we'll feel on top of the world by that stage (emotionally anyway!)
Agree with Rio - the finish itself is superb, although quiet support-wise as only so-called 'VIPs' are allowed in the stands, so you'll only meet friends etc in Horse Guards parade afterwards. But the bit just before the finish is fantastic. Atmosphere gradually builds along the embankment and you begin to realise you haven't got far to go. Turn at Big Ben (25 and a bit miles) then Birdcage walk is superb - one of the best supported areas and the pain is easing as you know you're nearly there..... Last turn at Buckingham Palace and then you see the famous finish you've seen so many times on TV (but from the other side of course!!).
Ahhh - I know I'll be watching on TV this year wishing I was out there again!!!!
I'm a little scared too, but very excited at the same time. This is my first marathon. I'm not fast (running about a 10 minute mile at present). I'm up to a 13 miler the weekends now and I'm probably averaging about 25 miles a week (is that good, I have no idea!!!). I plan on taking my time on marathon day and just enjoying it - I have my own pace and that's what I'm sticking with. Hope to see you there!!!
I've been reading all your comments. I, too, am scared but very excited at the same time. This is my first marathon and training is going well, but hard (and lonely sometimes). I'm up to 13 miles on my long Sunday runs now and am averaging about 23-25 miles per week (not sure if that is good or not). I am running for Whizz Kidz. I am planning on taking my time on the day. I am currently running about a 10 minute mile - I'm not fast, but that's my comfortable pace for my long runs and that's what I plan on doing on the day. Good luck with everything. xx
If this is your first Marathon i would suggest that you keep to your training, it will be hard at first but you will suddenly find that you can run further than you thought, in fact if you are building up your long runs and you get to the end of your road and feel like it, run round the block to add another half K. If you can get upto 20miles in training a couple of weeks before the FLM you will be fine.
Don't worry about your time, enjoy the day, the crowds are fantastic and you will not believe the difference of running with people cheering you on , compared with a lonely solitary run on a cold sunday morning. Are you running for a charity? My daughter works for Whizz Kidz and they have teams of cheerers who will look out for your running vest and give you a morale raising cheer, and i am sure that the other charities do the same.
Good luck
Nigel. FLM running number 11000
It'll be my first too and as an ok club runner I'm aiming for 4 hours, but it scares me when people blithely say 'oh you'll smash that' as it really puts the pressure. So ALL first timers, even blokes aiming for 3 hours (I know a couple) are under pressure, but if you train you'll be fine. It's all in the mind!
Keep going you are doing really well!! I have a golden bond training weekend place and am not going to be able to make it, do you want to go along and be me? email me if you do!
Good Luck!!
Its my first marathon and I was already bricking it. I'd got up to 10 miles on a Sunday but haven't been able to run for 3 weeks due to a knee injury. I am having physio treatment which is sorting out a problem I've had for a decade (since an ACL reconstruction). I'm hopong to get the okay to start running again tonight - fingers crossed.
Pleased to hear it can be walked in sub 9 hours, as I feel I will be starting my training again and I doubt I'll get to the magic 20 miler in training. At least my goals are more realistic now - just start!
So, I was scared before, now both more and less scared depending on the spin I put on it.
Anyone know of any '10 week training plans'?
Unfortunately, I won't be able to make the GB Training Day this weekend. I have a sick baby at home with a husband who is away so there is no way I can go now. You can have my place if you like - just let me know. (p.s. if you do go, let me know if I've missed out on any valuable info, etc). Thanks. Keep on running!!!
www.justgiving.com/cezanne
Still, as it's for charity even if I have to hobble round and it takes all day, I'm still going to be there!!
1. Train to suit you and NOT what some training plan says. You don't want to get injured by running 5 days a week when you're used to running 2 days a week.
2. Run smarter - rather than the same pace same distance run all the time, do some speed work and some hills work to increase fitness.
3. Run long - but NOT in terms of distance but time. Your heart doesn't know whether you've done 15 or 20 miles, it only know that you've been out for 1 hour or two or three. It is training your heart to stay out that matters. Your long run should be slower than the hills and speed work.
4. Rest!
!
I hope I'm not doing the course leaders an injustice - they were great - but this is what I brought out. I have been changing my usual training to suit this and I have found the hills and speed work have definitely improved my fitness and stamina - the long runs are easier than they were. I even have two or three different paces now. We must be realistic, we must do our training and NOT be negative!!!We will get around - I don't care HOW long it takes me as long as I get to the finish!!!
Hey Becs!!
Try not to dwell too much on what's to come, but instead look back on how far you've come since starting off on this.
I ran the LM in 2004 and said never again...and then here I am on week 4 of my training havnig got a ballot position for this year. You have to believe everyone when they tell you that this is a truly magical day.
It's hard work, very very hard work but you, and all those that know you, will be so incredibly proud of what you've done that it makes every day of anxiety worth it. In 2004, I had never run before, ever, anywhere. I started training in the November before and I was very unfit. The training got me round, not quickly, but it did. The best possible piece of advice I can give you is this; trust in your training programme. I know it doesn't feel like you can do 26 miles right now but if you've passed your driving test, imagine how you felt after only a couple of lessons!!?? Would you have been happy taking your test that quickly?
One day at a time, then one week at a time, and then one Marathon at a time!!
All the very best to you, you'll do just fine.
:-)
Steve