Virgin London Marathon 2011 First Timers

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  • Hi kelly , yes its my first time , got in thriugh the ballot last year but had to defer entry due to injury and therefore not enough training . So I have lots of determination to do the training and get round the 26.2 miles this time !! And yes i think we must be mad but when we complete it and WE WILL complete it , its gonna be a proud day image

  • Barking!

    I also run alone, so be good to have some support.

    Ran the Royal Parks a couple of weeks ago & the thought of doing the whole distance over scares me silly.. I'm running for a Breast Cancer Charity, so fund raising here I come!

    Hx 

  • Hi helen
    It's great to meet you?
    Kellyx
  • Hi Wendy  image

    Hi Kelly   image

    and welcome to you both. Look forward to hearing about your training etc..

    Mike's idea of signing up to FETCHEVRYONE site is an excellent idea ( RW have no problem with this either ) good place to log training, runs etc. ( althooug I have only ever used it for races  & must get round to more details on logging training )

    9.00 am Sat - I volunteered to marshall at Sunderland Parkrun - still enjoyable ( & you get 100 points !! )

    http://www.parkrun.org.uk/sunderland/Home.aspx

    1.00pm Sat ran for club ( Elvet Striders ) in the XC harrier League at Cramlington ( 6 miles over a very, very muddy wet & windy course - still good fun though ).

    youngster's race first, then Men, then women ( 4miles )  - pictures here of the Ladies race taken by one of my club colleagues

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/djnisbet/sets/72157625225067112/with/5107570157

  • Hello

    Am running london for the first time too..... can i join in... I got in on the ballot 5 times rejected.

    Also can somebody PLEASE tell  me how to get rid of this runners world click to change picture which i am unable to change!!!!!

  • Hi Wendy, Kelly, Helen & Matty's mum!

     I agree with Nick, Fetch is a great site but like Nick not using it properly for the training - yet! I logged a run last wek for the first time but will continue to try and do so now!

    I went for a 2 hour POSE runing session yesterday as I have been having so many problems with injuries recently (still "injured" as I write) I thought I would give it a go. It's very interesting watching yourself back on the video to see how forms differ. Felt very strange running on the front of the foot rather than the heel though so will keep you all up to speed over the next few months as to my progress or otherwise. I had been trying it (wrongly) after looking at stuff on the web but got so much more out of actually having some one to one time with someone who knows what they're talking about!

    Catch y'all later folks - keep running image

    PS - Mattys mum -  5 times rejected must have been hard to take! I have the same click to change picture thingy, don't worry about it, RW just have to approve your avatar and then your pic will be up, can take a few days apparently! Hope that helps..... 

  • Hello all,

    I'm certainly looking forward to getting to know you all a bit better, it's like having our own little support group.

    Do you do all of your running outside or on the treadmill?

    I try to do at least one run a week outside, my only choice at the moment.  Am on hols for another week and none of the treadmills in the hotel gym work - how rubbish is that?  But it's the end of the season and they don't seem to care - obviously no one that works here runs.

    It does force me to get up a bit earlier though which I guess is good as i do have a habit on holiday of wasting my day sleeping.

    Anyhow, I hear it's pretty cold back in blighty at the mo, so I won't ramble on about poor me running in the heat.

    Claire

    X

  • Hi all

    Thanks Miggito...yeah being rejected 5 times was bad!!! After last year i lost the will to run for about 6 months!!!

    I didnt even get my "Congratulations " magazine this year.... cheek.. until i phoned and told them after 5 rejection magazines they can make sure they send it!!!!!!

    vds..... yeah i have entered the Norwich half in November. Did it a few years ago when they held it in July and it was the hottest day of the year... awful.... it can only be better this time!

  • Hello all you new people image

    Good to see this thread taking off.

    Wasn't it a glorious day for a run?

    There is a airfield near me that has a road around it - 3km loop and I've been round and round that this afternoon watching the gliders take off. Hit my furthest distance so far 15km so pretty pleased, but rather sore legs.

    Claire - hope you are having fun in the sun image Treadmills receive a mixed response on many sections of this forum. With some reason I suspect. However, I admit to doing most of my weekday runs on a treadmill. I feel it lets me control my pace and gradually get quicker. I remember when I first started I could barely run at 6kph. Now I can comfortable trot along at 10kph. They also fit in with work so much better now that it is so dark when I get home. Weekends, I go outside.

    mattysmum - I keep looking at that Norwich half, but I haven't had the courage to book a place yet. I guess it depends on how my long runs go. 4 weeks left to the date I think.

    geordie nick - I didn't realize parkrun gives you points for volunteering! I can't run them every week as it makes my Sunday long run too difficult - but I think I will volunteer a few times. Though it's getting cold!

    vds
  • Hi All

     I shall be running London for the first time.  I finally got a ballot place after being reject 4 times.  Lucky really as my ambition is to run London before I'm 30 and I shall be 30 next October.

    I'd hoped to run with my dad but unfortunatly he isn't well enough yet.  Him and my mum watched the 1st london the year i was born and since then he has run it 5 times.  He was supposed to run again in 2003 but was diagnosed with cancer, so I shall be running for Macmillan who have helped him get better.

    I did my second half marathon today, Birmingham half, my first one was 7 weeks ago.  Did it in 2hrs 20 so pretty pleased with that, so hoping to build up training from there.

    My main aim is to finish but if i can come in before 5hrs 30 I'll be very pleased and less than 5 hrs I'll be extatic.

    Going to take a few days off for my knees to recover now, but dieing to get out soon as I've just got runners world playlists 1 and 3 and really want to try them out.  Also just invested in a treadmill for those icy days and when its too dark to get out, though i hope to most of my training on the roads.

    Lucy

  • vds wrote (see)

     geordie nick - I didn't realize parkrun gives you points for volunteering! I can't run them every week as it makes my Sunday long run too difficult - but I think I will volunteer a few times. Though it's getting cold! vds


    Hi VDS

    yeh, you can volunteer as many times as you like, but you only get points (100 ) 3 times a year

    Still good to do as Volunteers are always needed and each Parkrun relies on this help - without the volunteers, none of us can run.

  • well done Lucy at Birmingham 1/2 today - good right to be pleased

    should give you a ot of confidence for next April .

  • I've got a half marathon to do on Wednesday ( one with a difference !! ) even have to bring Passport ( or other photo ID )

    http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafspadeadam/rafcms/mediafiles/125ECAD8_5056_A318_A897324A86116F37.pdf

    bit apprehensive as there will be only about 80 runners ( so could be a bit exposed !! )

    also doesn't pay to wander off the course ( wide forest track & open land) as it's possible to end up on a firing range !!

    hope I get back to report on the race.  image

  • Thanks for the info geordie nick.

    Well done on that half Lucy and welcome to the thread. I've been running almost exclusively to Gorillaz. Time I look for new playlists too.

    vds
  • Lucy - congrats on your half time, and geordie nick good luck for yours - please make sure you stay on course!

    I managed to get myself out of bed this morning for the after adoption 10k in hyde park - gorgeous morning for it but freezing while waiting for the start.  Managed a time of 54 mins which was a PB so was happy image

    Not looking forward to the dark evenings, always gets tricky to find good well-lit routes.  A bit reluctant to resort to the treadmill but may have to.  Is it true that you should set it to a small gradient to make it more realistic to running outside?

  • Congrats on the PB Little N. I'm yet to break 1 hour for my 10k and so very envious.

    I set my treadmill with an incline of 1.5% to try and match the effect of wind resistance outside. I suspect I need to raise it a bit more though - my heart rate running on the treadmill is lower than outside for similar speeds.

    vds
  • Hi!

     Sorry, it posted my message before I had a chance to write anything! Erm, I'm running the VLM for the first time next April too! Its nice to know that I'm not the only one out there! image It sounds like most of you are experienced runners though; quite the opposite of me! On my application form for running for RNIB I told them the furthest I had run was for a bus, and they accepted me! It will be the first time I have run in any event, let alone one as big and exciting as the London marathon.

    Some might ask why the hell I applied and started off with an event so huge in the first place? Well, my Grandad and I had a joke that we would run the marathon every year we watched it on TV. When he was passing away earlier this year, I promised I would run the marathon for him and make him proud. When he died it was the first thing I thought of doing. After talking to someone who had been rejected to run the marathon 4 times, they told me to apply this year for 2011 because it was very unlikely I would be accepted for the first few years and after 5 years of rejection they guarantee you a place. So I thought I would have at least a couple of years to train. I was so shocked when I had been told that I had got a place! But I am determined to do it and make my Grandad proud. Now you know my back story, can anyone give me advice on what not to do when training, any products that they find helpful? Pretty please.

     Its nice to meet you all and good luck to everyone with their training! Its amazing that we're all running this event, however daunting 26 miles sounds!

    Cherylx

  • Morning All,

    Cheryl, you are definately not alone! I'm 41, smoked 20 a day for 20+ years & was never anygood at sport.. BUT, I do believe you can do virtually anything you put your mind to & that if the mind is willing, the body can usually be kicked into shape.

    What a glorious weekend. Ran 7 miles through Friston Forest in the mud with Reg the Terrier & fleetingly into the oncoming Beachy Head Marathoners... I salut you all!

    Need to find another running partner though, Reg gets tired over 6 miles & runs just infront of me where he gradulay starts to slow down until I'm bearly running! Good practice in avoiding objects though, my hurdling is coming on a treat. He's prone to stopping dead! Still he doesn't winge when we hit the hills..

    A winter full Sundays like yesterday please.. 

  • HB8.., as posted on another thread for you...... hope it helps you find a running partner..

    Gatton wrote (see)

    HB8   not sure which side of eastbourne you are but there is this club

     http://www.hailsham-harriers.org.uk/   or Eastbourne Atlhletics club.... If you are the wrong side for these then contact them and ask them for their advice... Good luck and stay around for some fun and good advice from the members of this thread.

  • Oh, lovely thanks, I'll have a look & get in touch.. Always thought running clubs were for "real" runners, but I guess running a marathon is pretty "real", so I'll give it a go.

    Thanks again. Hx 

  •  Hello Lucy & Cheryl, we're going to be overrun with ladies on this thread soon - not that I mind image Only joking OH!image

    Good luck Nick in the half - please don't get shot!

    VDS (and all) I run all the time to music, I find Podrunner invaluable (especially for training at certain speeds) and would thouroughly recommend. The bpm I listen to depends on what kind of run I am doing - and its totally free!

    Claire - I always run outside (even in the freezing rain / snow - makes me feel like an Spartan) but only because I don't have a treadmill!

    Lucy, I have been running less than a year and the best advice from my experience is to take things slowly and keep yourself motivated with targets. Increase your mileage gradually (even when you feel you could go more) as you have plenty time bewteen now and April.Also get a 5k/10k/1/2 under your belt before then if you can so you get the experience of running in crowds and the whole race feel! I find having goals along the way keep you motivated and you feel good once you've done them. This time last year I could not run for longer than 2 minutes and have now done a 10k and 2 halfs! I have lost 2 stone in weight, no longer smoke and actually bought a pair of 32" waist jeans at the weekend - something I haven't wore since I was 14 (36 now!)  So these kind of things keep me going.

    Good luck all and keep running image

  • PS - Lucy, a fine effort running for Macmillan! image

    PPS - Cheryl - you will be making your grandad extremely proud!  image

  • Great post for motivation Miggito......
  • Hi all

    New to this thread and first time VLM runner, does this make me a Virgin Virgin London Marathon Runner?

    Running with TeamRedLaces for Heart UK.

    Never run full marathon, however have several halfs under my belt. Said I would run full before I was 40, and am 40 in June 2011.

    Have just completed Birmingham Half Marathon in 1:45:17, a new PB for a half marathon.

    Have downloaded the training schedule for my garmin from RW with a predicted time of 3hr 55min. Everyone keeps saying I should be quicker than this, however not sure I could keep the HM pace for 26.2 miles.

    I have noticed the training schedule starts on Boxing day!!

    Have also entered the Silverstone Half in March, which fits in with the RW training schedule. Should I be training earlier for this (ie a 12 week schedule) based on a sub 1:50 time for the half or just stick to the Full Marthon training schedule of 16 weeks?

  • Cosmic - i am running for HEARTUK too, good to know there are more out there!

    Cheryl - I can't think of a better reason for running, what more do you need to keep you going!  

  • Cosmic & Clairewiththehair - Great cause. My dear old Dad has had a quad bypass & a defib fitted -HEARTUK rock!

    Cheryl - Il ove your story, it made me well up.. You are going to make your family so proud.

    I'm running for Breast Cancer Care, inspired by a very brave schoolfriend who makes me feel proud to call her a friend. image

    Wow Cosmic, I can only dream of a 1:45 half well done you!

    So, I've been thinking. Fundraising. I've come up with an idea and it might help others & the charities, so here it is.. 

    Rather than asking for cash, ask your friends to raid their wardrobes for a few items of good quality clothing or obje d'art and list it on e-bay. I did this for a recent half & raised £300!  I also put a little summary of why I was selling & two buyers made an extra donation too.image  

  • Charity Place confirmed with Acton Medical Research, apprehensive but really looking to it.

  • Andy - i'm running for action medical research too.  Would be good to hear how your training/fundraising progresses!
  • Good idea about the sale for fundraising Helen.

    I'm hoping to have a bunch of people around for a free curry, hand out some nice wine, and then point them towards the justgiving website.

    Actually though I have just started telling people that I am running and asking them for sponsorship for the kidney research charity I'm running for. It does make it quite real when you start doing this - no getting out of it now!

    vds
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