M'thon trainin, on the fells?

[TheReverand]

Well where should I start Got up at 430 this morning and drove 3 hours to the start, not gr8 prep.....! Got into position in good time on the start line, in the red pen with about 200 people ahead of me, the start was very congested and lots of the people lining up at the front shouldnt have been at the head of the feild, as was obvious when the gun went and some people were running alot slower than others, but nevermind it helped hold me back, I was shocked though when I looked at my watch on mile one, 715 :0 I panicked a bit and did the next ones in 545 600 620 b4 reeling myself in and checking my pace to around the 630 mark, went through 6mile in 3830 and was happy with my pace if a little concerned about the erratic times of the first few mile. Mile 6-8 I was running comfortable 630 630, but this was seemingly slower than everyone else as everyone was passing me and leaving me in no time, but I told myself to hold back, then a club mate cruised up and passed me, I was a little worried now, was I going to slow? by this time it was hot :/ I rejoined my club mate at mile 9 and ran away from him, going through 10 mile in a conservative 104.5. From this point to the finish not one person passed me, and I passed all the runners ( I think ) that were flying passed me at mile 6- 10 I went through mile 20 in 210 and then ran a 40 minute 10k over the last section, only wiltng slightly between 24-25! the heat was really oppresive, but with the help of water, lucozade and jelly babies I kept myself fuelled up and hydrated, scrambled over the line with my watch saying 249.55 ( not official though :-) I was real chuffed with this in the heat, as so many good runners were wilting in front of me on the way round, and the way I ran through the pack gave me a great feeling almost throughout, finished about 25th of 23000+, then drove 4 hours home, stopping of and lazing in the river at beautiful Jedburgh for a bit :-) think i'll go grab a few beers........

p.s. thanks brotherton and anyone else who has offered up any advice over the weeks, very useful info ;-)

[freckle]

Congratulations! an outstanding performance in such difficult conditions! Well done you!

[wycoller]

Well done - fantastic time.

[Brotherton Lad]

Well done, that's a great first time, especially in the conditions. It looks like your long runs really paid off.
The first mile in a big marathon is always annoying and you have to write off the 'lost' 45 secs or so, rather than try and make it up over the next 2 or 3.
Always a big decision whether to travel on the day or stay somewhere near the start. Familiar food and familiar bed versus a couple of hours driving, but I found I don't sleep well in a hotel and get up anyway at 4am or so.
Congratulations.

[TheReverand]

ive put on 7lbs since sunday evening! Probably just getting back to normal weight. Fit to run again already so thats really pleased me :-) on with the prep for the next big target, The Swaledale marathon June 12th?! ( or that saturday ) Gunning for the win, but thats another thread.................... rev.

[Steampig]

Well done, that's a great first time, especially in the conditions. It looks like your long runs really paid off.
The first mile in a big marathon is always annoying and you have to write off the 'lost' 45 secs or so, rather than try and make it up over the next 2 or 3.
Always a big decision whether to travel on the day or stay somewhere near the start. Familiar food and familiar bed versus a couple of hours driving, but I found I don't sleep well in a hotel and get up anyway at 4am or so.
Congratulations.

Anyone got a place in this years VLM? I'm in as a result of a last minute decision to take a corporate place through work. Not done much on road at all ever! Although have done some long Fell races, Haworth Hobble, 3P's etc.

My question is this: What's realistic bearing in mind I have about 14 weeks betwen now and the big day. Got myself a 3 1/2 - 4hr pace training programme of the internet and have just completed my 1st week. All gone to plan and managed 8.45min/mile pace this morning over a very wet, very hilly 9 miles this morning.

Thanks in advance of any help or advice.

[nutkey]

14 weeks is enough time to train for a marathon. The trick (for me) was not to get injured through over training. If you're doing 8:45/mile on a very hilly 9 miles, then I'd have thought you'd be fine for sub-4 at London - assuming you weren't caning it. The idea on the long runs is to cover the distance, not to race it (some people finish fast, but that's another story, and not to be done until your legs are ready!). If your legs can take it, though, it would be better to be spending more like 2hrs on your long runs at this stage.

[Derby Tup]

Anyone got a place in this years VLM? I'm in as a result of a last minute decision to take a corporate place through work. Not done much on road at all ever! Although have done some long Fell races, Haworth Hobble, 3P's etc.

My question is this: What's realistic bearing in mind I have about 14 weeks betwen now and the big day. Got myself a 3 1/2 - 4hr pace training programme of the internet and have just completed my 1st week. All gone to plan and managed 8.45min/mile pace this morning over a very wet, very hilly 9 miles this morning.

Thanks in advance of any help or advice.

3hr 30 min would be well doable for you but I reckon 3hr 15-20mins would be a better target

[Steampig]

QUOTE=Derby Tup;391227]3hr 30 min would be well doable for you but I reckon 3hr 15-20mins would be a better target[/QUOTE]

Blimey!!! I had forgotten that I had posted this one.......I must admit that once I had got the place and then started training I then started to think serioulsy about doing a good time. I have just completed Wk5 of my 12 week training plan. The plan is for a 3.5 - 4hr run. A bit down on the mileage this week as I mised Monday night, having said that, it's still early days and I would rather be a bit steadier now and build gradually, dont want to get injured or ill! Done 15 miles this morning along the Aire Valley to Skipdale with Hughjarse. 122mins which i'm happy with at this stage as it's giving me an 8min/mile pace. Must admit to going out too quick and suffering for it on the way back, pace really is the key to completing the Marathon.

8min/miles will give me a 3.30 time, just a small matter of doing it consistently for 26 miles and not just 15!

[Steampig]

Thanks for the advice nutkey.

I'm with you on the injury/ill through overtraining route.
As per my reply to DT I have just done 15mile in 2 hours this morning so fairly pleased with that at this stage. This is the first time i have ever followed any type of programme and it's certainly a beast that needs feeding regularly.

14 weeks is enough time to train for a marathon. The trick (for me) was not to get injured through over training. If you're doing 8:45/mile on a very hilly 9 miles, then I'd have thought you'd be fine for sub-4 at London - assuming you weren't caning it. The idea on the long runs is to cover the distance, not to race it (some people finish fast, but that's another story, and not to be done until your legs are ready!). If your legs can take it, though, it would be better to be spending more like 2hrs on your long runs at this stage.