Thanks for all the advice gents,

I am going to go for the Manchester as the Edinburgh is on the 23rd May and I have to help a few mates with BG attempts around that time. Your advice gives me a bit of confidence that it is with in my reach, if I train right.

Looking back my best road race pace for 5 miles is 6:05-6:10 per mile pace. Although on Saturday I did the last mile of an 8 mile trail race in 6:04 according to Strava. So with concentration on speed work I might be able to do 6 miles at 6 MPM.

I have been trying to make all the club weekly speed sessions, last week it was 200m reps with 30 second rests. My thoughts on training are one weekend a hill session, probably a BG recce run followed by a 3 hour road run the next weekend, I am hoping this will stop me smashing myself up on the road. I will also look to start this week with trying to run 10 mile in 70 minutes mid week, followed by 11 in 77 the next until I get up to 18 miles at 7 minute mile pace, hopefully I will be able to go a bit quicker on race day to crack the 3 hours.

I use a Physio at The Herriott Watt University in Edinburgh, although the wife is good a teasing out knots in calves and hamstrings.

Thanks again the real hard bit will be finding the time and keeping injury free.

Well-done Ydt on your first Marathon. Andy if I was going to do another round it would have to be Ramsey although I fancy the 50 at 50 as I am 50 next year.

ATB

Tahr