Marathons

[Rowan]

I've just registered to do the Great North Run for the first time this year (I will be running for The Alzheimers Society). However this will be my first shot at a Marathon (although I've been doing 7km a night 3 nights a week at the gym for the last few months and can manage that quite easily in 35 minutes but I've never done anything near the distance I'm going to have to do.

Anyway anyone on here regular marathon men/ women? If so any tips on how I should be preparing myself, what sort of time I should be looking at, diets etc. The run itself is only 13.1 (although I suppose there is a clear distinction between saying "13.1 Miles" and actually running 13.1 miles).

[Guest]

7 kms in 35 minutes !

I do them in 30 !

[Rowan]

7 kms in 35 minutes !

I do them in 30 !

Actually its more 7.5, but it's taken me a while to get this far. 13.1 Miles is going to finish me I reckon. I need to find another 14Km from somewhere before October.

[spud_gun]

Snickers are being rebranded as Marathon

[steveliverpool]

I did the Silverstone half marathon (13.1 Miles) this year and came in at 1Hr 56 mins. Aim was always to break the two hour mark. Just under 9 minute miles. Got up to 12 miles in training and was still stunned at how much that extra mile and RACE Conditions took out of me.
Only advice would not to be to hare off at the beginning. The majority of those that sprint past you, you will see again throughout the race and pass them comfortably.

[Shaggy]

Snickers are being rebranded as Marathon

Haha, seriously? Does that mean Starbursts or whatever the **** they're called these days are going to be (re)re-branded Opel Fruits?

Good luck rowanad, you must be ****ing mental. Honourable though too.

Who is it you're running for again?

[Rowan]

I did the Silverstone half marathon (13.1 Miles) this year and came in at 1Hr 56 mins. Aim was always to break the two hour mark. Just under 9 minute miles. Got up to 12 miles in training and was still stunned at how much that extra mile and RACE Conditions took out of me.
Only advice would not to be to hare off at the beginning. The majority of those that sprint past you, you will see again throughout the race and pass them comfortably.

Cheers mate. How many times a week did you do the 12 miles before race week?

[Rich]

Good luck - you wouldn't get me running that far but fair play to ya

[Rowan]

Who is it you're running for again?

You know, I've already forgotten

In seriousness though, my gran passed away last year after suffering for many years. The last 6-7 she was totally unrecognisable, as were all of the family to her. I wasn't well enough to do it last year myself but I want to this year for more or less that reason.

However thinking about it in the light of day it seems like a fairly extreme way to give something back.

[Shaggy]

You know, I've already forgotten

In seriousness though, my gran passed away last year after suffering for many years. The last 6-7 she was totally unrecognisable, as were all of the family to her. I wasn't well enough to do it last year myself but I want to this year for more or less that reason.

However thinking about it in the light of day it seems like a fairly extreme way to give something back.

My great-grandfather also suffered – a very noble cause, mate.

Good luck.

[steveliverpool]

Cheers mate. How many times a week did you do the 12 miles before race week?

Only got the one 12 miler in two weeks before big day. Ran 4 or 5 ten milers though. Was basically doing one 5/6 miler on a Mon and then a 10/11 miles on a Thursday. All evening running.

It is a difficult run but feeling of achievement when crossing line is worth the effort. Good luck mate.

[dracs]

1st thing is that gym running is nothing like road running, your gym times will always be quicker as the treadmill helps you along. so get out on the road, do whatever feels comfortable 3 miler, 4 miler whatever and then after a couple of those add another mile, then after a couple of those add a 2-3 more, in no time at all you'll be up to 7-10 mile range. Once's you got used to your own natural pace adding additional miles is easy, just make sure you warm up (run for a mile do a few streches and then continue, no point warming up with cold muscles) and down and have the appropriate amount of rest between runs.


what else, try to eat as close to the start of long run as possible, you might get a bit of indegestion, but the theory is the your stomach gets used to it and the closer you eat to the start of a run the more energy your body can choose from the food consumed, dare I mention it but bananas are an obvious choice.

lastly i hated the GNR, too many people, too many fun runners or charity runners ( i don't mean that in a bad way) but too many runners who had no intention of running and were walking after a mile. At the start get as close to the start line as possible ignore the markings which mark where you should start based on your expected finish time.

and good luck

[Paul.S]

Might be worth you looking up a local Harriers club or something?

[calvoboy]

Keep your 7k runs going twice a week for a base level of fitness and put in one longer run outdoors each week. Start by doing 5 miles, then build it gradually so that you are able to run 8 miles fairly comfortably. If you can do that, then you'll manage the half marathon, as the atmosphere etc. will keep you going to the finish, but you'll find it easier still if you can put in a couple of 10 milers before the day.

As with anything, the more training and preparation you can put in before the big day the easier it will seem.

Good luck! I did the Great North a few years ago, and it seemed to me like it was 11 miles uphill! It just seemed to keep on going on a gradual incline until eventually there was a steep downhill to the coast and then a mile of so flat along the front to the finish.

[Rich]

I did a 7 miler today but I reckon that is about my limit - not bad for lumping 18st!!