Luton Marathon

 Oh dear, very icy two years ago which caused the car on route to flip over, which led to race being cancelled. I had driven down the exact spot 30 mins before as well. By the time I got back to the spot after the race was cancelled (running it anyway) the car had gone. Fingers crossed no repeat this year. Cold not a problem.  Wrap up and then discard stuff with a supporter at end of lap one. Blew a gale the other year and that was much harder, but equally have run this twice in just a vest. What will be will be.

  Anyone else from Bedfordshire doing this I might know?

Keith L wrote (see)

Not sure if this will come out OK but link is to my Garmin Connect record of last years run (poor run as didnt have speed i thought I had and last six miles were hard)

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/20131134

 But shows both the route and the "hill" as accurately as garmin can. Depends I think on which way teh wind is blowing.

Thanks Keith, this is what I've been hunting for for a while now! 

It looks reasonably hilly, but thankfully some of my training runs have had a similar profile so I'd like to think I'm prepared...

Hi everyone

i think Taff boy advice about breaking the race up into lap targets sounds like good advice,Your training sounds ok to me laura, especially the wine bit.Its my 3rd marathon this year and i have yet to go mad and attempt loads like you KP but i might catch this bug next year as it really does keep motivation at a high level, good luck in going for the hundred !

Not too keen on the long range forecast though

Good luck everyone and dont overdo it before race day

Laura until April last year I'd only done 8 but had the idea to start running one a month with shorter races in between to maintain fitness, which seems to be working I do very little training as such. Well done on the long run, I'm sure with an easy 2 weeks you will feel much stronger on race day.

Tom 22 miles seems good prep to me

JJ I'm sure (as you say) your legs will feel fine come the 5th.

K.P XC was hills, mud and little else very tough. Marathon went as well as I could have expected 6 Min's down on last year and started to cramp in my right calf at 21 miles to the end but managed to keep going by easing off when I felt a slight twinge, My right Achilles is a bit tender as a result but I'm sure with Ibuprofen ice and calf drop strength exercises it will clear up in time for this. Well done on your first ultra distance.

Taff Boy could agree with you more

Yeah Mick n Phil lets see if we can both run a better on here

Phillip Get well soon hopefully with 2 weeks to go you should be fit for the race, fingers crossed.

Douglas EEK  hope it's wrong as long rage forecast often are.

Cheers Peter

Having fallen of my bicycle on the ice last Monday I happily join the 'hope the long range weather forecast is pants' bandwagon !

Mrs W still not quite right with muscle problem so another weekend with no long run - must be starting to put the run in doubt.  Made up for it myself with 18m round trip to work yesterday - whilst it is broken into 2 parts I think carrying work gear on my back and a 1m steep hill around 6/15 mile mark on way back add's up as a good indicator of fitness and have to say I felt very good.  Following achillies problems over last 12 months (hope yours is ok Woody) I have been cross training on cycle with less running and so far looks to be working.

LH - I am also in Yorkshire so thinking these hills in Luton are probably not 'real' hills as we know them (prepares to be shot down in flames ...)

I have just checked the long range weather forcast and as others have said, it still says snow for the 5th in Luton. Yights!

Dilemmas dilemmas, the snow forecast for the weekend jaunt to Luton is now 'heavy snow' in Sheffield on the Saturday, I am booked on specific trains down on the Saturday and am having visions of not making it down to Luton due to cancellations!

Ahh - dilemmas too.

Mrs W still got leg problem, thought about coming alone but suddenly costs of travel / accom etc. sound steep for me on my own.  Especially if risk of weather being a problem.  Decided therefore to give it a miss for this year (reluctantly) and have notified organisers.

Good luck to those of you still running, and I hope the weather does come out ok !

Am still feeling rotten but slowly improving to the extent I can now be up and about all day so should still be running on Sunday even if will be relying on Beachy Head as almost last time in trainers. So much for a fast 3 laps. Looks like I will have plenty of time to get to know Luton better. Mental note to wrap up warm!

Laura

Which one are you in the picture?

I ran eight miles today (first run in a week) and it was on tightly packed snow and ice so legs are tired from using different muscles. Really hope Luton doesn't get cancelled, its my last hope of getting a marathon in this year and I made a promise to do at least one a year.

 Wharfy, sorry to hear you will be giving it a miss, I am lucky I have a friend down in Luton to stay with!

Phillip - I am the taller one, thats me and H after Amsterdam   will probably be wearing glasses on the day, having contact issues at the moment.

 What do people think about running with music, I usually don't so I don't miss out on the atmo and banter etc but with three laps of mental torture am considering it for the first time?

Wharfy sorry you can't make it I live in Lancashire if we'd lived closer we could have shared the costs.

10k XC yesterday which went quite well Achilles is easing up nicely and should be fine for Sunday .

I'm with you Laura, Really hope Luton doesn't get cancelled,  I'll run it no matter what the weather is like.

Personally never wear earphones and agree with BTA which disqualifies people for wearing them in events. I find they tend to put people in a bubble and accordingly they are much more likely to run into you/ not give way/ get run over. I do find that the people running by you around 10kms will generally finish round you and so there is normally someone nice and your pace to have a chat with to pass the time.

 That said, what times are people aiming for? Have managed a 1km swim today - still not braving running so my chances are improving, on which basis am predicting around 4hr30-5hr depending on how slippery things are, how cold it is and how ill I feel.

Not sure I share the same view on headphones but looks like its not an option anyway, I would have liked them for the last lap only, (not really a chatter in the last 10K of a marathon)  but cest la vie

In terms of time, realistically for me this is not about trying to run fast, there will be no PB here except possibly a PW, its just about getting round, so assuming normal running conditions 4.10- 4.20. With snow........ pick a number cause I have never run one in snow - but then what ever it is would be a PB in snow!