Manchester Marathon 2013

Hi Lee. Thats some mileage you're clocking.

Ran a good 20 miler today, first 13.1 in just under 1:30 and finishing in 2:22 easing up over the last few miles.

I don't think so Dave. I think 3:05 is a safer bet but I'd by lying if I said it hasn't crossed my mind. I've got a 20 mile race at Stafford next Sunday and if I can get under 2:17 I might have a rethink.

My lack of miles at the 3:00 marathon pace is a worry for me but I've got a couple of months to sort that out.

Cheers Dave. I'm in a funny position because my HM and 10K PBs are slow 1:28 and 39:45 but both were done at the end of 70+ mile training weeks with no taper and I don't do any specific training for those distances, its all big mileage for the marathon so I should be able to convert my times pretty well at the longer distance but I think sub 3 might be a little too fast this time around.

Still in a state of flux about the Marathon pace Gaz?  You could always run at 3.05 pace for 15 miles and then see how your body feels at that point.  That gives you 11 miles to claw back the 5 minutes which would not be impossible if you still feel fresh.

Well, that's my first 20 miler now added to my list of life's achievements.  Obviously far from the ultimate goal but still a nice thing to be able to say (or write).  I used my heart rate to guide my pace throughout and experienced very little drift.  I'm still probably not as slow as I should be with an average HR of 74% of max and an average pace of 8.45 per mile so will try and push down to 72% of max for the next one.

Didn't hit the wall.  Took on two gels without drama and not too much wind.  Knees a little stiff/sore through the last 3 miles but still felt like I had plenty of miles in the tank.  Encouraging run.

Strangley Brown.

Well done. The 8.45 mile pace for your first 20 miler sounds perfect. Last September I did my first 20 miler training run for many years at exactly the same pace and then did 3.15 in the marathon 7 weeks later. Don't worry too much about exact pace or HR yet - just get the miles in at your comfortable pace for now I reckon - you can fine tune such things in the last 3 weeks maybe ?

I enjoyed my 20 yesterday at 8.02 pace - a bit quicker than I was expecting but it just felt right - I don't use HR monitor or GPS or anything. The route is too hilly to keep a constant HR anyway. Legs sore today though and good to have a complete rest.

I think thats probably what I'll so SB. Start off at 7:00 mins mile and see how I feel around 14-15 miles. TBH I'd take sub 3:05 right now and be extemely happy with it.

PM - Thanks for that, you're probably right.  I just want to be mindful of not tiring my legs too much on the long runs and jeopordising the other sessions during the week.  I still think nearer 9 m/m might serve me better in the long run but i'll see how my body reacts during the coming week.  3.15?  I'd take that now I think

Gaz - That's got to be the best approach I reckon.  Looking forward to seeing how you get on.  A sub 3 hour marathon may well start to become my obsession now over the coming couple of years

cybarev wrote (see)

Anyone heard how numbers are going for the GMM this year?

The closing date for entries now appears to be 31st March 2013, that's been put back a few times already so suggests they are struggling to get the numbers expected? (Plus who would enter a marathon at this late stage unless they'd already been training for a different one or are doing some serious mileage anyway)

Another 18 miler for me tomorrow, less concerned about the time and more about getting round in better shape and feeling less drained on the way round and not stiffening up as much

My High 5 goody pack turned up today so I'm going to try some of them out tomorrow and see whether they are better than a bag of jelly babies!

rockinrocky_robin wrote (see)

cybarev wrote (see)

Anyone heard how numbers are going for the GMM this year?

The closing date for entries now appears to be 31st March 2013, that's been put back a few times already so suggests they are struggling to get the numbers expected? (Plus who would enter a marathon at this late stage unless they'd already been training for a different one or are doing some serious mileage anyway)

Another 18 miler for me tomorrow, less concerned about the time and more about getting round in better shape and feeling less drained on the way round and not stiffening up as much

My High 5 goody pack turned up today so I'm going to try some of them out tomorrow and see whether they are better than a bag of jelly babies!

I've been very impressed so far.  Took a couple out on my last LSR, taste good and I did feel a little boost form them - quickly too, within a minute or so. 

I'll see you in the 3hr pace group dave and lee.  I hope to stick to that pace but will happily ignore a poor pacer and use myself.  Out in Lisbon in December I was caught by the 3hr pace chap just outside the stadium at the finish (300m out).  My time was 2.58.00.  I think the 3hr pacer at London last year did something like 2.58 too. I can understand them wanting to add in a bit of a time buffer but 2 minutes is too much, particularly on a flatish course like the capital.  If you want to do your own race or go flat out, don't drag people around quick than they anticipate by signing up to pace them... Having said that, I'd love the opportunity to be a pacer at a race if anyone knows how I can...

Good to see that the windy-pops have subsided, strangely brown.

I only managed 13 miles over the weekend followsome pain carried over from last weekend.  Might have cleared up by tonight.  Bit concerned that I feel so sore a week after; it's not looking good for Manchester at that rate.   I need to improve a lot before my ultra.

I'm travelling up from London on the Friday evening and plan to fit in a (very light) parkrun on the Saturday morning. There seem to be three parkruns within equal distance of where I'm staying - South Manchester, Heaton Park and Worsley Woods. Any locals on here who can recommend which one I should head to? Cheers.

Hi Lee

I used to leave near Heaton Park and though I haven't done the park run, I know Heaton park is hilly, so I wouldn't do that one.  South Manchester, I am assuming is Wythenshawe park?  If so, I think that's a good flat one...I don't know about Worsley.

I must say though, imho I would not do any kind of race the day before a marathon?  Maybe you are a really fast runner or training for an ultra or something, but I just don't see the point of taking anything out of your legs the day before a marathon.  Even if you don't intend to race the park run, you will probably get carried away on the day and end up going faster than you intend, and you will feel it the next day.  I am sure you know what you are doing, but I personally wouldn't bother .....chill out and maybe take in the sites of Manchester

Panda

Cheers for the reply and thoughts, Panda, much appreciated. I honestly and truthfully will not be racing the parkrun, just a gentle, very very slow  and light three miles to get some fresh air and the chance to experience and tick off a parkrun I otherwise wouldn't have done. I'm no fast runner or ultra training, hoping to dip under four hours (for the marathon, not the parkrun).

 As for chilling out, it's no coincidence I chose the Manchester marathon which is the same weekend as my beloved Spurs play away at Wigan! Looking forward to this weekend a lot.