'Mature' runners.

Hi Matsmum and welcome to the thread!  Excellent news that you've got a place in VLM next year - sadly, I'm taking  a break from it and doing Brighton instead so I won't see you there.  There's a wealth of experience and lots of good advice on here so please feel free to ask any questions you like.

You'll need to give us some background information though -

- Shines floodlight into Matsmum's face -

Have you chosen a marathon schedule yet?  If not then there are plenty of good ones on this website and you'd be best with a beginners schedule.  Most schedules are for 16 weeks so you need to get started asap.  What is your fastest time for a recent 1/2 marathon and how long ago was your last one?  How many days do you train each week?  How long have you been running?  

Sorry for the interrogation, but your answers will help everyone chip in with their ideas for you 

JJ, are there still places for the TWells 1/2?

Welcome to the thread Matsmum, we are always pleased to get new posters and hope you will be a regular. Most of us on here have run many marathons so will be pleased to advise, where possible.

I ran a very encouraging 5 miles on road this morning, the first since last Sundays forest 10 miler, where I had my fall. I was surprised to find that I didn't appear to have lost any fitness, and ran easily, feeling light on my feet. I hadn't put on any weight over the Christmas, so perhaps that was why.

I'm looking forward to watching Superstars 2012 this evening, where our Olympic Champions will be taken out of their comfort zones.

Woo this is great! Thanks you two for your quick response, much appreciated. I started running properly (!) in 2009 after my son died in a car crash on Good Friday of that year, to try to bring myself some healing.  I did the Run to the Beat and finished in 2.28. I could hardly breathe with the emotion of it all and after mile 8 it was sheer obstinacy that got me round. Then in Nov. I did a local one and finished in 2.17.  Another Run to the Beat in 2011 which I did in 2.34, much longer, but no pressure this time. Once I knew I had a place in 2013 I stepped up my running and was running 13 miles for my long run a couple of weeks before Christmas, but then norovirus reared its ugly head....I escaped, but there was a lot of nursing to do. Plus all my children and grandchildren came for Christmas (22 in all including me and my husband) and I haven't run at all since. I am well aware I should be out instead of talking to you!!!!  Am starting tomorrow. I thought I would follow the beginner schedule in the acceptance magazine. Also I have booked myself into pilates classes in the new year. And I am going to eat HEALTHILY !!! By the way, my son's name was (is) Matthew, hence my nickname.

Cold disappearing but no running yet. I shall restart on 1st Jan.

Matsmum
Welcome. Tell me a few things and I'm sure we can cobble together some info for you.
How many days a week do you want to train? What sort of time do you feel you could aim for?  Does your present running include any formal training like speed sessions, hill reps or is it just general purpose running?

With 22 for Christmas you must have used enough energy to run a marathon.

TE
It takes about 3 weeks of idleness before fitness begins to take a significant dive. That doesn't mean though that you can maintain fitness by running once every 3 weeks!

Redhead
Places for the T.Wells 1/2m are still available but it fills up very quickly from now on. Let me know if you get any difficulties in gettng a place.
JJ

Morning all,

Just back from a very windy 10 miler on my hilliest route.  Huffed and puffed a bit on the steep bits but recovered quickly so not bothered by it.  Need caffeine now 

(((Matsmum))), you've earned those hugs.  A lot of people start running for similar reasons and I identified with you when you mentioned "sheer obstinacy" getting you round!  Sounds as if you've got a good running base already and with pilates thrown in too that will really help your fitness, especially the core work.  Oh and  with 22 for Christmas I think you earned that break and you'll soon get back into training again.  Just one thing to mention, in case it isn't included in your schedule, it's good idea to factor in a half marathon or 2 just to see how you're progressing.

JJ, thanks.  Can't decide about TWells this time s I always put on such a poor performance there.

TE, sounds as if the rest did you good!

Red, I don't know how you manage to set off for your long runs so early in the morning. Do you skip breakfast? The rest certainly did me good, as I hadn't felt so light on my feet for ages.

It's very bright and sunny here in the forest, and I will be setting off soon for my run, but think I will avoid the forest. I haven't any club mates to run with this morning, so don't want t risk another fall, which would "finish me off!"

I forgot to mention earlier that on Boxing Day, we watched a 5k road race through the centre of Aylesbury and the old market square. It is still cobbled, so would have been very slippery if icy. If I had known it was on, I would have entered, as I lived in Aylesbury for many years.

Hi there.

Got myself out this morning and really enjoyed myself. The training schedule said 50 min run with 5 min walk each end. I did 4.43 miles for the run - what is that, 11.5 speed? It felt good anyway. The wind was behind me on the outward bit but I really had to battle against it on the way back. I live in the country in East Anglia where it is very flat (don't ask me about hill reps then!!) and the wind whips across the fields.

JJ - I will train 3 times a week. I am still working, and have a vast family, so that is all I can really manage. Also given my advanced age I probably need more recovery time!  The training schedule does include fartlek and stuff.

Red - half marathon races tend to be quite a distance from where I live but I will investigate.

TE - about putting on weight over Christmas....I put only a pound which really surprised me. I am 5ft3" and weigh 8st so carrying extra weight is not my problem. But having short little legs is! They do twice as many revolutions  as other peoples!

Visited youngest son and girlfriend after run . Nice to see them so happy.

TE, yep, I always have my brekkie afterwards as I hate running on a full tummy.  My pre-marathon fuelling is always a shake such as SlimFast with the exception of pre-London where I traditionally have a chocolate croissant and strong coffee at a little cafe in Blackheath village.  The only reason that it is different is that in order to get to the start in time we have to get there really early and so I've got plenty of time to digest it.

Matsmum, well done getting out running and enjoying it! Running should be enjoyable, and if I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't still be running. I have been running for about 35 years now, and still get the same pleasure from it as when I first started.

Red, I can't run or race on an empty stomach. I need some food inside me to give enough energy to keep me going. I have recently read a book about Charlie Spedding entitled "From Last to First," and he only had a slice of toast and a small glass of water before his marathons. That was in the days before sports drinks and gels etc.

The rain hasn't reached here yet, and I ran an easy pace 8 miles on road this morning. Those 5 days non running certainly seem to have been beneficial, as I was cruising at sub 9.30 pace, with an average of 9.25. A few weeks ago, I would be working hard to achieve that.

Hello and welcome, Matsmum. You won't be getting any advice from me on running a marathon, 'cos I've never run one. Have run two half-marathons, and at the end of each I wondered how on earth people can go on and do the same amount again.

That's very very sad about your son. We see our children arrive; we don't expect to see them leave ahead of us. You say you have a large family, - how many sons and daughters have you?

As far as posh daughters and untidy sons are concerned, I think the inclinations of the husband / wife (if any) have also to be considered. I think my elder daughter takes after me in being not particularly tidy, and it is her husband who ensures that the house is looking spick-and-span.  

I came home from London with a niggly sore throat. It can't seem to decide whether it's going to turn into something or not. I went for a short run yesterday and really didn't feel good, so today prescribed for myself an afternoon on the settee with a large glass of wine.  

Me, I can't do more than a short run if starting before breakfast. However, a banana will keep me going for an hour or so.

Hello Columba, and thank you for your welcome.

Actually I have finished each half wondering how on earth people manage to do the same again as well. That doesn't bode too well for me, does it!

I have 3 daughters and 3 sons. They all live very close so I see them all the time, well apart from Matthew ofcourse, who is in my heart, not my vision. And 10 grandchildren, aged from 2 to 17. I have a large and very shabby home which we all love. How about you?

About eating before a run - I have a banana, and then take dried fruit with me. And when I plan to be out for ages I take marzipan because I can't stand those gel things. Instead of water I take skimmed milk which somebody told me was better for hydration. At my time of life I take all the advice I can!

Hope you feel better soon. Take it easy - there are some quite nasty bugs doing the rounds at the moment.

Welcome Matsmum! I am a "forcibly retired" marathoner, been running more than 50 years and have finished 45 marathons, but had to have a hip replacement in June. Hence my name - the new joint is titanium. My surgeon says I can't do more than a half-marathon now, so I'll have to stick to shorter races from now on - I have to say, I hate 10km with a passion, it's my least favourite distance.

Sunday swim this morning with John - did 1600m to his 2000m, but I did get in the water a good few minutes before him!

I shall run tomorrow and of course on NY Day!

Bionic Ironwolf, you are my hero!  I feel such a wimp, but I keep telling myself that the journey of a thousand miles (or in this case 26.2) begins with but a single step.

Matsmum
I didn't start running until I was 55 and that was 17 years ago but I did other sporting things all my life. I ran my marathon PB of 3:53 at age 65 so there's hope for you yet!
I am  about to start a bit of a comeback after nearly a year of not running very much

If you run any race distance flat out you couldn't do an immediate repeat performance so don't look on a marathon as 2 x 13.1 miles. It's 1 x 26.2 miles and you pace it accordingly.
If you are training 3 days a week don't worry about recovery. Go for quality training and you can do a perfectly respectable marathon run. My preference for a weekly  training schedule would be:-
One run of 6 miles starting nice and steadily and getting slightly faster each mile.
One run of 1 mile warm up then 4 miles slightly slower than 10k pace. One mile warm down.
One long run each week building up to around 13 - 15 miles but including 2 x 18 milers. The first 18 miler should be 7 weeks before the marathon and the second one should be 3 weeks before the marathon.

Choose moderately hilly routes or bits of off road  if you can. You will build added leg strength.

We can provide you with tons of advice on here and if you want to run any questions by me via email I don't mind.
JJ

It's a horrible dark, wet windy morning, the type that makes you feel you would rather stay indoors than go out for a run. Will set off later, after a visit to the shops. Most will be closed tomorrow.

My sore throat has resolved itself into a cold, and as the weather here is as described by TE I shall be staying in (apart from necessary trip to shops).

Matsmum - no wonder you're so busy! - I have 5; boy, girl, boy, boy, girl. And one grandchild, aged 15 months, via the elder girl. All but the youngest live in London (the youngest is in Bristol) so I go there several times a year.

Afternoon all,

Vile day here too!

I'm taking a break from tradition and not running on the last day of one year and the first of the next so today is a rest day.  Tomorrow will be a tempo run and the start of my full-on training for 2013.  Bring it on! 

Columba, oh dear.  Take good care of yourself please.

Columba, hope your cold soon clears up.

Red, good luck with all your races and running 7 days a week in 2013.

Ran 4 miles fartlek this morning. I saw 4 other runners, which was very unusual, especially in this vile weather.

A very happy and prosperous New Year to you all.

Best wishes to everyone for a problem-free 2013. Have a great time this evening if you're celebrating and sleep well if you're not.

TE
Thanks.
JJ