'Mature' runners.

It was all on road TE, but what a road...Great effort on your race, very good of you to play the role of paceman.

Amazing bionic, sounds like nothig can stop you! Unfortunately I can only run. I can swim long distances with breast stroke but pathetically slow.  

I swim crawl but not very fast, I have a best time for 1000m of 23 mns whereas my OH has a PB of 16:24. Not allowed to swim breast stroke, the frog-kick rotation is very bad for hip patients.

Morning all,

Swimming is for frogs and fish 

Well done 00.  Sounds as if you're a speedy boy if you came in 6th in a field of mountain goats!

TE. well done to you and your protege.  Did she find it a comfortable pace?  I'm assuming she's aiming for 9.5 min miling for the actual marathon?

No running today but lots of gardening as it's a glorious day 

Red, thanks. She found the first circuit to be quite comfortable, but tough during the second. Probably miles 15 to 18 were the toughest for her and I really had to use all my race experience and encouragement to keep her up to speed. During the last 2 miles, we were passing lots of runners who had set off too quickly, and were tiring. This encouraged Helen, and we actually picked up the pace, and the last mile in 9.41 was the quickest of all. I was very impressed that she was able to manage a sprint finish. Regarding the VLM I think she would be happy to maintain a 10 min pace. I didn't take any gels with me, and just drank water at the drinks stations, although some had energy drinks as well.

I am now very undecided on the way ahead for myself, race wise.I am very tempted to enter the SD Marathon and Pompey Coastal Marathon, as I will be continuing a high mileage plus club speed and hill sessions, so that I can continue to do the LSD runs with Helen in the weeks leading to race day. My quandary is, do I make the most of the mileage for marathons, or consider the mileage as "in the bank," and concentrate more on speed work, to get my 10k, 10 mile and half marathon times down. I would appreciate any comments or advice on which route to take.

Terence I'd say it depends when the marathon is. I train for a marathon for about 4 months but keep up my base mileage all year with a 18-20 mile long run ever 4-6 weeks. Then it comes as less of a shock. If your planned race is less that 4 months you need to keep on with the marathon plan. If it's more than that you can concentrate on other distances, with speed work etc. And with an occasional long run to keep your hand in.

TE, well you know my answer to that - marathons!  Having said that, I reckon you could smash some of your pbs on the way to the SDM as that's many months away yet.  Are you looking for a marathon pb too?  (sorry, I can't remember what yours is).  I don't think many people would consider the SDM to be a marathon to enter for a pb, but then you are super-speedy.........

TE, Well done!  I sent positive vibes to you at 10.35, thinking you were probably just under way!

OO50,Fantastic effort - Buttermere is supposed to be harder than a marathon, so you should find London a breeze. I am so happy you are going to be there. I am 65 and this is my first marathon.  Friends on this forum are talking me through it. Red is running it too. Just ask her what she is going to be doing while she runs !!   I am not in the least competitive except with myself. I have always kept fit but mostly through dance. I think the fastest I have run was when I was 14 and the Cuban missile crisis was under way. It was when the Cold War came closest to turning into nuclear conflict. My parents were at work and every day I used to try to run home within 4 minutes which was the warning you got, so that I could be at home with my dog when we were blown to smithereens!  ( Does anybody else remember MAD - the term for mutual assured destruction? )  I started properly running after Good Friday 2009 when my 24 year old son died in a car accident. And now I want to run marathons.  I am determined VLM will be the first of many.

JJ,  how old is your granddaughter? My lot are ages 17, 16, 14, 13, 11, 8, 7, 7, 5, 2, and 2.  I have founded a dynasty.

Little K is representing the Eastern Region in Derbyshire in March. She is going by coach and staying in a hotel over night. She thinks she's died and gone to heaven!

BI - I forgot to say that my husband has bought us some walking poles to do some Nordic Walking. We looked up how to do it on you tube and then had a go on the mountain road.  I am sorry to say that we were absolutely helpless with laughter and didn't achieve any kind of workout.  But heyho, tomorrow is another day. We will get the proper ones when we go home. Can you recommend a make please?

Matmum that is sad indeed- so sorry for your loss. I know when I returned to marathon running in 2007 I motivated myself by saying he performance was dedicated to my dad, who died young at 44, same age as me when I ran that race.   

On the other hand I was going to suggest you dance your way round the marathon course- now that would be first!

Rest today, my legs are shot to pieces.

Thanks 00 55, Red and Matsmum. The South Downs Marathon is in June, and the Portsmouth Coastal Marathon on 22nd December. I know December is a very long way off, but it is nearly full already, and I need to make my mind up quite quickly.

My marathon pb is 3hrs 12, which was the New Forest Marathon, set way back in 1993, when I was 47. There is no question of me getting even remotely near to that time, and I was thinking 5 hours would be more realistic for the SDM.

I certainly intend keeping up the quality work with the club, so will enter the shorter races whether I decide to enter the marathons or not. I'm not feeling too bad after yesterday, just an ache in the quads if I sit down for too long. I walked for about a mile this morning, which helped to ease the stiffness in my legs.

Matsmum, very sorry to hear of the loss of your son. I wish you luck in your first marathon, and hope it is the first of many.

'lo all
A bit over 3 miles off road this morning with the doodle. Had several rest breaks waiting for her to catch up. She was in one of her "I'm in no hurry" moods.

TE
Run the marathons but use shorter distance races as speed training. They will also help you get race fit. I have done most of my PBs en route to marathons.

Matsmum
The latest grandaughter is 4 months. We have 2 other grandaughters aged 9 and 7 and a grandson of 4.

Redhead
I joined you in the garden for most of the day. Unfortunately it was mine .
If I was meant to swim I'd have webbed feet.
JJ

Thanks JJ and everyone else for your comments and advice. You have more or less confirmed that what I had wanted to do was not crazy. I will, therefore, enter both marathons, and still race the shorter distances that I had planned.

JJ, good to hear that you have done an off road run today. I hope that you will continue running, even if not racing.

Morning all,

Oh my but I'm a redheaded whirlwind this morning!  I had so much to do first thing that after being up for 3 hours this is the first chance I've had for a coffee break before heading off to a lay champions meeting with DeNDRoN (I do wish they'd change their name 'cos every time I type it I think of trees!!!).  My intervals will be done this afternoon and I'm hoping to sneak in a bit of gardening too 

JJ, glad to hear you dragged yourself for an off-road plod.  I think you should get yourself 10k fit and drag me to a 10k pb later in the year   I consider this year to be my sensible year, ahem, with only 2 marathons early in the year and then my streak, so I reckon I could be up for a crack at my 54:12 at Brighton in November (yes, I know I hate the overcrowding, tacky medal and the fact that it almost always rains!).

Terry, we just confirmed what you wanted to do all along.  You'll shine in all your races 

Matsmum, LOL at your walking poles.  I bought some for my hubby several years ago and he decided to test them by walking across our land.  As he strode across the horses field, Esther galloped towards him and reared up then nearly kicked him which really scared him.  We suspect she may have had a bad experience with a man and a stick in the past as she is a rescue horse.  I don't think he's used them since.

00, dancing around VLM has been done before.  You'd be amazed at the things people get up to!

Right must dash.  Have a lovely day everyone 

Red, you're quite right, I just wanted reassurance. Your mention of DeNDRon reminded my of the song De Do Run Run De Do Run Run, which I think was by the Ronnettes?  I can remember several amazing runners in the London Marathon. There was one who played a clarinet, a wine waiter who carried a wine glass and bottle on a tray, a juggler and many others. There was also the amazing Red, who knitted the worlds longest scarf. I'm sure you'll crack your PB for the 10k this year. A mixture of long runs, speed work, hill reps, tempo and recovery runs will bring success.

The results of my race our now out and I was 7th in the 65-70 category and 694 out of 780. Helen was 695 with the same gun time as me, but she was a second ahead on chip time. There were also 70-75 results, but prize wise, there was only one for first over 60, nothing for the older categories.

Having had two rest days in succession, I shall be out with the running club this evening. I usually swim on a Monday, but having discovered that there are swimming lessons available in a neighbouring town on a Thursday, I am switching to them. I need someone to teach me how to swim front crawl.

Matsmum, you must have started young with your dynasty. My five children are all in their 30s and 20s, but I have only one grandchild as yet, age 16 months.

I have wondered about walking poles. I suspect I would need instruction. After reading about Matsmum's experience, and Redhead's hubby's, I'm sure of it!

Columba, my wife uses Nordic walking poles after joining a free course run by SUSTRANS (sustainable transport). I have joined her a couple of times and I struggle to keep up, there's a real knack to it but I really enjoyed it- definately worth looking into.

I didn't find it too hard to learn but then I've been x-country skiing for years and the movements are approx the same.

Matsmum - sorry, can't help you there, I got mine from Aldi!

It's bliddy well snowing again! Just got a message that dog training's off this evening. Oh how I wish we had an indoor hall as well as our field. S'pose I'll go swimming instead.

Another 3 mile shamble today. Just ticking over.
Don't see any need for walking poles but I would like a pogo stick. I think it's called attention seeking?

TE
I expect to get back to racing at some stage.

Redhead
If I'm fit towards the end of the year I will happily run Brighton with you. If you don't like Brighton I'm sure we can find another quick course. You should train for sub-50 so that even if you miss it by 2 mins you still get your PB by a mile.

JJ

5* 1km for me this evening. I'd have preferred a gentle recovery jog but my daughter wanted to go to the running club. Felt OK once I loosened up but shamble mode here too. Nice to have my daughter (15) showing an interest in running.