'Mature' runners.

Freezing here to in Derbyshire...........hope all keeping fit and well. Have a good weekend. Four days of work in Bakewell left then a new job starting March.......45 mins drive away so gutted to lose the nice commute but hey. Looking for some wheels this weekend me thinks. 12 miles to do as only two weeks to Grindleford Gallop...............

Hi Mark, great news about you job!

TE, don't worry, my version of Kenyan Hills will not be as severe as the ones you do 

Hi everyone,  just got back from Spain a couple of hours ago.  We lost the internet - and the fine weather - about halfway through the week. But I got a couple of mountain runs in during the last couple of days.  I extended them a bit to 5.7 miles. They are very slow because on the descent the tracks are so gravelly and potholey and on the way up you lean so far forward your nose is practically on the ground. Well,  mine is anyway. There should be opening there for you, JJ  . 18 miles tomorrow and that will test my resolve.  It is so cold here with snow showers.  I got a bond place for the Royal Parks Foundation Half in October and plan to run with H, my daughter no.3.     You all sound very energetic.  Or perhaps it seems that way because I have been travelling since 3.30 am.   Night all.

Weather the same as Redhead's.

Red
The cancelled TWells 1/2 was 2005. The police and first aid people suggested we cancel and without their approval we would have invalidated the insurance. We had no choice really. A big group of us ran the course anyway  as a point of principle but at two points there was a complete white-out, It would have made for an interesting race.

Just been watching Yates winning a gold in the world's points race. That's cycling btw. It was my main sport in my late teens and through my 20s.

mcs
Hope the new job(s) goes well.

matsmum
Can't think of anything I would be allowed to post on here

That was great, JJ, Yates is only 20 and was making his debut in the GB team.

And since that was on a bit earlier - how about Jason Kenny's brilliant gold medal in the Keiron?

Hope the new job goes well, Mark!

The dogs love Fridays because they always get left-over skin from our fish dinner. Tomorrow at dog club Charly will be making his debut in attack work - fingers crossed for a good start.

Mark, that's great news that you have a new job to go to, hope you find it interesting and rewarding.

Matsmum, hope the 18 miler goes well tomorrow. There is a lot of high mileage going on now on this thread. I suppose as we get older, we gravitate to the longer distances.

I forgot the cycling was on TV this afternoon and it seems I missed some great races.

Yes I certainly have extended the mileage as I've got older. 40 would be a cut back week for me. But I traded todays run for a pizza so it went back further to 35. I'll do the parkrun tomorrow then 15 Sunday. Have a great w/end everybody. 

Woke up to snow, snow and more snow! It's still snowing.

No snow here yet, although it's forecast for tomorrow. It's expected to get down to minus 5 tonight, with the wind chill making it feel even colder. Seems like we've got the prospect of a very cold forest run tomorrow.

Woke up to a white world, and the first few miles were on lovely crunchy snow. Then it began to melt and got a bit slushy. I did the 18 miles and it took me 3hours and 36mins, amid snow flurries most of the way. At 16 miles I was feeling it in my calves, although I didn't actually get cramp.  I think I might need to take an electrolyte drink at that point. I had to get back for 11.30 so I could look after H's 3 while she had an appointment, and then all the family came round to catch up on holiday news and have only just gone, so there wasn't a lot of time to rest!! I think I may cut back to 13 next Saturday, and then do 20 the next week. What do you think?

Did anyone watch the rugby this afternoon?  Close game.

I am going to watch Les Miserables this evening.  I am told it's brilliant.

Husband has got very keen on the idea of Nordic Walking now and has sent off for the very best sticks he could find on the internet!  They should be delivered on Tuesday. Should be fun.

Matsmum, well done on your long run through the snow, and in a very respectable time. I think it would be a good idea to do a shorter run next week, and then your 20 the following week. The next 5 weeks are probably the most critical, leaving a 3 week taper. JJ will no doubt give his advice as a qualified Coach. I watched some rugby and some cycling this afternoon.

 Just a sprinkling of snow here. A minor nuisance.

matsmum
A two week gap between the very long runs would be good and don't worry if your 20 miler is a bit less.
TE is right. Your training should be peaking in the coming weeks and you are likely to be feeling tired.
You must remember to taper your training for 2 or 3 weeks before the race so that you start it absolutely fresh and full of energy. You can't get any more or less fit in 2 or 3 weeks so there's nothing to be lost and a lot to be gained by taking things a bit easier in those weeks. If you need a tapering schedule let me know.

If you can organise your race drinks so that you get a drink with energy and electrolytes  at 6, 12,18 and 21 miles it would be very helpful. You will need only a few mouthfuls of water in between.
JJ

Very impressed by the long snowy runs being reported.

A mere 4.8 miles here, temperature about 0, windchill factor felt like about -50. Better on the way home as I was then running southwards away from the wind.

7 miles here. 4 warm up and 3 at the parkrun with some sludge on the ground- it wasn't pretty. 

Zero here at the moment, witha max of 4 degrees forecast.

Setting off shortly for a 15 mile run on roads and forest.

Woke up feeling fine and rested, so did a 4 mile run across frozen fields - no snow to speak of but I know exactly what you mean, Columba - it really did feel like -50 in the arctic wind.

mcs - found a car you want yet? Good luck with our job in March.

BI - How did Charly get on with his attack work?  And....um.....what exactly is attack work????

TE and JJ - thank you for the advice which I will definitely follow.  I am your biggest fan. Yes please, I would like a tapering schedule. I will be out of the country from 26th March until 16th April, which is only 5 days before the race itself, so I will need to know exactly what I am doing. More advice please - I don't eat before any run apart from a couple of bites of banana, then at 6 miles I have some banana and a bite of a 9bar, and the same at 12 miles. The only drink I take is organic fat free milk. What isotonic drink should I try, bearing in mind that when I did try a gel it made me feel sick? Also somebody said it was good to have some caffeine in the latter part of a long run. In what, exactly? I really want to practise all this now, so there are no nasty surprises. At least I don't seem to be getting any aches and pains, so that is encouraging. 

OO - Lovely that your daughter is sharing your interest. My grandaughter, K, is 14 and mad about running. I had better manage this marathon or she will never forgive me!  As for dancing, when I go running early and there is absolutely nobody about, I do actually dance along to some favourite tracks ( A kind of magic, Forget you etc). I think it is probably a very good way of training!  Good job cows can't talk.

Afternoon all,

Brrrrr again.  Oh my, that wind has been biting for the last couple of days!  Yesterday I did my little Kenyan Hills session and then today I did 18.5 miles, 8 minutes quicker than my 18 last week.  My route was just as hilly but my breathing was so much better.  Very pleased with that 

Matsmum, I agree with JJ about the taper being very important but I would definitely opt for a 3 week taper for your first marathon.  All the training you have been doing has been high quality and if you rest well then you will get round the marathon fine.  I won't comment on a fuelling strategy as my own methods are entirely unconventional but suit me perfectly (no gels, no electrolyte stuff and no food beforehand!).  

Just a word of warning about the use of caffeine gels or drinks; caffeine can irritate the gut and cause 'runner's trots' so if you do decided to try it then please experiment beforehand.  Oh and it's defo a good idea to have a step-back week ahead of your 20 miler as it gives your body a chance to recover form all the extra effort and you'll come back refreshed.  I do 3 weeks hard, 1 week recovery.

JJ, 'twas a good day for the TW 1/2 methinks.  I just had a few flurries of snow when I was out and except for the wind the running conditions were good.  Hope you were well wrapped up if your were marshalling.

Loads of people say gels make them feel sick. Me, I've never tried them. I've never run more than a half mara, for which I take a half-litre of a drink I make myself, - fruit juice, water, sugar and a pinch of salt. If I've drunk all that and still feel thirsty I take any water that's offered. I'm sure I'd need to make some other arrangement if I were going much further than a half, though. This is partly because of my slow running, - the same distance takes me longer than it does you, - any of you!

Matsmum, I can't comment on the for and against the use of gels and energy drinks, as I have never used them in my previous marathons, and in last weeks 20 mile race, just took a few sips of plain water at each station. The only tip I can give in this area is to walk or jog with your drink for a few steps to ensure you don't spill it over yourself; and I find the short rest gives me renewed energy when I get back into race mode. I differ from Red, however, in that I do have a light breakfast, but ensure I get up early enough to allow 3 hours before the start of the race. I usually have porridge, fruit juice, a slice of toast and honey and a cup of tea. I also have 2 glasses of water before leaving home.

Red, Well done on your 18.5 miles, I really hope you have overcome your breathing problems.I was looking through the results and pics of last years SDM and saw yours. One thing that struck me was that none of the runners were wearing club vests, this seems unusual to me. Is there any reason for this do you know. I'm sure most must be club runners, as some of the times were exceptional, the winner's being 3.02.

Ran 15 miles this morning in light snow, comprising approximately 9 miles in the forest and 6 on road. I ran the forest 9 with two of the club coaches, and the road 6 on my own. I felt really good during the last 3 on road, and upped my pace. Last weeks 20 mile race at a steady pace has certainly paid dividends. I am way ahead of schedule for the SDM in June and intend getting in some more 20 milers and one 22. I'm really hoping it warms up soon, as the NE wind was really biting and my hands were frozen, despite wearing thermal running gloves.

Terry, not sure I've overcome my breathing problems just yet but am hoping that my vegan diet is helping.  We'll see.  You don't see that many club vests on the downland marathons really although, as you say, I'm sure there are plenty of runners who do belong to a club.  Well done on your 15 miles.