A bit like sub-4 (but 15 minutes quicker)

http://lakeland100.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/metabolic-efficiency-for-endurance-athletes-tapping-into-the-fat/ - I'll let you decide if you consider this relevent to your own marathoning experiance. Maybe not something to try first time out, but for an improver, the more you can get used to running in uncomfortable fat burning mode the easier it gets, the more efficient you are at using carbs and better you will go over the full 26.2 (or 27.2 incorporating the "weaving" in VLM ). It's probably not something to try on every long run, as it flys in the face of conventional thinking (i.e. porridge for breakfast). Something to consider during the MP + 90-120 sec per mile LSRs, it would certainly keep you from going too fast

Good running stoker, at last you've revealed the model of shoes you get for £35. a bargain, looks pretty similar to my similarly priced road-clogs. I was expecting a Hi-Tec Silver Shadow, Dunlop green Flash XL or suchlike  

Good hilling SB, my kind of training run

g - Haha, np, anything adressing that is not obscene is fine. It makes sense really, I read this before last year, but promptly forgot to give it a try. I do this to ab degree already, will see if helps me in Hull marathon. Then after that I have several months till me target long trail runs to make myself into a carb-conserving, fat-burning machine.

Hi Jay - Can't say I know anybody that is doing Stratford, though I joined the party late on here so its possible some on here are and I'm just assuming they're doing VLM, except in cases I know otherwise.

Loads of useful tips on here as there are a few who've done more than one marathon, serial marathoners, returnee marathoners (me) and plenty in your first-sailing boat too. How have you fared at recent shorter distances? and how are the LSR's going? There's been much discussion on the best pace for LSR already if you look back a page or two.

Thursday night hard session tonight, the anti- was upped a few weeks back and seems to be helping me. After hard 2k reps a fortnight ago, long tempo last week, this week it was many-many 2 and 3 lamppost reps with 1 lampost recoveries (except for a longer stop at the end of each of 8 laps). very intense, legs worked out differently and felt quite quesy at time as the core took a battering that I'm not used to as a long distance plodder.

More over distance training at the weekend on trail, the "Wuthering Hike" over near Haworth. Can't wait

If anyone is interested in the Olympic athletics test event at the staidum in May, you can get tickets on tickmaster today and enter the code BUCSPREPARES to get in ahead of the general sale next week.

Some bloke from the BBC posted the code via twitter yesterday.

Got mine!

Good luck to all you LSR people this weekend. not too quick and not too slow now!!!

SB

Little Stoker. I read your post, it made me smile. A mixture of lifes highs and lows and plenty of straight talking. I like that. Good luck with your race and beating your mate.

Sporty, thanks for the code. Will check with the misses and book I think. Good to hear your going to "push the pace". good luck with the training

Drunken ( hope you do not mind me calling you that for short). That is a good article. Also has made me feel better for going out on my long runs without eating much except a protein shake and taking a few shot bloks. Your over distance training must help when it comes to a "mere" marathon. I am doing brighton marathon BTW.

Giranit. I am a simple folk, so I have no idea about "dictating on a phone to post on a forum". Does this mean "gary" becomes "gay"? and "Tony" become "Tiny"?....  Good luck for MK

Jay. Welcome.  I have done stratford half a few times ( same race but only one lap). I liked the race, so hope it goes well for you...

A cut back week for me this week so only 42 miles.  I have a half on sunday that I will run at MP pace. I plan to run 4-5 miles before the start of the race too...

Arnie, Cheers...so far so good mate, good my longest run yet tomorrow morning- 18 miles, looking forward to it.

 Which marathon you training for? I'm finding it tiring fitting 5 sessions a week in to be honest, with full time work and a family i'm doing all my runs before work which is tiring but you have to keep telling yourself it'll be worth it on the day

 I'm also booked into snowdonia (october) but doubt i'll be getting a mega time on that one LOL

AGF- thanks, i wanted to do london but got rejected so got into this for the week after. Maybe next year for london

Jay - well done mate, good running and a good timely confidence booster for that 3:45...

 I am doing the Edinburgh marathon at the end of May, it'll be my first attempt, so we'll see how things go... 5 wks into the training plan, so far so good - albeit very tiring, but I guess it was never gonna be easy right...??!

AGF - that sounds like some very good mileage indeed, last 2 @ 7:30 - you must have been feeling pretty good to do that - well done!!!

Hi all it's been revealed that energy distributed at Hull Marathon will be High 5 gels, which is great as I like these, so have orders a mixed batch alongside a top up of the 2:1 fructose energy drink. Having said that will use sparingly as want the benefit on race day

everyone seems to be LSRing well, signs look good for a job lot of 3.45s

Saturdays long run for me was the Wuthering hike. Only 4m longer than the golden fleece last week. But felt a whole lot more, with pennine hills and lots of mud on top of seemingly tireder legs I was out for 6.5 hours. Easy week now before my last marathon+ length run before Hull, the Hardmoors 55.

You're right about the proud moments of running not always being in a race, Stoker. Mind you, overtaking a knackered looking Gordon Ramsey at 14 miles in my last London when I felt like I had only just started was an awesome feeling and a sign that the early mornings, dark evenings and will power sapping training sessions made it all worthwhile.

Stick with it all you 2012 marathoners!

I did my 7.6 undulating route on Sunday, much improved on last week. Played football yesterday, won, got top scorer but with the very last tackle of the game, fell on my hand and damaged my wrist. Normally wouldn't care but I have a game of golf on Friday. The race is on to get this swollen Popeye of a mitt sorted in time to have a blast with my new Callaway hybrid 2h club purchased for half price on Saturday. (Stoker will want one now...)

SB