ASICS Super Six: Maria (Sub-3:15) - Spring Marathon

Alice RW

17/12/2010 at 18:23

Introducing the second member of our ASICS Super Six 2011 … Maria (aka UpsyDaisy)

Maria will be using our sub-3:15 Garmin-ready schedule as a basis for her training and will be mentored by Bud Baldaro directly on this thread (starting December 20).

She’ll be posting his training progress and be receiving advice directly from the ASICS PRO Team experts live on this thread so make sure you check back regularly to find out how she gets on.

Good luck Maria!

Stray Runner

17/12/2010 at 19:51

good luck in the training maria.

using the same training as you for paris also so will be watching the thread with interest!

UpsyDaisy

17/12/2010 at 20:01

I stil cannot quite believe I made it to the final six! Huge 'thank you' to all voters. I am looking forward to starting my training plan on Monday During the week I tend to do most of my running in the mornings or early evenings. Weekends are usually easier as my husband is usually at home to look after our son. He is away for two days next week - need to sort out a babysitter so I can go out runnning then. Any other young parents on the forum? We've been contemplating an idea of sending Allan (our son) to a nursery but six months does not seem to be very old for a nursery in my opinion - I do know that a lot of nurseries take babies as young as six weeks but I feel he is still too young for it! Maybe I am just being overprotective..?

UpsyDaisy

17/12/2010 at 20:03

Thank you dm1974 - what marathon are you training for?

Stray Runner

17/12/2010 at 20:41

paris also this will be my second time around... there is an 'official' paris thread if you haven't already found it.

paris thread

Edited: 17/12/2010 at 20:42

caterpillar girl

17/12/2010 at 20:44

UD - Well done on your selection for the Super Six and the best of luck with your goal.

With regard to the question regarding childcare: you are in a very fortunate positiom if you are able to choose whether or not to put your son into a nursery as many mothers have little choice about returning to work. I am a childminder (formerly a teacher) and have looked after children from as young as six months old and can assure you that if you find the right setting then he will be in very good hands. ( I am an old parent by the way but I'm not sure the children know the difference)

I'd be interested to know your 10k and HM PB's out of interest and to also encourage you to dip into the sub 3:15 thread as the guys on there are very supportive and knowledgeable.

carovet

17/12/2010 at 21:04

Upsy Daisy well done! Do keep up with the mums running thread, you will get lots of support - we have a mum on there with 6 kids under 10 who ran (I think....) a sub 3.15 marathon this yr, or it could have been 3.20 ish - but pretty speedy anyway, and another one with 3 kids who's definitely done sub 3.15. I am a mere mortal with 1 small child and a sub 4 marathon under my belt.

My daughter has been in nursery 2 days a wk since 8 months old (she's now 2 1/2) and it's fab. She learns so much, is sociable, plays well with other kids etc etc - so I highly recommend it.

UpsyDaisy

17/12/2010 at 21:17

Catepillar girl - thank you for your support! I suppose I will feel more comfortable when I know my son likes the nursery or the childminder he is going to look after him - guess all a matter of trial and error and good recommendations My best 10k is 43min and HM is 1h30mins. I have been very active up until about 6 months into my pregnancy when I became too heavy and all I could manage was walking and swimming. I also took yoga classes back then. I started running again when Allan was 4 months, so almost 3 months ago now! I still feel I am much slower than I used to be but I am hopeful my pace will improve as the weeks go by! I am regularly checking on the sub 3:15 thread - a lot of serious runners there and I am very keen on having their advice and support however I am a little bit afraid of being a complete newbie to marathon running and setting myself such a 'high' or shall I say 'low' time bar of sub 3:15. That probably sounds silly. Do you have any idea what I mean?

MsE

17/12/2010 at 21:18

Congratulations, Maria. Good luck with the training and juggling it with your son. If you find it hard fitting runs in just remind yourself that you have just the one and, it would seem, the luxury of contemplating nursery. Lucky you! I used a nursery but only when I returned to work after each maternity leave with babies 2&3. Both were 6 months and absolutely fine so, as Caterpillar Girl says, if you find the right place it can actually be a great environment for little babies. Baby number 4 has stayed at home with me as I no longer work but benefits from the socializing that goes with having three siblings. So why don't you look into it as you need to ensure you can commit properly to this now you have won the selection process.

Minni

17/12/2010 at 21:21

The sub 3.15 are a great bunch. Although its my dream time I don't think I'll ever do it but they are really encouraging and offer loads of advice and support. Good luck with your training.

caterpillar girl

17/12/2010 at 21:24

UD - It doesn't sound silly at all. I think one of the faults of this competition is that it forces you to set a time target before you even start the training, especially you as a returning runner and in your first marathon.

I've met quite a few of them and I can assure you that they're not all that serious. Pop over and introduce yourself.

UpsyDaisy

17/12/2010 at 21:28

Hi Carovet and thank you for encouraging examples of other marathon running mummies - exactly what I needed to hear! I now feel very inspired and all my doubtful thoughts are slowly beginning to wash away from my head..

Well done with the sub 4 marathon by the way!

UpsyDaisy

17/12/2010 at 21:44

Hi MsE - wow you are a super mum! Juggling 4 kids your nerves must be made of steel! Honestly after I had Allan I think all mothers are heroes! I am going back to work next May so training for a marathon now fits in nicely with my schedule. I am definitely going to research about our local nurseries and childminders - and make a list of relatives and friends who could be called upon for babysitting emergencies. I wonder now why I did not do this earlier?! I am 100% committed to this project and looking forwrad to starting training on Monday

UpsyDaisy

17/12/2010 at 21:46

dm1974 - i've been following the paris thread, thank you for the link.

Minni - thank you

Pipes

17/12/2010 at 22:17

Congratulations, UpsyDaisy and good luck for the months of training ahead. I'm another mum who thinks it's fine for the kids to go to nursery from a young age. I've got 2 (aged 3 and 1) and went back to work (teaching) after 4 months with both. They started at nursery at 5 months and loved it straight away. It's a good place so I never felt that I'd abandoned them or anything - I actually started to think I was enriching their lives by putting them in there.

I enjoyed some 'me time' in the summer hols, keeping them in nursery on their normal 2 days per week. I spent one of those days sorting the house and the other day doing (then recovering from) long runs for my autumn marathon. I got a sub3 PB in the marathon. So it's all more than possible for you if you give yourself the best chance.

PS don't feel you're not experienced enough to come over to the sub 3:15 thread - I'm occasionally popping on at the minute (I'll post on it more when I actually re-start training) as it's got some great, friendly advice and interesting to hear what others are doing.

CC2 - Speedy Goth

18/12/2010 at 08:40

Hi Maria, just popping over from the 3.15 thread to wish you luck and say hello. I too am targeting sub 3.15 this year (in London) having run 3.19.33 last year.

Would you share your PBs at other distances with us?

Do you feel back to fitness now after having Allan?

A.C

18/12/2010 at 10:11

Well done on getting through UD - I am looking forward to following your journey over the following weeks.

Do dip in to the sub 3.15 thread there are some great people on there and who are never short of advice!

UpsyDaisy

18/12/2010 at 11:30

Hello CC2 - good luck with the training. Just back from the sub3.15 thread - some not very welcoming comments there but hey I am sure it will all pass. I do not remember KR or Jane on the day either either -does not mean I was not there. My fitness is definitely coming back, slowly but surely - my biceps have never been so strong - all the heavy lifting I've been doing for the past 6 months!

jane326

18/12/2010 at 12:01

Good luck UD! Shame i did not meet you at the SS day. I did look out for you as everyone was so impressed you made it down from Glasgow. I'll be following you too. And don't be scared of the 3.15 thread. Its a mine of info and they are a nice bunch. They just don't know you yet.
Your biceps sound good. I'd focus on the legs now

CC2 - Speedy Goth

18/12/2010 at 14:08

Don't worry about it UD, we're just a bit miffed that one of our own didn't get in, but we'll get over it soon enough! There is a wealth of useful info and encouragement on the 3.15 thread, plus 3 or 4 former Super Sixers (Matchstick Man VLM 2010, Sue C FLM 2009, Me GNR 2008, Wardi (pre 'Super Six' 200?) So we can identify with the pressures and scrutiny that you'll be under on here.

Biceps aren't going to help much with the marathon, can you do baby weighted squats and lunges