Edinburgh Marathon

I'm another first timer, I did the half last year and decided to bite the bullet and try the full.  I'm a bit worried that it's going to be as hot as last year and I'm still undecided about how much fluid to take with me, especially with stories of water stations drying up...

scary that the official 16 week countdown starts on Monday, thanks for that Bobbis  but there's a little part of me that just wants to get on with it 

Hi everyone, just like so many of you, I'm tackling my first marathon in Edinburgh in May. I think I'm becomming obsessed thinking about it!!!

Absolutely hated running as a chubby, overweight kid and was third slowest in my year at sec school.  Now at the age of 52 (I'll be 53 in May) I've taken up running seriously and train about five times a week.

Ran a 16 miler today, furthest I've ever run in my life, in 2hrs 19 mins. I know I'm ahead of schedule on Higdon programme plans etc and obviously don't want to get injured by doing too much too soon. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. 

My two goals are to complete the marathon and hopefully break 4hrs. Don't know if that is pie in the sky! I'm running Blackpool half at beginning of April to get a feel to a race environment.

Good luck to everyone in the coming months and stay injury-free.

This will be my 3rd marathon...unfortunately I have tendenitis so training is only just beginning but I am looking forward to it - I think I ran the Edinburgh half last year and it was hot so really hoping it is not too hot this year. I live 30 miles away and it is a rariety for it to be that hot Hope everyones training is going well and be good to chat with you all as we get ever closer and share our training highs and lows.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Gary. Scaled my long run back to 12 miles this weekend and ran it slighty slower - possibly a result of the chicken tikka bhuna and the too many to count glasses of shiraz I had Saturday night with the other half. I suppose will have to improve the discipline in the coming weeks. Still, it was nice to run past the Aston Villa training ground while singing Keep Right On To The End Of The Road. I thought it was quite poignant.  

Hello Folks,

I am just putting together my training plan for Edinburgh (my first marathon!) and wonder whether anyone else has any thoughts or alternate recommendations on the 16 week programme on the official website?

I have a reasonable base level of 10-20 miles per week and would like 4hrs or less but struggle with a few niggles after clocking much over 30m/week...

Any thoughts would be most appreciated!

Lots of interesting posts and lots of people going for their first marathon at Edinburgh. Hope training goes well for you all - well done Roger - looking good.

I've not been a good one for schedules but a gradual build up with no week being more than 10% harder than the last (a common rule that helps limit injury). A pretty randon selection from tempo, slower recovery, at least one long run, some hills and an interval session. There are formal schedules for those who lead more organised lives than me.

Sambo - If you get niggles with the longer miles, try a hard week followed by an easier week with more cross training?

Gary - some runs can be a disaster. Not sure it would be lack of water if cool and you took some water with you. See what happens next time?

Hi Janie, I am doing very similar times and have the same idea as you, I have been alternating 17 miles with 12 miles and now plan to do 18 this weekend with 12 the following and then maybe 3 x 20's and 2 x 22's with alternating 12 milers in between. fingers crossed this should get me at my goal of under 3.50 in the marathon!

Janie .. No, with the Liverpool I stuck to the hal higdon intermediate plan, incresing slowly each week with every third week a step back week, with only 2x 20 milers. I have been maintaining 15 or 17 milers every other week since the liverpool marathon so no need to build this time which gives me more time for more long runs with the weeks recovery inbetween (my legs need this recovery and it helps avoid injury!). dont know if this plan will work but hope so! under 3hours 50 gives GFA entry into the London marathon.

Help!.. Woken up this morning after my achilles issues last night and it's very sore and looking swollen. Any advice, I've put some ibuprofen gel on it but is there anything else I should be doing?.