Lochaber Marathon 2012

14may83- it is quite different than a big city marathon- no crowds yelling at you, but it's nice- being an out- and back, the outgoing runners tend to clap the returning ones, and vice versa.

If you do end up running with someone else in the last few miles, they tend to give a few words of encouragement if you are tempted to slow or walk. I have been on my own- a couple of hundred yards behind the next runner, but it's fine- much more "community spirit" amoung the runners (at the back end of the pack, anyway) than in bigger, more anonymous races.

Perhaps you need to be a little more self- sufficient in terms of motivation, but I enjoy that.

For someone like you who has already done 6, so knows they can manage the distance, it will be fine......possibly moreof a worry for a first timer, especially if they are going to take more than 4:30, 'cos it can get failry widely spaced out after that.

Pretty grim in the central belt today but I should probably confess now that my entire training regime will be done indoors at a gym in the warm whilst watching football on Sky Sports - partly because my right knee can't cope with 16 weeks of tarmac and partly because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't force myself out to do long runs during a Scottish Winter. It does mean that I'm probably not as well preapred for race day as I would be if I got out and ran on harder surfaces a bit more - but needs must and all that. 12 miler today and there was absolutely no way I would have ran outside for 90 minutes today.

Signed up today and been training for 4 weeks now with around 5 weeks leeway for unexpected illness/weather etc.

It's hard to train at this time of year, just as it's getting progressively colder and we're reaching holiday season.  I too am considering running home from work.  That way by the time you're home, the run is done! Going home in a warm car to a warm house makes it challenging to venture back out in the cold and dark.

Excited though!

Yes- commuting is definietly the way to get the runs in- you have no choice, as there's no other way to get home!- some parts of my route are a problem in the dark, though, so I'll aprk half way and run the remaining 6 miles each way. Can do the full 11 mile commute at weekends when it's light, but first the wind needs to stop so that the bridge re-opens!

Don't worry too much about being a tready trainer, 14may 83- I did it for my first marathon- I don't think I could manage the 3hrs tready runs any more- out doors is better ( except today), just remember to vary the incline a bit, and do a little bit outdoors, otherwise things like the camber on the roads will cause you problems, as will runnung down hill, which you can't practice on a tready! ( I know Lochaber is flat, but there are litle ups and downs to deal with)

Greetings Everyone

Entered a few weeks and need to think about getting stuck into the training now. Did my PB of just under 3:55 at Loch Ness a couple of years ago and looking to get under that time in Lochaber.  Providing I can stay fit this will be mara number 11.

Looking forward to sharing all of your experiences over the next few months.

Am doing something a bit odd with trainig this time- going to stick to HADD base trainig until 8 weeks before race day, then skip into a "sharpening " programme, adapted from P&D, I think. So this was supposed to be 90 mins @ <70% max HR- managed 70 mins at this HR on tready before my brain went to mush and I quit!

Pavements in Glasgow are really treacherous, don't know what I'd do without the gym- 'spose the other option is to find an off -road route, see if that's any less icy

I reckon the Lochaber course is worth a good few minutes on time, due to it's lack of hills- I'm sure both Goldeagle and NEAMAC are iin for a PB , unless the weather does something bad.....it's been beautiful for the last 2 or 3, but very hot a few years ago.

Am trying to stop doing my online shopping, and get going with a run soon...............looks chilly out there.

Really loved Loch Ness and will definitely try to get there again.

Am in the West Midlands and although the nights have been pretty cold this last week the underfoot conditions have been OK. Dislike treadmills and and have absolute admiration for anyone who can bang out loads of miles on them. Got out for 6 miles last night and felt pretty good. Have been taking things a bit easy after Palma mara in mid-October and really fun time out in Cyprus at the 4-day challenge.  

Too icy up North today for running so I went skiing instead. Glad I did because the conditions were brilliant. Must get the running shoes back on tomorrow though...

Season's Greetings - here's hoping the weather settles down a bit as it's hardly conducive to running (yet more gales and heavy rain) outside - I'm away from home/gym.  Hope Santa was good to everyone.

Having a look at pre-Marathon races; Balloch to Clydebank HM is usually a good fit - but according to the Scottish Athletics website it is a month later this year and is to be held on .........yes you've guessed - the 15th of April 2012.  Looks like a long-overdue repeat visit to Alloa HM will be in order (18 March)