Lochaber Marathon 2012

That is a shame Goldeagle that you have had to pull out....reading this forum recently is making me scared to go out running in case i pick up some injury that means i miss the marathon in april. I have had the odd wee niggle (knee and ankle) but nothing that a days rest and ice wont help!! Fingers and legs crossed that i can make it through the next month and a bit safely!!!!??

Sorry to hear your news Goldeneagle - as you say it becomes a trade-off and trying to cram in mileage increases significantly the risk of injury; hope you get an alternative sorted out in due course.  I always remember the saying (not sure whose it is) that the biggest challenge in running a marathon is getting to the start line reasonably prepared and in half decent shape in the first place. 

Agree with your sentiments re-Mick - although I think we'll all miss his gruff Yorkshire plain speaking in those post-match interviews!

Simon- that's a shame...sure it's not worth giving it a week just to see if that was a bad first run back, - things may settle!

Yup- it's going to be a lot of DNS's!

Thanks tricialitt, I'll try and get a few runs in during this week and then a long run at the weekend. If all goes well I may change my mind.

Any one still there........................... 4 weeks to go!- am doing a half tomorrow- not looking forward to any attempt at speed- and legs feeling quite knackered from recent relatively high mileage, but must remember, it's not the end goal in itself, just a warm- up for this race, whcih, in itself , is really  training towards an ultra later in the year!

Any news of your progress, Simon?

Had a pretty good week. Two short, fast runs mid week, 12K yesterday and 22K this morning at marathon pace. So a bit of a dilema now... I have only done about half the training that I should have done, and the sensible thing to do would be to pull out and live to run another day. But being sensibile is something I'm not very good at!

So, I think I'll wait another couple of weeks before making a final decision. I'll try an fit in a 2.5 hour run next weekend and then 3 hours the weekend after. That means a 2 week taper, which is not ideal...??

How did the half go Triciallit?

Half was fine- 1:50, reasonably comfortable- ie I was getting stronger towards the end- but couldn't get comforatble at any faster pace- think it bodes well for my endurance, whih is usually the problem, so perhaps all the slow higher mileage has helped!

I might be on a 2 week taper too, but since neither of us have a solid couple of months of high mileage in our legs, I reckon we can get away with it.

Aiming for 3.5 hours LSR next weekend, then will pull it back to maybe 2.5 the next one. Should be OK, I think.

Good day at the Alloa HM today - weather was kind and enjoyed the new start/finish arrangements.  Also pleased with a 1:33:10 which is my fastest half in the last 5 years and is probably an age-adjusted PB (haven't done the re-calculation yet).  Pushed quite hard and never felt that comfortable but was able to maintain the pace and actually finished the last mile quite strongly (ie passed a few more than passed me!). So I guess the endurance base is there. Now just need to work out how to convert my half times into the theoretical marathon times they should produce...?

 Hope plans work out tricialitt and Simon - always difficult decisions when training has been disrupted - no right or wrong answers I suspect.

Hi 14may83- you would have been finished and away long before me, but I enjoyed it too.

 I can never "convert" a half time as per prediction, - I think most calculators are grossly over ambitious. double it plus 20 minutes is one I've heard, which puts me on for about 4hrs, which would be fine. The convertor on fetch that suggests that I can do 3:53 is just mad!

Feeling OK today-  2x gentle 6milers  on wednesday then a good long one at the weekend. (except thatt weather is ghastly at the moment!)

Conversion seems to be anything from double+10 minutes to double+20 minutes; my marathon times are tightly grouped around double+25 minutes (or more!).  Even using the most conservative would provide a target time of 3:26 which is a good 10 minutes quicker than my best marathon time - and I simply can't imagine doing it that fast.  Mind you my 10K and HM times are relatively better than my Marathon times - so maybe I'm just better designed for the shorter distances or my training indoors doesn't prepare me adequately to maintain the pace in the second half.

Glad you enjoyed Alloa - it's a well run event and a good route.

 Felt OK this morning - but was sitting down most of the afternoon without getting to move around much and then in a bus for an hour - hamstrings are now so tight you could play a tune on them.  Hopefully I'll manage a light run on Tues.

I'm hoping for sub 5 hours!  I managed 20 miles (my first) in 3 hours 40 mins last weekend, which fetch suggests would translate to about 4hrs 50mins.

Last proper LSR done and dusted- 19miles in 3hr 25 minutes, didn't feel too bad- getting a bit weary towards the end, but overall quite reassuring.

abradypus- welcome, I suspect you'll go a lot faster in the race than in your LSR, as you'll be rested and full of adrenaline- are you tapering now?

Will aim for about 15 miles next weekend, I think.