Talkback: ASICS Target 26.2 Team: Emma

Thanks for all the questions everyone - I'm feeling really excited about running in the cold how crazy is that?!

Sleepy Bear - thank you for the compliment - my youngest is four so I can't really get away with saying baby weight! However my body has changed so much after 2 pregnancies that it takes a long time to adjust!

Seren - I totally recommend them for under normal clothes they are like super spanx for the entire body- marvellous!

mcs - I am rationing my new kit so I am allowed to get a new bit out once I complete a training run - that way I can spread out the excitement! The tights are going to take a lot of beating though - they are the best I've ever used and even if I don't get any more I will go out an buy some! New trainers will be reviewed tomorrow after my clubs 'ho ho ho Santa run' where I will be dressed as an angel - again!

Full account of Saturday to follow - it was so fascinating so want to share it with everyone! But first we are having a special family day - lunch out and cinema to watch Happy Feet 2 (we got a cheap deal).

Have a lovely day everyone!

PS slept for 8 hours for the first time in about 18 months - now I feel like I have been kicked by a horse!

Enjoy Happy Feet Emma- guys at work said its a brilliant film!!

 Looking forward to hearing all about yur adventures at the weekend... think I might have to get some of those tights myself!!!

Love the fact you are rationing the new kit- it's a briliant idea!

My thread doesn't seem to be updating - unless its my laptop?

I enjoyed Happy Feet but my four year old got board and kept on asking to leave! Great!

Evening all - no running tonight so I will spend a little time to tell a little about Saturday...

It was an early start and I was in central London for about 8:30, I met up with Lee (Choisty) and we went for a coffee. Once we met up with the rest of the runners and folks from Asics and RW we went off to the store where we had gait analysis and a 3D footscan (I have got short wide feet - bit like spatulas). The final shoe that I ended up with is the GT 2170 in a wide fitting! Will take them out for a test drive tomorrow and let you know how I get on with them! (Rationing you see)

We had time to shop in the store which was amazing except that I went completely blank and couldn't work out what I really needed and actually got a bit overwhelmed. I ended up getting a bit tearful on the lovely Marketing girl from Asics - she must have thought I was crazy! But I found the best pair of tights (as reviewed previously), couple of tops, capris and a lovely convertable jacket! WOW!

Then we had a photoshoot - in the middle of Regents Street - literally. Bonkers and freezing, with tourists taking vidoes of us!

Off to Bupa next for our fitness tests and meeting our coaches. Sam is lovely and we talked about my previous training, days that I can/can't run and races that I would like to try and include (I'm hoping to do Watfor 1/2 and Tunbridge Wells half and hopefull the Spitfire 20. She also showed me some excercises to do at home - I am pathetic at the plank! Amazingly Sam thinks I could aim for slightly faster than 4:30 - that would be fabulous!

I had the fitness test - on the treadmill with about a million electrodes attached to me, a nose clip, a blood pressure cuff and breathing in to a piece of hoover tubing attached to a snorkel mask type thing. Its a look not many can carry off ... so delighted that I was videod for this bit! Some good news and some less good - my body fat % was hideously high (not to be declared), my lung capacity wasn't particularly good and I'm shorter than I thought I was. But I weigh less, my VO2 max is 42 and my flexibility was very good.

All in all an amazing day - amd the rest of the team are lovely.

I should be getting my orders frm Sam soon so I will let you know how my first training runs go!

Happy running all!

seren nos wrote (see)

Hi emma what advice did they give you re running shoes......what new shiny ones have you got and what were you running in. i loive running shoes......way too many in my house...... I like the sound of those tights.........i don't run in tights at all but they sound good to go under trousers when out and about for christmas dos

Seren - I am currently on my 3rd pair of Brooks Adrenaline 11's (have absolutely loved them as they are supportive but not too bulky and cushioned). Been suggested that I try the 2170s in a wide fitting. Doing the 'Ho Ho Ho' run - around all the houses with the most lights in the town - with club tonight and will try out new shoes as shouldn't be too fast or far!

You never wear long trousers ever?

I think we are all between ages of 31 and 42. I'm the old lady of the group and by the looks of things will be taking twice as long to complete the Marathon!

On a positive note - this means I get longer to take in the sights!

I think I should get another pair when these wear out - most certainly don't want to be running in a pair of shoes that have clocked 400 miles, more like 40 would be ideal!

You will be fine I am sure, aren't you and Craig aiming for a similar time? One of my daughters flew to Paris yesterday to enjoy the sights for a week with her French cousins.    You want have time to look at them, Sam and Steve will be encouraging you to look straight ahead and keep going!!! Have you looked at last years videos of the day..........that sunshine is nice!!!

The temperature looks very like London this year - I absolutely wilted. Knew I was going to struggle by mile 3! However I didn't wear a cap - a mistake I shall not make again!

I think Craig might be aiming slightly faster - to be honest on your first marathon it is all so unknown and each time you learn a little more.

Sam has told me that I have the speed but not endurance (marathon times as indicated by my 10k and 1/2 marathon pace would indicate a much faster time). I should imagine she will be planning something to improve my endurance - whilst taking in to account my genuine issue trying to "Juggle a busy lifestyle" and my fear of dogs (makes running on my own tricky!).

By the time I hit end of Feb I should be able to guage progress by comparrision with last year - hoping to do the same half marathon and see if I can knock about 4 mins off!

I see what you mean about sight seeing - in VLM 2010 I was in so much pain I didn't even see Buckingham palace!

What videos are these?

Craig - the photo shoot was one of the most weird things I've ever done in my life! It was bloomin cold wasn't it? I have asked for Watford as it is at start of Feb and want to do the Tunbridge Wells half at the end of Feb as it is a fab race - although a very tough course!

Sam is currently working on my schedule - aparently it is causing a bit of a headache. My speed at shorter distances ismuch better than my longer distance times. I think that is what Sam is going to focus on in my training.

We will have to make adjustments too - parents evenings, poorly kids etc.

Wore my new trainers tonight - once piece of kit at a time!