Talkback: Lucozade Sport Super Six: Christina (sub-3:00)

Barnsley, I think Liz Y may give advice by text also. MM has said he will rest for 10 days and I believe Sue C was told complete rest for 7 days prior to her marathon specific training last year. Obviously Liz Y knows a hell of alot more than me about marathon training and I dont believe there is only one right approach just interesting to note.

Good luck with the training JBFAR - look forward to following you on this thread...

Yes that would be nice but I get the impression we only get a glimpse. I suppose it depends on the mentor and their willingness to expose themselves to public scrutiny and too many back seat drivers! But I'm sure JBFRA & MM will spread the word anyway.

so just back from club (well have eaten) and it was proper parky out!  may have frost bite on my nose-Hills were called off so 6 x 800m on grass instead- so all in all 7 miles with some tempo stuff.  As im not used to tempo stuff it really hurt and am wondering how the boxing day 10k will feel!

Regarding the mentors- we met them at the meet and greet but only spent a little while with them, but apart from that i believe Paul will be coming on here and giving advice publicly so all can see and I will be asking questions on the thread...

BR/Shadow Face - Yes I had to take a full weeks rest before marathon training last year. It is very hard to do when you are used to running a lot. I was extremely motivated to start the schedule I remember. I have no idea whether it did me any harm or benefit to be absolutely honest with you. I was in a different position to MM though, who has trained for two marathons this year and I suspect will definately benefit from a 'down' week if only from a mental point of view.

This year I have been running pretty consistent 45-50 mile weeks for a while now (bar a couple of lighter weeks due to two illnesses) Simmering I guess you could call it before a 12 week schedule for Blackpool and an increase in volume and marathon specific training.

Certainly is 'proper parky' Christina!

JBFAR: another RW 'sub-3-er' popping in to wish you all the best for the campaign.

Not sure I'll be able to offer much advice that won't be given more lucidly from more talented, experienced or perceptive folk than myself, but I'll be following the adventure. It's going to be a lot of fun.

Sue C: simmering nicely!

Morning

Just having a lurk about the rest/non rest debate.  I think it depends on the intensity of your running and the target.   I'm at the ploddy end of the spectrum and haven't been told to rest, which is just as well as it's a case of fighting to get out there when we can in this weather.

SF all the advice is public, but we do have our coaches' e-mail addresses and mobile numbers in case we want to ask them anything off the forum.

I'm plodding even slower than Hash (who is not a plodder!) and again no rest here BUT

I did have 2 wks off coughing in Dec and the ice is restricting my runs too well not as much as having the son arround! I would have been running if at home!!  I'm doing a few sessions from the 1st couple of weeks of my plan as "practice"

Morning all.

I'm no expert at the resting/running debate but Paul hasn't told me to do anything different so I'll keep going!  I am going away for a week just after christmas so I will naturally do less miles that week so I think this will be the best of both worlds.

Off to get some compeed in a bit- have a nasty blister and dont want to get injured by running awkward before i start!...don't think its the new addidas shoes we have been given i think its my others- I have found a model of saucony shoe that I have stuck to for a very long time but the model is about 3 years out of date now so the running shop convinced me to get the latest model...hmmmm, I should have known better!! Ouch.  Yes Im prone to blisters

Marigold- do they give you danger money in these conditions?  Are you getting lots of tips at this time of year?

Njord- welcome! yes hopefully alot of fun inbetween the hard work!

posted that twice..

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up"

A quote from the VLM newsletter that I liked...

Hi Cristina,

I hope you are well. Great to see the races you are doing next year. I'll try and attend them as well so we can catch face to face rather than over the phone. Did you get a chance to try any more of the products? I'm new to blogging on a regular basis but will try and keep up to date with what your up to over X-mas.

Best of luck JBFAR- look forward to following your progress. FWIW I'd imagine that with your previous times you have a great chance of absolutely breezing through sub 3. What has your average training week leading up to this over the past year or so looked like out of interest?

Paul- given your own origins, coming into the sport relatively late and I think Bicourt telling you that to "catch up" you had to run essentially three times a day (and then following this the eventual breakthrough in the Tour of Britain?) wouldn't you think at this stages that two runs a day is pretty much the absolute minimum that needs to be done for high level performance? Think you're running a flying coach day for us early in January so look forward to catching up then! 

Will post some questions up on here if you don't mind regarding your own schedules you handed out after the Lee Valley day from before some of your best races!

Hi Christina

Good luck with the blisters!

Productive day for me Christmas wise although no run today  - did manage to get out for a casual 7 miler yesterday however. Glad to see you've got some good runs in despite the weather. Good luck with the 10k - let me know how you get on and should I not log on over the next couple of days, have a great christmas.

 Jon

Ooh, Christine, nip that in the bud before the fun officially starts!

I hear sprouts are an excellent cure for blisters