Talkback: Lucozade Sport Super Six: Richard (sub-3:15)

Introducing the second member of our Lucozade Sport Super Six 2010 … Richard (aka Matchstick Man).

Richard took up running shortly after the birth of his first daughter as a means of keeping fit and has set his sights firmly on achieving a sub-3:15 marathon time.

Richard will be using our sub-3:15 Garmin-ready schedule (devised by former London Marathon winner Mike Gratton) as a basis for his training and will be mentored by Liz Yelling directly on this thread (starting January 4).

He’ll be posting his training progress and be receiving fuel and hydration advice directly from the Lucozade Sport sports scientists live on this thread so make sure you check back regularly to find out how he gets on.

You can read more about Richard's running background and goals by clicking on the article link at the top of the thread.

Good luck Richard!

Ha - there you are!!!

Good luck Matchstick Man. You will have a FANTASTIC time.

What are you doing regarding training before the schedules kick off? Have you been given any advice?

Looking forward to seeing you smash 3.15 

Woo Hoo! A thread all about me me me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyNyHark4xk

marvellous scenes

Now then, house rules:
1. No lurking
2. See rule 1.

Join in the fun boys and girls, we're heading to April 25th 2010 at a rate of knots and before you know it, it will be a Sunday In April and we'll be out for a run in That London with a few other like minded souls

AVIT!

Sue C wrote (see)

What are you doing regarding training before the schedules kick off? Have you been given any advice?

Looking forward to seeing you smash 3.15 

Good luck, MM. I think you're on course to smash 3:15.

 Looking forward to all those top tips, too.

Best of luck MM. 

I'd better add yet another bookmark then.....

Just watched the meet and greet video - it all looks fantastic!! (Sob....!)

I'll be following the sub-3.30 schedule but latching onto your thread. I haven't run since a 10k at the weekend but now your thread's going, that should give me the prod I need. Perhaps start with an easy 4 today as it's v cold and icy...

The Best of Luck - I hope you have a great journey.

Right - page 1 of my thread so let's have some proper background to me rather than the piecemeal stuff that I've fed to RW.

I'm 36, married to (very) understanding wife and have two children: daughter who is 4 and a half and son who is currently 14 weeks old. I live in Coventry and run for Northbrook AC http://www.northbrookac.org.uk/ and work in the city centre. Currently my wife is on maternity leave which means I have the freedom (till she goes back to work in April) of running to and from work most days. It's 2.5 miles shortest direction and I can add on any number of miles on the loop home, the most being 13.1 back in the summer.
I have been a cyclist since 1992 and am a member of the Coventry Road Club http://www.coventryroadclub.org.uk/ where I am the General Secretary. I have PB's of 22m42s for 10 miles and 59m36s for a '25' and have done most stuff - road racing, cyclo-cross, MTB and the odd Majorca training camp. The most recent thing I did was a 160mile sportif - Tour of Flanders back in 2007 which took me 10hrs exactly. Great fun

My running history:
2005 - daughter born in May. Started running as well as cycling and found it difficult to break 7 min miling for a 5 mile race
2006 - Managed a 1h46 HM (Godiva HM) and started entertaining thoughts of a marathon. Entered London but rejected in the ballot
2007 - Undertook a 10 week training plan with an online coach who I used for the 10 week prep for Flanders that spring and managed a 90min time at Godiva HM, although I faded in the last 3 miles after being on for sub 90mins.
2008 - Got notice with 13 weeks to go that I had a place in FLM 08 running for the local MS Therapy Centre (my wife has relapsing/remitting MS) and managed 3h30min for my first marathon. Really thought that with a 90min time I could go sub 3h15 but the reality kicked in at about half-way.
Ran Nottingham in the summer - 3h25m. Looking back at that year I did NO 20 mile runs in prep for London and only did 1 x 20 miles for Nottingham. It was a real slap in the chops and a wake up call that you have to respect the distance
2009 - Got into FLM in the ballot. Did 16 week plan and got my 5 x 20milers in, a sub 40min 10K, a 15 mile race, raced the Midland and National relays in April and had a target time of 3h09min. The heat on the day soon put paid to that and I went through halfway in 1h37min and faded over the second half to 3h19min. 2 weeks later I ran my first sub 90 HM time at Hinckley HM with 87mins - how annoying!
The wife said I should put in for Abingdon so 18 week plan was drawn up and I followed it perfectly. Got 5 LSR = 100 miles (18, 20, 20, 20, 22), a sustained period where my mpw = just over 50 and I was FLYING. I cruised the Kenilworth HM 2 weeks prior to Abo in 92mins as a marathon paced training run and crossed the line walking with my mouth closed:

So now we're at a point where I'm ready to gear up for a spring marathon campaign and FINALLY get the monkey off my back about going sub 3h15. My PB's from this year:
5k - 18m38s
5 mile - 31m20s
10k - 39m31s
Half Marathon - 87m21s
15 mile - 1h45m44s
20 mile - 2h21m53s
Marathon - 3h19m14s

are great apart from the last one. I've said all along that a fit guy in his mid 30's should be able to go sub 3h15 with a family/job/etc. All I want to do is break the barrier then I can retire from marathon running and go back to just doing local races that fit in with my family commitments. I've done enough travelling with my cycling so don't like that aspect of racing and try to limit myself to a 15mile radius as it fits in with family better. I don't race that much but it's a conscious decision on my part.

Any questions feel free to ask but I owe a HUGE debt of gratitude to the sub 3h15 thread where I've been for the past 12 months. They've put up with me and supported me and let me drivel on with very little restraint so thanks guy and "Glamazons". I can't name them all (we'll be here all day) but I've met some of them in FLM 09 and without them I wouldn't be here now so a BIG thanks publicly for your votes and support

I suspect this thread is going to be a very good one, nice history MM. I am all excited, 'tis bringing back memories.

Slipped and slid round a 9 mile route today. Was supposed to do hill reps but nothing suitable in the conditions but did manage a short 2 mile MP effort instead before a bloke in a BMW stopped and asked for directions, despite there being a lady walking her dog not 100m away!

I am also supposed to be WFH today but have completely lost the plot and deeply deeply CNBA

MM - I am sure that you will hit your 3.15 target though, unlike me! Anyway - this time the thread is all about YOU YOU YOU - and so it should be

ps - why are you running slowly? (or struggling to run slowly should I say?)

Sue C wrote (see)

ps - why are you running slowly? (or struggling to run slowly should I say?)

Oh for God sake .. me me me!

*waves frantically*

Wanna pass on some of that speed to a little pixie?

Hi MM - looking forward to reading about your escapades.  I'm considering an April marathon (Bungay on 18th April) and would love sub 3.30.  I also have a young family (daughter aged 17m) and work part time so know all about juggling!  Plus my husband is a keen climber and cyclist so he needs time for his fix of both as well.

Training starts on 28th Dec, so I'm planning on starting and seeing what happens.  Unlike VLM it is not oversubscribed and I can ever enter on the day, so I don't actually have to make up my mind yet.