Target 262 - Ricky Challinor

Get some sports lottery funding and work closely with a team who know you, your running past and present, what niggles you are prone to and when. (I take it you're already in touch with Sport Wales and the WSI etc?)

It's gotta be about trust at elite level surely! There's a lot at stake...

I'd happily see you go to Paris - you just need to be clear about what you're gonna get out of this so that you're not disappointed if you don't get it.  Personally I think there's a big difference between the VIP package that's on offer and the elite support you deserve. 

Best of luck

morning

this mornings question

 what do you hope to gain from the forum and what do you think you can give to the forum

Minni wrote (see)

Ricky - I thought you'd run a 71 HM? Championship for London is sub 75 half.

And entries are still open, until early January.

Morning!

You're welcome.  Steve does an amazing job - but he'll only be part of your life for 4 months -  we joke here that there are 3 people in our marriage - and one of them is my OH's coach - you need long term support at your age (not being patronising - but you shouldn't be just looking 1 year ahead as I'm sure you're not).

My OH is a bit quicker than you (but also 12 yrs older!!!!) and hasn't done a  marathon yet so I do have some understanding and sympathy for what goes on in your world.

Another thought for you - have you contacted your local council sports development team?  My OH got given a "Gold card" that meant he could use any council gym facility within their jurisdiction free of charge?  Or it's worth writing to your local private gyms to explain that you'd like to use their facilities and see if they'll negotiate/give you a free membership - they can only say no...  That would help towards your strength/conditioning routine wouldn't it?

Keep applying for the lottery funds - we're in a slightly different set up due to having access to the RAF Sports Lottery - we don't get much but we're very grateful for the help towards transport costs etc for zooming round the country to get quality races. 

Some of the GB guys have also gotten help from local businesses in the past - have you tried getting sponsorship in the past?  Granted - the economic climate is not the best at the moment.

RRR, you lost me when you said you didn't qualify for a championship place...if your really serious about the marathon you would of known that you qualify...I think you could probably start by reading a bit more become a self sufficient athlete, then you will now the questions to ask what works for you and what doesn't.

Good luck and I hope you make it to Glasgow, I will cheer you on.

You have OH's vote but please do take on board what Choisty just said - he knows what he's on about!

Hi Ricky, blown away by your times mate - would love to see you at Glasgow! Best of luck to you

Hi Ricky

I'm in awe of people running your sort of pace. I'm interested to know your motivation for moving up to the marathon distance now. Have you done all that you wanted at the shorter distances, or is there any unfinished business. Does the marathon represent your strongest chance of commonwealth qualification.

Good luck

Hi Ricky, you have awesome times and have great ambition.  It's a shame you have been put into this category, because you don't fit the profile of what I consider a "first timer" to be all about - even though it's technically true.  

Obviously the Asics coaches must believe that they can add something to your training (within the constrains of online mentoring) to have put you this far in the process, and I assume they are well aware of your existing coaching situation.  They wouldn't set themselves up to have egg on their face, so this intruigues me.

They should have you in a more befitting category - maybe an entirely new one - because IMHO you are on a hiding to nothing in this one, which is not really fair.

I really do hope you achieve your ambition.

In the past the coaches have stuck fairly rigidly to the RW schedules, which is understandable if their objective is partly to promote said schedules. 

You'd have to be insane to proceed unless it was made clear from the outset that the Asics coach would work with your current coach and develop a completely bespoke schedule.  If that was the case, however, it would make a great thread.  What has been said about this?

Best of luck with your running, don't sacrifice what is best for your running for the sake of a t-shirt and some free biscuits.

To clarify our worries.........the video of the bootcamp that is now on the home page states that you will be following the asics training schedule calculated by My Asics........

this site looks a bit of a joke.........I put in your age and half time of 71 mins and your goal....they gave an option of you running 2 or 3 or 4 days.........even on the 4 days a week there was not  asingle week where you ran more than 40 miles and most were well short.......

this seems even worse than the old RW schedules.............so i do advise you to look at them and to check with the coaches etc I can not see how anyone could get your fast goal on running that few miles a week

I hope that the coaches have looked at them and will disregard them for the RW schedules which had their faults but not that bad

Hi Ricky......I must say I'd be extremely interested to follow our efforts should you get through. 2:20 is formidable and something sadly that I could only dream of. Good luck!

Christmas parties get in the way of the best laid plans!

Best of luck mate... will be amazing to follow you if you get it - your times are out of this world!

Whatever happens, hope you get through the Commonwealths - will be great pointing you out to my son and telling him I sat next to you at bootcamp lol.

Hopefully it won't be too long of a wait to find out!