the Marathon of the North

thanks Adrian for all that advice I don't have a garmin but use a stopwatch and do record my runs. Maybe need to think about getting a garmin! thank you for the other useful ideas. I really appreciate you taking the time to share what works for you. I think these forums are great. I really pushed myself at Tatton and was pleased with my time but feel stiff and tired now. Off to do the supermarket soon so I may just follow your advice and buy a nice cream cake! All the best with your training.

pre training training taken a bit of a knock as 2 weeks ago turned my car over when I skidded on ice. Relieved to have walked away just bruised and very shaken but nervous on the ice. There is a lot of it round at the mo. Also very busy with work and Christmas. Hope to do a few runs a week then start the plan in January. Hope everyone elses training going ok

Slow going here the last week or so. Weather has knocked my mileage for six - November I ran a total mile pb of 101. This last week has been 7 and that was all tonight!!

Still, training really starts in Jan 2013......right ?

Glad training going well Adrian. I am a bit behind as took it steady after my car accident, it has been icy and now have a cold! I am comfortably running 8 miles and will follow my old plan from the Manchester Mara from last year. It worked and got me to the finish. I hope to improve on my time of 5hrs17 in very bad weather conditions. Looking forward to getting onto the plan again. I was wondering why M of the N is not reviewed on this site. Any ideas?

yeh! First day of 16 week plan! I plan to follow same plan as last year (GMM beginners plan) but it starts on lower mileage than I am doing now. Not sure what to do, will probably follow plan but maybe increase speed?! How is everyone else getting on with their training? Lots of people think I am mad entering another marathon but I love it!

Going good here - this thread remains quiet though!!! I'm seeing a bit of advertising around here with respect to this marathon so it makes me feel my few weeks of madness (This, London and Edinburgh) is getting very, very close.

Excited though. Training going well and have a 21 week plan. It's all getting real.

Is anyone else entering this as an aside ?

I live in Sunderland and had to pull out last year due to injury but I did the 10k then went to help on a water station. No great crowds but lots of vocal support from the 10kers.. The course has been changed this year and I have ran bits of over the last few weeks and it is now more of a natural run with less wiggly bits. There is the added advantage that there is a half marathon this year with the half marathon course being the first half of the marathon course. In my opinion the second half of the course will be the best. In the marathon your return to the stadium of light for the half way and then head out to the Sunderland seafront.

Not much choice of hotels in Sunderland but there are value guest houses on the sea front, about 20-30 mins walk to the start.

Great to have people's thoughts on this marathon all sounds really positive. A couple of things......what is car parking like (do I need to book somewhere?) and ......toilet facilities? Little things that seem big just before a marathon.

Big news for me.......from someone who planned to run one marathon a year (I did my first, Manchester last year) I have now entered a second one! This week a marathon in my home city of York was announced in Oct. I couldn't resist and just got in before it filled up in 4 days! Mad but excited!

thanks Adrian for the helpful info now have the challenge of training in the snow!

Hi Lily - I'm in same position as you; have enterered (actually was entered as a Christmas present!!) into Marathon of the North which will be my first marathon, and then got all carried away and signed up for the Yorkshire Marathon (I live in Hull)! Very excited although gutted that a horrible cough virus has scuppered any running for over a week - trying not to panic just get myself better before heading outside. Hotel in Sunderland is booked and hopefully can walk to the start (think will be a taxi back though!)

Hi hellsbells74. Think these will be 2 good marathons. I ran my first last April and had a real downer afterwards so having an Autumn one to look forward to and prepare for will be good. Just could not resist York. What training plan are you following? I am doing the same as last year, the beginners plan from Manchester Marathon website. I had a week sort of off when I went on holiday so a break to get better should be fine and you have lots of weeks left.Hope other members might be able to advise you here.Congrats on entering your first marathons Someone said to me you will only ever run one first marathon so enjoy every minute!

Well thought I may as well go for two as I was doing one anyway!! I'm following a 16 week plan put together by my brother ( he's done 4 marathons so far and is a sports psychologist so he seems to know what he's talking about!) - per week I'm doing one long run, a shorter race pace run, parkrun and an interval session on the treadmill. hoping to get back out there this weekend but will take it steady til I feel 100%.

Hope your training's going well