VLM 2010 Survivors

Looking Quickly Travelodge Broad Street £66

Ramada Encore Holloway Head £63.75

Etap Bristol, Street £40

Etap is furthest away but not a million miles the Travelodge is the best position as it is right near the finish

There are loads of others but some of the ones on Hagley Road are not so clever let me know before you book!

Thanks a million Rod

Etap looks good to me.  If it's anything like the Travelodge, they ramp up their prices when more people start to book, so best to do it all in one go.  Anyone else staying over?

Really really going now, hideously late as usual, bye!

Hi everyone, great thread...

kimfree your times are close to mine, i ran a 2:01 half  but i had a terrible 2nd half and ran/walked to a 4:29 this was my 4th mara and 3rd london... 

can i be added to the southend 10k...please

Chipsy, I sat in the reception of our hotel with an American before the race, we were staying in the Clarendon by blue start, I ask everyone for advice he said take it steady even 10 seconds a mile can cost later, my Friend did the half in 2.02 and I did 2.10 my finish which was not great was 4.27.36 my mates was around 4.29 still good for a first time, shows the importance of a steady start

Still Sub 4 though were you pleased?

Intersting you read that Rod about congestion etc - I was disappointed I couldn't get going and into 10mm pace but at the beginning I wasn't too worried as thought it would space out after 6 miles - however that wasn't the case and I found it was still as busy after 20 miles!!  I hadn't tried to dodge round people early on but now wish I had and been faster!

Having said that my splits are really even throughout and ran the second half 30 seconds or so quicker than the first.  I was just planning on doing the first half in 2:05-2:10 and not 2:15!!

Morning all

Lazy morning for me.

Rod the thing you said about being the only one who feels like you do when things get hard is something I have turned around over the years.  I know everyone is feeling like you do (or worse) and they are keeping going so I feel I can too.  for me it is a motivator to keep moving!  The marathon hurts everyone!!!

Well spin class for me last night.  Just one instead of my usual two.  Was not too bad considering though I did have to ease off the gas a couple of times.  But I am sure the resistance was higher than I usually have it so a good session. 

Ache a bit today though so going to visit the horses and then do a bit of gardening in the sunshine before my 3-4 mile run tonight with my ladies

Morning all- I managed to walk down the stairs forward this morning

Pinks can you recommend a hotel near you/bedford half as that way boyfriend doesn't have to get up too early to drive?

This is all fascinating reading, you see pinks your 2.15 was good as your second half was about the same superb even pacing,my second half was more like 2.17 or 18 which is OK I guess.

Rio I did feel bad but I used the fact that other people had given up and were going to walk for a fair time, I knew I would finish and wanted that sub 4.30 that kept me going, maybe I am just being hard on myself, it wouldn't  be the first time  

Pinks Rio is right I was due to go to the club last night I didn't I am nearly ready for a steady run but If I don't run till Parkrun on Saturday I ain't bothered, I will be doing that steady it will be my first one so a PB guaranteed   

Morning!  No I didn't have a lie in but I have to do things like Scrabble and feed my penguin first thing

Eva - Abingdon is already full although there is a waiting list

Kim - the only special bit I did to get your drink was write it on the shopping list, even going down the aisle wasn't out of my way as I needed diet coke as well!

I am thinking that I need to get on and enter something as I am still wandering around finding excuses not to go for a run in the evenings.  Quite happy to run with club last week and to go out at the weekend but solo evenings seem to be a CBA zone

Did an easy spin class last night - no resistance to speak of! Then swam 30 lengths. I was shocked to find that my arms were tired?????!!!!!!!!! Maybe I tensed up due to the cramps??!!

Took the dog for a walk this morning. Legs were fine before I went but when I got back they were aching????!!!!

I seem to be all over the place!

Got a 10k 2weeks on Sun and half ironman in 6weeks! Not sure I thought this through properly when I entered!!!!!!

Rio If you have any advice I would be grateful!

Rod Goodwin wrote (see)

Chipsy, I sat in the reception of our hotel with an American before the race, we were staying in the Clarendon by blue start, I ask everyone for advice he said take it steady even 10 seconds a mile can cost later, my Friend did the half in 2.02 and I did 2.10 my finish which was not great was 4.27.36 my mates was around 4.29 still good for a first time, shows the importance of a steady start

Still Sub 4 though were you pleased?

thats the one piece of advice I really should have taken on board i was aiming for 9m/m the first two miles cost me as they were around 10 to 10 and a half m/mi then decided i needed to get to 9m/m by 10 miles.... i managed to do it, i also managed to catch up the 9m/m pacer i clocked up 8: 40 to 8:50 m/m to get there though.. from 14 miles i totally broke down. I was utterly stupid , panicked that i would not catch up because of an army of walkers at the start... 4 marathons i should know better.. I felt pretty gutted -distraught maybe a tad strong word, but close to tears- i now sit here happy in the knowledge i`ve got a deserved medal, i raised a few quid for alzheimers ...and i got round...

I was asked by my wife if i was going to give it another go next year, i said im never going to run again... i `m now chomping at the bit to get out running again, and enter the ballot i bloody love this running lark

Relaxed I would say that now you would be wise to drop the running to twice a week, one short fast session and one run of about 10miles if you can.  But you do now need to get the swim and bike thing sorted quickly.  It is going to mean twice a day training for the next 4 weeks.   Swim 3 times a week and bike 3 at least with swapping your long run for a long bike building to 60 miles over the next three weeks each long ride followed with a short 5k or less run.

If you are stil going to do the spin classes (as I probably will) follow it with a run on the treadmill for another brick session

Start getting used to eating and drinking on the bike now too.  You will need food on the bike so start trying things like jaffa cakes, flapjacks or for a savoury snack cheese spread and marmite sandwiches.  Everything needs to be easy to chew and wash down with some water or sports drink