VLM 2012 first timers??? - Page 12 - Spring Marathon

Speed-10

22/11/2011 at 10:28

My blister seems loads better today so will get out for 5 miles tonight I think.

LWJ - Wrexham half in Feb may suit you, limited places but there will be someone slow in the race to beat as it is the only race I plan on doing pre VLM. Not sure whether to try and beat my one and only HM time in it or take it nice and easy but I guess that's a decision for closer to the time!

Len 2 (I'm a girl)

22/11/2011 at 10:30

Yay for better blisters . Wo was it who suggested sewing thread through a blister? Shudder.

B&T - I stand in portaloo queues repeatedly too!! Wonder how that's going to work in London?!

LWJ

22/11/2011 at 10:35

Morning all,

Len - well done on your 30 minutes! It's a great feeling when you manage it.

B&T - I find I'm less nervous if I go to races on my own - though I'm always in the queue for the loos too. Len, it's one of the things I'm most nervous about when it comes to London!!!

S7 - thanks, will have a look at Wrexham, that's a fairly local one and since my HM time is 3hours 6, you're going to have to competition when it comes to being slowest!

I think I'm missing my competitive spirit, I have one pace regardless of whether I'm training or racing and I really don't push myself as much as I could/should. Must work on this before London.

Speed-10

22/11/2011 at 10:53

I won't go into the gore of what I did with the blister but after a sore day or so its healed quick!

Wrexham half is supposed to be very flat so perhaps a good one to aim sub 3? I did Chester last year and was a good stone lighter then and did 2hrs 12, would be a fair bit slower now but hoping to do that next year in sub 2hr after all 13 miles should be easy after (hopefully) going the full marathon!

Black And Tabby

22/11/2011 at 11:19

Ha ha Len & LWJ - I have been known to get to the front of the queue, come out, look atthe length of the queue and just join the back as I know I'll need it again by the time I get to the front. Am hoping VLM is such a large event it will be very well stocked for portaloos........

Blisters and sewing???? yuck

Len 2 (I'm a girl)

22/11/2011 at 15:14

Balancing the need for hydration and the need to pee is going to be really tricky for me . Eeeek!

I even needed to go several times before a 10k! Oh dear..

LWJ

22/11/2011 at 15:18

I failed on my half marathon in the summer with the hydration/pee balance. Not even half a mile in, and I had to pop behind a hedge. It's just not ladylike - but I s'pose if we all have to do it...

jdw2000

22/11/2011 at 21:29

There are so few half marathons in the London area before the VLM. I can't find a single one this side of Christmas. Without a car it's difficult to get to the likes of Bedford.

Anyone know of any? Id like to do at least one Half Marathon before Christmas, and at least 2 after Christmas.

Surely people in London are organising them? But they're not advertised on the Runners World website...

Black And Tabby

23/11/2011 at 12:09

jdw2000 - have you tried looking at the website of a running club near you? I know our local clubs always have lists of races in the area (normally because they'll be entering as a club). Might give you some ideas?

LWJ - well I definitely have to do it, so I'm not ladylike either! Lots of it in my mind / nerves which doesn't help.

LEN - yes, HM, 10k, 5k doesn't matter to me, I have to queue several times before *any* race, which I guess shows how much of it is nerves.

Anyway - only less toilet-related talk, had a very slow 4M recovery run on Monday after Sunday's speediness, and a very cold 3M trot around the lanes today. Will hopefully get out for a longer run tomorrow, but am so busy at the moment don't know if it will happen.

djh77

23/11/2011 at 15:02

l've been really lucky and have not had any blisters. l was told when l started running to try and find the cause of blisters -- e.g. try different running socks until you find the right ones -- rather than focus on how to treat them if you do get them. Not sure if its any use to you guys but l'm a big fan of prevention rather than cure.

Has everyone booked their hotels yet? l hear things are getting busy.

Good luck with the training guys -- keep up the good work.

jdw2000

23/11/2011 at 15:10

Surely everyone is aware of anti-blister socks?

£8 in any running store. Double-skinned socks, wherby the skins between the socks do the rubbing, instead of your skin. Inside they are made of a special material which rubs freely.

Hands-down "THE" best running purchase I have EVER made. I have not even had a hint of a blister since.

Speed-10

23/11/2011 at 15:44

Yep, I'm a big fan of the 1000 mile socks ... the only blister I have had is this recent one which was on my big toe where it was rubbing the other toe. It started off fairly minor but stupidly I didn't grease it or put a plaster on it so it ended up as a blister on a blister!

Loftus Road Runner

23/11/2011 at 15:50

Watford,wokingham,Reading all have halfs before london.Gade Valley harriers hold 3 excellent marathon training runs and clapham chasers also do a 20 miler with london in mind.

LWJ

23/11/2011 at 15:51

I've been fairly lucky with blisters - as it not getting many at all! However, I've had a real problem with friction burns - particularly on my arms. Think I'll have try out some vaseline before my next decent run. I've not bothered so far, because I've figured it will just rub off on my vest, but I guess it's worth a go!

jdw2000

23/11/2011 at 15:55

Loftus Road Runner - thank you very much for that. I'll certainly try to do some/all of those.

LWJ - yes, just apply it to the offending area. If some of it rubs off on the clothes, that will still help the situation. Bare threads rubbing on skin is where the problem lies on long runs. I've learned my lessons (still forget sometimes though, and have had to run whilst holding out my vest with one arm before now.. ouch).

LWJ

23/11/2011 at 16:13

Thanks jdw, I've fininshed a few runs with arms held out to the sides, looking like I'm trying to fly!

Emmy H

24/11/2011 at 08:01

I've done Wokingham and Reading before and definitely preferred Wokingham.

My training has been going down the pan lately - as i've been travelling so much but I hope that after next week I can fully get back into my running plans.

Len 2 (I'm a girl)

24/11/2011 at 08:24

Yep - I'm a TwinSkin sock girl, never had a blister (touch wood...) or any chafing (yet) but I'm prepared! My hotel is booked too, for the Saturday and Sunday night. Nothing fancy, just a Best Western not too far from the finish!!

Badoo

24/11/2011 at 09:35

Good Morning , I havent been on for a while and there are loads more posts and new comers so welcome .!!Pay day tomorrow that means new trainers !!!, I currently run in my year old trail shoes which are great but not ideal for long diatnaces !

Well done to all the half marathoners and 10k ers my last race was Mens Health survival of the fittest in October in Nottingham ( a combination of 12k run and ridiculous obstacles ) in the pooring rain !

I Live in leeds anybody know of any half marathoners in the new year but not too near to VLM. Of out for a run tonight tomorrow and then 6 miler on Sunday ( still taking it steady till the new year )

kaffeeg

24/11/2011 at 21:21

Yay to all of us doing well in our running!

Badoo - that October race sounds harsh!

Like Len2 I'm dreading the snow and ice coming. And I'm being really doom and gloom becuase I think we are going to be hit doubly hard in late winter given how mild it's been currently.

Do people have any sensible tips about running - not so much on snow, but on the sheer ice that you have on the paved streets of London. They don't do gritting on roads or pavements round where I live and it is bad enough walking around, never mind running. I really don't fancy doing a 18 mile run on a treadmill! And I don't belong to a gym so would have to get membership just for the snow time!