Shades Marathon Training

Hi all,

Here's the race report.
Best wine? Les Tourelles de Longueville (Pauillac 2010).
Best tent? Steak/chips (KM40)
Best 'event'? The look your best before the end (KM 41)/

Medoc was out of this world;

The organisers have everything done to a fine art and I picked up my packet within 5 minutes. I wandered around the other marathons on offer and had a look at what else was on offer. It was mostly uninteresting but I was given some free haribo and the wine was already flowing – a great sign! This continued throughout the entire event – all of the food and drink stops were plentiful and organized.

The food stations were well packed and the wine was well flowing. You really couldn’t ask for much more. The entire marathon was like carnival in cologne. Everyone was in such a party mood – the vibe was honestly amazing and I’ve never felt anything like it.

What can I say about the run? It was mostly through the vineyard so there was a lot of dust tracks which played more with my asthma than I expected. It was great to actually run through some beautiful countryside and be part of such a great event. There were a few hills along the route but nothing especially taxing.

I started to struggle a little bit around mile 15 with cramps and stitches. Then by some good grace I came upon a Knight. A literal knight of course – this was fancy dress. It turned out that he was a fellow Marathon talker and we spent the rest of the race laughing, chatting away and trying to survive the 36’c heat. The best thing of all was this guy knew his wine and I got to know which were the best chateaus that we were visiting.

The km’s quickly slipped by and even though we were struggling the atmosphere and people we met along the way carried us through to the end. Mike’s (the Knight) his feet started to cause him some issues so we stopped and whilst he sorted out his feet – I used the time wisely (drinking and eating).

If I had to say one thing about this race is that it’s definitely not a PB course. It’s normally very hot and if you’re not used to it – it can be hard to handle, the dirt tracks can be difficult at times as well.  But on the other hand – it’s a unique course with a unique group of people running it. They are not PB’ers – they are all there for the same reason – to have fun and enjoy the area and we certainly did that!

After the race – we were escorted through the area with ease and I promptly found the food/drink tent. Everything was free so I enjoyed a beer and lots of water and waited for the final people to come through

-----
I've been out tonight for a cycle and gentle gym session and feel almost completely recovered!

Steak and chips at km 40 hmm where do i sign up

Emmy - Er never done DD before but i am from Devon and i know where the route goes

bootsie - great news that you might be doing Cork, great marathon.

Emmy - lovely report sounds,like you had a great party.

The guy that takes our Kettlecise class takes care to plan each class carefully.   Although we've done all (or most) of the 37 odd  exercises before, he carefully rearranges the order and on Sunday he did a series on the upper arms one exercise after another using every muscle in the upper arm that finally reduced my arms to useless and I had to stop for a few seconds.   My adbuctors are still sore this morning too.   He used to train body builders so knows exactly what he's doing.

VR - LOL at the Body Combat and the drunk dancing.   Not sure it's for me

Hope the calf is OK today

Emmy - re your training, just slot your races into your training plan and see how that looks, we can always tweak if required.   Have you another marathon planned this year?

It was a bit of a grind today running, probably due to tired legs from spinning and drunk Combat yesterday. Eeeked out 6.68 miles with a hill. Calf had a dull achey pull on every foot strike but didn't get any worse and is almost pain free now. So I'm taking that as a positive  Shall go longer on Thursday. Got another physio session tomorrow morning. Feel I'm getting somewhere at last. 3 weeks and 4 days until Foxy's marathon.  

@VR - Which foxy marathon are you doing? Is that the Staffs one?

well done on the run - it's good to hear that your calf is doing well.

Emmy - I've replied to your email.

We have quite a few marathons in the UK that stipulate a 5 hour time limit but many of them don't adhere to that rule.   It's usually the police that request it for traffic purposes but many race organisers still allow the slower runners to finish.  You can check this out by looking at the previous year's results.   It won't be long yuntil you're sub 5 anyway.

VR - that's good news on the run.  You're having withdrawal symptoms from not running any marathons for a while....junkie

Hi Shades - thanks for replying so quickly. That's great. I really appreciate it! When I've spoken to certain organisers they've been quite firm on it - maybe it's just Belgium?

I'm hoping that i'll get sub 5 - i think with some more consistent training i'll get sub 5 by next spring's marathon but we'll see how things go.

How is your training coming along?

Hi All,  I am after a bit of advice please

After the GNR i will have completed all my racers this year.  I have had a good year (no injury) 2 HM and 2 10k's   i have been running since November 2011 following my own program and slowly building from 15mpw up to 30/40mpw   with the odd 20 mile week due to life getting in the way.

I think i should have a week off after the GNR, but don't want to loose all the fitness i have.   Can anyone advise me on weekly millage to maintain my fitness through the winter, and in between racers.  

My aim for next year is to run the Sheffield HM May 2013, a couple of 10k's and a marathon towards the end of the year.  (I ran the Nottingham Marathon in 2009 in 3hr 56)

Sheffield Half 1hr 44.44 May 2012  

Dronfield 10K 47.40 March 2010

GYR 10K 44.51 Sept 2012    

GNR......................

Thanks for any help

Cheers

Steve

Emmy - Its Foxys Enigma Reverse 6th October.

Ah! I saw that. I'm running the Royal Parks half otherwise I would have done it

Just having a read......  *waves* 

Thinking of you all today, not sure why?

Anyway, hope those of you who know me are well, and good luck with your running to all those people who I'm not familiar with.

I'm ok.  The ankle operation was a success and I'm back umpiring hockey at regional premier league level with no adverse effects.  No "real" running though.  I think that life has passed (even though a small voice tells me I could still do that elusive sub 3:30 marathon I once had the potential for).  I get out on the bike a bit mind, although not as much as I would like, and yes I still can't resist a stretch of cobbled road to cycle along 

Emmy - if you ask a race organiser he will of course be strict and say 'no', that's because otherwise he will get runners that take advantage and don't make an effort to finish as near the 5 hour mark as they can.  

S3200H - you can tick over quite nicely for the winter on 25 miles a week and then pick things up in the Spring for your next planned race.   Why not do a few short local races in the winter just to keep yourself motivated and the speedwork of a race will help maintain your fitness.

Good luck for Sunday, will be watching on telly

Mr Bump - lovely to see you again on here, I was thinking about you the other day when pondering on Travelodge's for Leicester marathon.

I'm so pleased your ankle op was a success, you went through such a lot with that long term injury.   Good news that you're back umpiring your hockey.   Life has not passed you by and as your ankle gets stronger you may consider dusting off those running shoes at some time.   Hope all the Bump family are well.

@Shades - You're right; of course. I guess that i'm just worried about being last (stupid I know).

I went out for my 8 mile MWLR and it wasn't as pleasant as I was hoping.My arms were aching from my gym session and it was really dark for the first 3 miles.... I guess it's time to start going out dressed like i'm going to a bad taste rave (Head torch/Hi vis jacket/trousers). Autumn is definitely coming, but I wonder where summer was?

How is everyone else doing?

@Mr Bump - we've not had the pleasure but it's great to hear that your ankle operation went well!

Has anyone heard from Marathon Molly?

Thanks Shades,  

I was thinking of 4 runs a week 3 at 6 mile around 9-9.30 min mile and 1 run 6mile at 8-8.30 min mile with some strides around 7.30 min mile.  Doing that i worry that the long runs will suffer so every 2nd week i would i be better doing 3 per runs wee with a slow 12-13 mile run

I know i will struggle to get to any more racers due to family commitments 

cheers

Steve

Emmy - do you run in compete darkness?   When it's dark I run where there are street lights, which is limiting but means I only need a refective vest.   I have a head torch somewhere but have only used it once years ago, I hate it but will have to dig it out and see if it works as I've just entered a race that needs a head torch for the beginning of the race as it's a 7am start in November.   I might see if I can get an alternative to a head torch.

No word from Molly, she has gone AWOL before, hope she comes back soon

S3200H - yes a mix of training will be best to keep you fit, maybe not necessary to go as far as 13 miles, up to 10 miles will be OK.

Don't you have any local races that you can go to?

Natural eyesight head torches

I will usually have it on my head but rarely bother turning it on unless i am going along a road not that it makes much difference to idiots getting to close.

But then i do live out in the sticks so can vanish off more or less totally off of roads or have a pavement when i need to follow them.

Now who told him upstairs to turn the bloody heating off..... The cat is not amused being she has spent most of the week snuggled tight to me in bed.