My Forum

I am training to run my first Marathon in April. I have been doing well but over the last couple of weeks I begun to experience pain at the top of my thigh at the front top of the leg.

My run distances have gradually increased to 17 miles without too much of a problem but now the pain has worstened until it is now almost impossible to run for more than two miles without the pain becoming so bad I have to stop and try to stretch. My training has now come to a stop and depression is setting in!!!

I would appreciate any advice you could give me as I really don't want to drop out of the Marathon unless I really have to.

 Thank you

Hello and well done to everyone who took part, this was my first marathon and I was pleased to get around in 4:39 and miss the deadline

I would agree with the points nellie65 made,  for me the long return stretch from the park (it was lovely going past the lake) which while not particularly steep seemingly went on forever without any shade and really drained me as did the last steep hill before the finish

I was gong along along quite happily until just over half way when my left calf started to cramp and I had to peg back or risk not finishing, any ideas, just lately I seem to be suffering with this problem more than usual!

If you are a slower runner as I am then you will end up at times running if not completely alone then in a small stretched out group until nearer the end of the race when the marathoners rejoin the half Marathon route

I know that toilets at a lot of races are a bit iffy (read whiffy) but were the ones at the start particularly unpleasant or was it me being over fussy!!!!!!!!!!

One silly mistake I made, I tried the AA drink at one of the first stations and found it really horribly sweet to the extent that I could not drink it and as a consequence i said no at every station they offered as my eyes took in the AA label, it was only afterwards that I discovered that the water came in an almost identical AA labeled bottle!!  what an idiot, fortunately I was carring a large waist bottle which kept me going

I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and would definately do it again, even finding time for waffles which is reason enough to return

 Well done to everyone

Hello to everyone taking part, this is also my first marathon and I am a bit worried about the 5 hour cutoff as currently  I am only expecting a time of 4hrs:50 with the wind behind me!

Pollym, this info is hidden away on the Brussels website, the sports drink they are providing is AA which I have not seen for sale in the UK

5 k  (3.1 miles)       banana, water and sports drinks

7,5  (4.7 miles)       water and sponges

10   (6.21 miles)     banana, water and sports drinks

12,  (7.76 miles)     water and sponges

15   (9.32 miles)     banana, water and sports drinks

       (10.87 miles)   water and sponges

20   (12.42 miles)   banana, water and sports drinks

22   (14 miles)        water and sponges        

25   (15.5 miles)     banana, water and sports drinks 

27,  (17 miles)        water and sponges

30   (18.64 miles)   banana, water and sports drinks

32,  (20.19 miles)   water and sponges

35   (21.75 miles)   banana, water and sports drinks

37,  (23.3 miles)     water and sponges

40   (24.88 miles)     banana, water and sports drinks

Good luck

Chris

Thanks for the clarification a.k.a. "billy, that is really helpful, lets hope its a lovely day.