My Forum

SJPC14 I'll just chip in re clubs.  I don't know of any running club that doesn't let you try before you buy!!  Don't rule it out unless you've tried it and if you don't feel like joining at least you've given it a go (although if this is the case, I'd still urge you to try a different club - you might just have picked one that didn't suit your needs).  There is a huge variety of levels within any club - ranging from super speedy racers to those who just do it to keep fit or for the social aspects of meeting new people with similar interests.  If you want to get faster, intervals with others are always quicker than those on your own!!  Not only that, there's normally a small discount on race entry fees (if it's a club affiliated to UK Athletics) and 10% off in most running shops - which for the membership fee is often worth it in itself ;-)  Never feel that you would let anyone down, it's all about you and what you want to get out of your running.

In my opinion, a couple of seconds off the interval pace will not mean that you can't get the time you are going for.  It needs to be a fast, well paced session.  You will find as you progress that you get closer to the times anyway because the intensity doesn't increase through the schedule.  Log your workouts and look at your progression rather than what you're missing.  I reckon that as long as you can do three tough sessions a week without breaking down you are ready to start.  Definitely gage fitness from current race times rather than those interval times and work out your target from there.

There are people on here that have done sub 3 on this schedule.  I don't cross train properly and tend to do classes which probably doesn't give my body the chance to recover as it's still high impact and body pump is a tough one too!  Don't know about you, but over the winter months I find it harder to get out of the door so really you've got nothing to lose by giving it a shot this winter! 

Yes it was a PB and qualifying time.  I'm trying to resist the urge to enter though as I put added pressure on myself at VLM and if I have a bad day at the office it feels really oppressive.  That said I don't have to make a decision until Jan so never say never!  My next target is the sub 40 10k which is the only distance I still haven't nailed as far as my expectations go.  Ultimately, I think I'm going to try and work on speed to the half marathon distance and see if I can get a time close to predicting a marathon at the 3 hour mark and then go for it again.  Well done on your sensible approach - it takes a lot of discipline not to do too much too soon and it definitely helps with a London goal!

Only just noticed some activity here!!  Sorry to hear about your injury iFish - hope you're well on the way to recovery - a painfree 8 miles seems like a good place to be! 

I had a nightmare at New Forest in the end.  The weather was horrendous and my first few miles were just way too quick.  I was dying by 14 miles and hung in there.  Still managed a sub 3.30 which I thought was respectable - I just don't talk about the splits.  I obviously did the obligatory 'never again' mutterings from mile 14 to the finish and then my mind turned to finding another one to do in the near future so entered Preston and managed a 3.14 so am very pleased with that - the weather was pants again!!

For the benefit of those new to the thread (and welcome to you all!!) - as I increased my other activities this time round the pace of my long runs slowed a bit but I do taper religiously as per the book (my last week is really all about rest) and finally got my target.  I do however think that if you are on target with the times in the book, the post marathon recovery is better.  I am very sore today!  I do race quite a bit though so my tempo times are generally faster than those in the book and my interval times are slightly slower.  The idea of targeting every run appealed to me and the thought of really high mileage just scared me - this was an easy decision for me - with just 3 runs a week if you missed one night it was easy to make it up again.

luna man, congratulations on your PB and good luck with that sub 3! 

There was nothing wrong with the route!  We were there to run a marathon and that's we all did!!  I thought it was very well organised and my hat goes off to those poor marshals who all looked freezing - especially those at the finish where you actually have time to stop and see them shivering!