If the times were only 15 minutes slower than the men's qualifying times then there just wouldn't be enough women qualifying. Sad but true.
I seem to remember that the championship women's qualifying time used to be 3 hours but was dropped in fairly recent years due to the lack of women qualifying. I've even known the odd woman get a championship place when she hasn't got 3.15 but just over and this never happens for the men.
In 2000 there were approx 6,000 women in total running the FLM compared to 24,000 men!
The same goes for the women championship places going off with the elite rather than starting behind them. There's only about 100 at the start of the women's race in total. Whereas there are hundreds of championship male entrants.
RM (hoping to qualify this year for the sub 3.45 guaranteed future entry time)
It's a really good fast course. I did the 10 mile option in the build up to the 2000 FLM and won my first ever prize as third scorer for my running club's senior women. I didn't even realise I'd won anything on the day and went straight off home - it was a lovely surprise in the post. I'm not exactly a speedy gonzales prize winning runner normally so I feel a certain fondness now for the Woking ten.
I was supposed to do 18 miles yesterday but have v nasty cold with shivers :(
Haven't run since last Wednesday but since I don't have a temperature now and it isn't on my chest, I did a very easy 3 miles tonight and plan to just ease myself back into my training gradually - I'm still well blocked up and have a bit of a cough so I'm definitely taking things very easy.
Laura L - well done on your mileage and training -it sounds like it's going really well for you. I hope to be back on track and doing what you're doing soon. Congrats on your v long run.
Hi there Caroline, Good luck with your FLM training - sorry to hear about your stomach cramps.
It sounds like you have some sort of bug or virus - I've never known anyone get ongoing stomach cramps from running. Poor you.
As regards what to eat. Some people seem to have a more sensitive digestion than others. Generally dairy products can bring on runner's trots if eaten too close to a run and it's not considered wise to have a heavy meal within 4 hours of a run.
Time of training - morning or night - different things suit different people - just do what works for you.
There are so many tips that could be written on running marathons - This site is a good place to start. There's a huge section in the training area of the site devoted to marathon's. Running them, training for them covering every eventuality in the lead-up and on race day. (Rob Spedding, you can pay me later... :-))
Good luck with it all and I hope your stomach stuff clears up.
I'm doing the same as you wee piglet - a 15 miler which I think I'll do across the Downs.
I also read your FLM story which brought a lump to my throat. I ran 4.08. 38 for my last marathon too. Spooky or what? I wonder if we'll get the same time for this years FLM too.
I'm also supposed to be running a Surrey League X-country race on Saturday which is only 3 miles so my 15 miler is going to be a very slow easy run.
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