My Forum

I've entered this, as my first whole marathon, I really hope the course isn't so bad, I didn't know, or think to find out what the route consisted of   (will have to find some hills to train on ). According to the website the event is now almost full! There doesn't appear to be many details on the website though, and i've received no emails so far from the organisers. It says that there's water stations, does this mean that theres no lucozade sport or energy gels given out at stations?  I can't see any mention about toilets on the route either. Would these things still be yet to be organised seeing as its still 86 days away? Good luck to everyone else running it!

I ran Silverstone this year (my first ever race) and finished in 1:53:45 after signing up for it in December, and had to run like craaazzyy in the built up to it, but was really happy in the end. If you entered it with a negative mindset feeling unprepared then you couldn't expect to do too well, and considering this, your time really isn't that bad, some people took as long as 4 hours or more! I think its better to finish than to never have bothered at all.  With training you'll get out what you put in! Another runner was talking about the race at the start and was saying 'it's all up here' (pointing to his head), and I completely understand what he means. Don't wait until next year, maybe book an earlier half, or other distances, as the frustration with your previous time and the deadline will motivate you to train more. Stop doubting yourself!  

I wish you all the best of luck

Hello, I too am a member at Fitness First in Cheltenham, I hope their not sending me that letter, or i'll be going elsewhere! I've heard that Simply Gym, (what was the bowling alley) is very good, and its only about £15 a month. Theres also a new gym by the quays in Gloucester called The Gym, that looks very nice and modern inside, if its not too far to travel. I can't really speak for other gyms as i've never used them, but there are plenty in and around Cheltenham. Do you know when this increase is happening? Maybe if they know you are leaving for that reason they might throw a few extras in or negotiate on the price?, my friend has had loads of personal training seesions thrown in, they even gave her free trainers!

Thankyou for all of your responses so far, it's all been very helpful!  Run Wales, I appreciate all of what you are saying, a marathon requires huge dedication and preparation, which is why would be content just to be able to finish, and I feel that I could learn a lot from the first time, which I can later build on. Princess Leah, thats exactly what i meant with the fartlek training/ kenyan hills, i'm really confused about how to do them, but after your suggestion about joining a running club, I have found one in my area that does group hill running! So i'll look into that. I don't feel I lack the motivation for any of the training, but i'd rather stick to things that I know I am doing correctly/effectively. Richard, good on you! do keep it up, and good luck for the 3 races this year!

Hello. I haven't been running very much, for very long, about a year or so, but have recently become more serious. I am running the Silverstone half-marathon on the 3rd of March, which I am confident about doing, as I have (according to my nike+ app) run 12.5 miles in just under 2hrs, and 15 miles in 2hrs 24mins, both of which were some time ago. I also finished the tough guy race on Sunday, and don't feel that my fitness has slipped much at all. I don't have any training plan as I find these very difficult to stick to, as many of them suggest things like 'fartlek training' or 'Kenyan Hills', do many people stick to such plans, or can you just do normal running out on the road or on the treadmill instead? I am looking at doing the Milton Keynes Marathon on the 6th of May, in 12-13 weeks time, obviously I would step up my weekly mileage quite a bit if I planned to do so, as I feel I could do a lot more than I do, and i'd have no specific finishing time in mind, i'd only wish to be able to finish, does this seem too big a target? I know that there are many marathons, so there is no hurry, but due to other commitments I may not be able to do one later on in the year than this. If anyone else has entered or is entering a full marathon, as a relative beginner, how did you / are you finding it?