Marathon Thread

[downham seagull]

I,ll bite.

Last week I was unfortunate enough to suffer a heart attack and spent a few days in Worthing hospital, but was 'put back together again' by the heart surgeons and nursing staff. I was discharged late on Saturday (my birthday..lol) and on Sunday morning someone was kind enough to take me to the end of New Church road to watch a bit of the marathon.

Ninja Elephant said in an earlier post how good and humbling it was to hear spectators cheering them on etc etc.

From my perspective as a spectator, I watched runners/walkers going past with sweat dripping dripping from them.....and many clearly feeling the pain. But they carried on...............wearing their various singlets/vests supporting Scope , MacMillan and dozens of worthy causes. Not least of these many causes was the British Heart Foundation who I have absolutely no doubt, I will be turning to for advice etc etc in the very near future.

To say it was emotional watching these runners/walkers going through the pain barrier for people like me is the understatement of the decade. I could only only watch for 20 minutes as I was feeling so tired , so I missed the massive efforts of so many on here who I desperately wanted to see (Tony Bloom, El Pres and Edna to mention just a few).

I want to say a massive thankyou to all of those who took part.....and quite frankly.....bollocks to you and your continual shite.

Sorry to hear you suffered s heart attack and wish you a speedy recovery. I'm like you in awe of anyone who runs for a charity. I raised money for the british heart foundation over many years because my niece has holes in the heart and then I went and had a heart attack in 2011 so have benefited and helped in a strange way. Look after yourself if you ever want to chat when your having a down day just PM me.

 

[big nuts]

Results are now out on the official website.

9200 runners completed I finished 695th gun time and 827 based on chip.

Very tempted to register again despite saying I would take several years off and purely run shorter distances.

 

[El Presidente]

Manchester marathon for me this Sunday.

Training has not been good for this one. Tweaked my calf at new Orleans in january and limped into the half marathon finish instead.

Have managed 5 weeks training for manchester including one long run, 18 miles on Good Friday. Looking to jog round Manchester, will no doubt be around 5 hours after wanting to train for a 3.49.59 or better.

I'll probably be there cheering people on, what's your vest number?

 

[Cecil]

First marathon completed in 4.19.24.

Hit wall about 21 miles and last 5 odd miles was once of the toughest things I have ever done !

During them miles I promised myself 'NEVER AGAIN' but now already considering another !

Will enter the London ballot, but failing that will enter the Brighton.

Must say the support was superb, realluy helped me get round !!!

 

[dazzer6666]

First marathon completed in 4.19.24.

Hit wall about 21 miles and last 5 odd miles was once of the toughest things I have ever done !

During them miles I promised myself 'NEVER AGAIN' but now already considering another !

Will enter the London ballot, but failing that will enter the Brighton.

Must say the support was superb, realluy helped me get round !!!

Perfectly normal on all fronts.......great first effort regardless. You know you're going to do another already. Practice fuelling (what works, what doesn't) as this will help with last section. If you had any cramp also look at electrolyte balance (I take a salt capsule every hour which solved a persistent cramping problem I had)

Definitely worth looking at an offroad marathon if you enjoyed it. Much less stressful, will take a bit longer, better views and no-one cares about times. Loads of good ones locally - now you've got the fitness might as well hang in to it

 

[Driver8]

I've been really cold and dizzy the last few hours. Anyone suffered this two days after? Not sure if I'm dehydrated still or coming down with something.

 

[knocky1]

I've been really cold and dizzy the last few hours. Anyone suffered this two days after? Not sure if I'm dehydrated still or coming down with something.

Hope your feeling better this morning, if your are worried see a doctor.
My legs feel as if some spring has returned this morning.

 

[Bob!]

I'll probably be there cheering people on, what's your vest number?

Number is 4219, I assume the numbers have different backgrounds for different start areas? My number is on a Green background.

I'll no doubt be wearing my club vest which is White with a Yellow band (Springfield Striders).

 

[Bob!]

First marathon completed in 4.19.24.

Hit wall about 21 miles and last 5 odd miles was once of the toughest things I have ever done !

During them miles I promised myself 'NEVER AGAIN' but now already considering another !

Will enter the London ballot, but failing that will enter the Brighton.

Must say the support was superb, realluy helped me get round !!!

Perfectly normal on all fronts.......great first effort regardless. You know you're going to do another already. Practice fuelling (what works, what doesn't) as this will help with last section. If you had any cramp also look at electrolyte balance (I take a salt capsule every hour which solved a persistent cramping problem I had)

Definitely worth looking at an offroad marathon if you enjoyed it. Much less stressful, will take a bit longer, better views and no-one cares about times. Loads of good ones locally - now you've got the fitness might as well hang in to it

Yup, sign up to Three Forts marathon now, whilst you have the fitness!

http://www.threefortschallenge.org.uk/

 

[jimhigham]

I posted this on the running thread bu forgive me for reposting on here, but I am looking for some guidance from seasoned marathon folk...

Seeing as the match is so grim I'll turn my mind to more uplifting things.

I've signed up today for the 2016 Brighton Marathon. It will be my first marathon and I have only run one event before now, which was this year's Brighton Half Marathon. I was the rhino that morning and I plan to be a rhino again next year too. I'm nervous even now at the thought of carting that beast around a full 26 miles.

A question for you running sages...

I have been running for the past three years. I started out to lose weight and then simply to retain a decent level of fitness. I'm no speed freak and can just manage a 2 hour half marathon if I really push it. I generally run three or four times a week and will vary the distance between 3 and 13 miles depending on how much time I have free. I reckon if I applied myself I could probably bat out 15-17 miles before really conking out but to date, I have been unscientific in my approach and have just steadily built up my distance.

Does anybody have any suggestions as to the best way I get from where I am now to where I need to be next April? My time on the day is not an issue. I simply need to be able to successfully get my 73kg + 8kg costume around the distance. Would you recommend I get more scientific at this stage and start mixing up my runs (fartlek/hills etc) or is this something I should worry about closer to the time? Thoughts appreciated. Ta!

 

[dazzer6666]

I posted this on the running thread bu forgive me for reposting on here, but I am looking for some guidance from seasoned marathon folk...

Seeing as the match is so grim I'll turn my mind to more uplifting things.

I've signed up today for the 2016 Brighton Marathon. It will be my first marathon and I have only run one event before now, which was this year's Brighton Half Marathon. I was the rhino that morning and I plan to be a rhino again next year too. I'm nervous even now at the thought of carting that beast around a full 26 miles.

A question for you running sages...

I have been running for the past three years. I started out to lose weight and then simply to retain a decent level of fitness. I'm no speed freak and can just manage a 2 hour half marathon if I really push it. I generally run three or four times a week and will vary the distance between 3 and 13 miles depending on how much time I have free. I reckon if I applied myself I could probably bat out 15-17 miles before really conking out but to date, I have been unscientific in my approach and have just steadily built up my distance.

Does anybody have any suggestions as to the best way I get from where I am now to where I need to be next April? My time on the day is not an issue. I simply need to be able to successfully get my 73kg + 8kg costume around the distance. Would you recommend I get more scientific at this stage and start mixing up my runs (fartlek/hills etc) or is this something I should worry about closer to the time? Thoughts appreciated. Ta!

Fair play to you for contemplating this....! I'll chip in with a general view for what it's worth

I signed up with a running coach a few months back to get me through a particular event, and the difference having a structured programme is remarkable. Guess it depends on your objectives but regardless, the fitter/better prepared you are the more enjoyable the experience will be ?

You can find loads of marathon programmes online, but even without following one of them I'd put some sort of plan in place that varies what you do. As well as making you fitter it also stops it getting boring.

General rule seems to be something like this for a week :
-couple of 'effort' sessions (hard intervals, hill repeats etc)
-tempo run (5-10 miles usually, at a decent lick)
-long slow run
-easy run

Easy run or rest day between the effort sessions, and before the long run.

Other thing to work on is nutrition and hydration - find out what drinks and gels you can take on the move - you'll be out for a long time, and will sweat buckets in a thing like that so will need electrolytes and some fuel

 

[Biffer]

The best way I could think of finishing this year's marathon. With a pint of Guinness.
Cheers.

 

[jimhigham]

Other thing to work on is nutrition and hydration - find out what drinks and gels you can take on the move - you'll be out for a long time, and will sweat buckets in a thing like that so will need electrolytes and some fuel

Thanks for all of this Dazzer. The nutrition inparticular is something that I struggle with. I don't feel at all well taking fuel on board while running but I am aware it is something I will need to get better at as the distances increase. I sweated like crazy when I ran as the rhino in the Brighton Half Marathon in February. I was desperate for the drinks stations but because of the costume I couldn't see when they were coming up.

 

[dazzer6666]

Thanks for all of this Dazzer. The nutrition inparticular is something that I struggle with. I don't feel at all well taking fuel on board while running but I am aware it is something I will need to get better at as the distances increase. I sweated like crazy when I ran as the rhino in the Brighton Half Marathon in February. I was desperate for the drinks stations but because of the costume I couldn't see when they were coming up.

Any way you could rig up a bladder and tube inside the costume ? Lots of different hydration packs out there, with bottles and bladders back or front, sure one would work ?

Re food, I've always struggled with gels, been a lot better since I switched to small amounts of real food (things like peanut butter wraps), but most of my running is longer distance and slower. I didn't eat anything on Sunday, just took water and hourly salt capsules.

 

[Simgull]

I posted this on the running thread bu forgive me for reposting on here, but I am looking for some guidance from seasoned marathon folk...

Seeing as the match is so grim I'll turn my mind to more uplifting things.

I've signed up today for the 2016 Brighton Marathon. It will be my first marathon and I have only run one event before now, which was this year's Brighton Half Marathon. I was the rhino that morning and I plan to be a rhino again next year too. I'm nervous even now at the thought of carting that beast around a full 26 miles.

A question for you running sages...

I have been running for the past three years. I started out to lose weight and then simply to retain a decent level of fitness. I'm no speed freak and can just manage a 2 hour half marathon if I really push it. I generally run three or four times a week and will vary the distance between 3 and 13 miles depending on how much time I have free. I reckon if I applied myself I could probably bat out 15-17 miles before really conking out but to date, I have been unscientific in my approach and have just steadily built up my distance.

Does anybody have any suggestions as to the best way I get from where I am now to where I need to be next April? My time on the day is not an issue. I simply need to be able to successfully get my 73kg + 8kg costume around the distance. Would you recommend I get more scientific at this stage and start mixing up my runs (fartlek/hills etc) or is this something I should worry about closer to the time? Thoughts appreciated. Ta!

As well as the running training think about your core and upper body strength. This is really important for injury prevention and I guessyou must be even more at risk carrying a suit like that especially if it's windy/wet. If your running coach can't advise then I would get some sessions with a personal trainer who knows about running. Good luck - fantastic cause.

 

[jimhigham]

Any way you could rig up a bladder and tube inside the costume ? Lots of different hydration packs out there, with bottles and bladders back or front, sure one would work ?

The costume is essentially a cannibalised backpack so there is no space at all to put anything on the back. It might be possible to rig something across the front but then that is going to be even more weight at the front end, which is already heavily loaded because of the rhino head. However, I think the bladder suggestion will be the way to go because the move to cups of water this year would make it far harder for me to take on fluid without stopping. At least at the half marathon they handed out small bottles, which I was able to eke out until the next drinks station.

Thanks to both of you for the input. Plenty of food for thought.

 

[dazzer6666]

The costume is essentially a cannibalised backpack so there is no space at all to put anything on the back. It might be possible to rig something across the front but then that is going to be even more weight at the front end, which is already heavily loaded because of the rhino head. However, I think the bladder suggestion will be the way to go because the move to cups of water this year would make it far harder for me to take on fluid without stopping. At least at the half marathon they handed out small bottles, which I was able to eke out until the next drinks station.

Thanks to both of you for the input. Plenty of food for thought.

You can buy the bladders and tubes/mouthpieces without the backpacks in a range of sizes so hopefully can find one that might suit. The cups at the marathon were useless even without a rhino costume - chaos at the water stations with people stopping, cups flying everywhere etc (and it's impossible to drink from a cup whilst running).

 

[knocky1]

You can buy the bladders and tubes/mouthpieces without the backpacks in a range of sizes so hopefully can find one that might suit. The cups at the marathon were useless even without a rhino costume - chaos at the water stations with people stopping, cups flying everywhere etc (and it's impossible to drink from a cup whilst running).

....and why did mile 24/25 have the only Gatorade bottles on offer. Last year I happily gulped 4 bottles en route, this year 3 or 4 half full cups. Luckily my pockets were full of jelly babies.

 

[dazzer6666]

....and why did mile 24/25 have the only Gatorade bottles on offer. Last year I happily gulped 4 bottles en route, this year 3 or 4 half full cups. Luckily my pockets were full of jelly babies.

Cost saving dressed up as 'green' bullsh*it I reckon, very B&H. To be fair though, most people grab a bottle, take a sip and chuck it by the side wasting 90% of it. They should make it in smaller bottles. The best races are those that have 330ml bottles as you can easily carry one in your hand - then replace it at the next station. The squeezy pouches they have used at Brighton before are brilliant too, so easy to carry.

 

[Driver8]

....and why did mile 24/25 have the only Gatorade bottles on offer. Last year I happily gulped 4 bottles en route, this year 3 or 4 half full cups. Luckily my pockets were full of jelly babies.

There were definitely others with Gatorade.