So who is going to do the Brighton Marathon 2014?

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

He thought he could warm up to run 26 miles by running 26 miles?

I've done 3 marathons. The actual day of the race is the easy bit; it's the 50+ miles a week in the 3-4 months before it that are the hard part.

This isn't me taking the piss with this question, but do you reckon some people turn up on the day and see if they can do it with no prior training?

I would love to claim I did the marathon but NONE of the training as running bores me. I'd be happy to jog a bit and walk, would I still find that REALLY difficult? One of my colleagues did it in nearly 7 hours. I was thinking in my head that with no training (I'm naive).

 

[Hillian1]

If, just as an example, you are 45, overweight (not hugely), smoke, drink and are generally in a poor physical state how long would it take to prepare for a marathon?

 

[folkestonesgull]

Started running just to lose weight just after watching Mrs H do her thing for the 2012 marathon. Just seen her smash her PB in 2013 and am now wondering if I should go the whole hog next year.

I would like to do it for the rhinos though. I know it's been done before but I just love those things.

I ran the Beachy Head marathon for the Aspinall Foundation last October - great charity (they run Port Lympne & Howletts animal parks near me) who repopualte areas with rhinos, apes and other animals they have bred in captivity.

Planning on running Beachy Head again this October, highly recommend it, its brutal, all off road, ridiculously hilly finishing with the 7 sisters and the Burling Gap but loads of fun with amazing views....

 

[nwgull]

This isn't me taking the piss with this question, but do you reckon some people turn up on the day and see if they can do it with no prior training?

I would love to claim I did the marathon but NONE of the training as running bores me. I'd be happy to jog a bit and walk, would I still find that REALLY difficult? One of my colleagues did it in nearly 7 hours. I was thinking in my head that with no training (I'm naive).

I'm sure there are always people that turn up having done no training and walk for most of the 26 miles and complete it in 7-8 hours, but what is the point of that for bragging rights? Any able bodied person could do it. The marathon, or indeed any running event, is about completing the distance in as quick a time as realistically possible for an individual; it's not about getting round.

I'm going to take a guess that running doesn't bore you so much as the discomfort caused by the physical effort bores you. Starting a new type of excersise is always going to be hard, but you've got to overcome the discomfort and treat that as your initial challenge. Why not try running/walking/running over the course of 2-3 months for starters?

 

[nwgull]

If, just as an example, you are 45, overweight (not hugely), smoke, drink and are generally in a poor physical state how long would it take to prepare for a marathon?

You could run the whole distance by this time next year if you start running short distances between now and christmas and start with marathon specific training in the new year. Fags aren't ideal; you'll possibly want to cut back. Although boozing isn't too detrimental providing you don't get smashed the night before an early morning training run.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

I'm going to take a guess that running doesn't bore you so much as the discomfort caused by the physical effort bores you.

No, honestly, running itself bores me to death. I used to do 10k runs just as a fitness thing and I wanted to cry with the sheer boredom of it. The ironic thing is, I used to swim at county level and didn't find that boring so I'm not quite sure what I can read into that. On paper, swimming length after length should be the worst possible one.

This is, of course, my personal take on it and not a judgement on anyone else. I would LOVE to enjoy it, but I just don't. I need a ball to be involved to make me interested in running around.

 

[AgerBomb22]

Ran the marathon yesterday. doubt il be doing one again in the distant future

 

[AndyH]

This time yesterday, having finished it my answer would have been No Way, but its amazing how a nights sleep makes you forget the worst bits - yup I recon I'll be back for another crack next year!

 

[CliveWalkerWingWizard]

Had to defer this year - will look after the legs better for a sub 4 2014

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

No but I'm quite tempted to try the Marina Triathalon, I'm a solid if not fast runner and swimmer (swim 1,000m in just under 25 minutes) but I bike very rarely. I'm also 30 and my knees are knackered so not 100% positive my body would be up for it. I'm going to buy a bike this month and start working in some swimming straight to running split training sessions. More realistically I will definitely try and do a sprint triathalon towards the end of this year, the Marina Triathalon is a full length one and I think the bike ride portion is particularly testing, the swim/run not so much.

 

[Philzo-93]

I'm doing it!

 

[FloatLeft]

This isn't me taking the piss with this question, but do you reckon some people turn up on the day and see if they can do it with no prior training?
.

I ran the first Brighton marathon after doing a full training schedule and finished feeling very comfortable with a time of 3hours 54.

Last year I just never got it together to train properly so I ran it with a preparation of 5 runs in the preceding 3 months. I went out and did a 12 mile run 2 weeks before and I thought yeah I can do 26 (even if I walk a bit)

However, it was very hard going compared to the first marathon and I finished in 4 hours 3 mins (but I was literally dragging myself to the finish). I high-fived Gus at the start so it was worth it!

So I promised myself that for 2013 I would prepare properly. But I didn't and I kind of just relied on the fact that it was possible to do it with limited preparation. So I went and ran 10 miles 2 weeks ago, but this time my legs and hips were killing me after, so I decided to take the sensible option and defer until 2014. I solemnly promise that I'm going to prepare properly for next year!!

 

[TotallyFreaked]

No but I'm quite tempted to try the Marina Triathalon, I'm a solid if not fast runner and swimmer (swim 1,000m in just under 25 minutes) but I bike very rarely. I'm also 30 and my knees are knackered so not 100% positive my body would be up for it. I'm going to buy a bike this month and start working in some swimming straight to running split training sessions. More realistically I will definitely try and do a sprint triathalon towards the end of this year, the Marina Triathalon is a full length one and I think the bike ride portion is particularly testing, the swim/run not so much.

Your right about the bike course for the Marina and would definitely recommend some sprint triathlons to start with and also have a go at the cycle route ( I think its 2 laps so you can try one) as it is quite tough. Both Raw Energy Pursuits and Mid Sussex Triathlon run some great local sprint triathlons as well as the Virgin Active Triathlon at Falmer (although that is also a challenging cycle). I would not worry too much about the split training sessions but concentrate on one event at a time. I sometimes will split it into the morning and evening sessions but rarely train one sport after an another. Good luck, it's a great sport to get into and very friendly.

 

[jimhigham]

OK. I'm planning for 2015 now. I'm waiting for a friend to get back from overseas who wants to run the 2015 race so that's looking like the one. The thing is I really would like to commit to the "Save the Rhino" charity. Has anybody here ever run either as a rhino or with some other suitably daft outfit? I know that the training will be insane and, more likely than not, involve additional weight by running with a backpack. My question is do such charities allow relative novices to even take this sort of thing off (I currently run about 5-6 miles 3 or 4 times a week) or do you have to be a proven runner before you get near the costume? Also, do you need to pledge a minimum amount?

I will be looking this stuff up online but as NSC seems to contain people that have done more or less everything I thought here would be a good place to start.

Thanks all.

 

[bhawoddy]

I take my hat off to whoever does it, but its too far for me. I could possibly do the half though......

 

[Deleted User X18H]

Ask Tim Hodges.

Yeah it's a fair point I didn't run much after 15 miles but I did complete. You won't find the name Noele Hawker in the finishers of any of the Brighton Marathons. Although he has apparently ran loads of marathons. He just can't prove.

 

[Dirty Dave]

Did the Brighton Marathon last year and thinking of doing it again next year. When can you apply? I seem to remember a few days after the marathon last year the ballot opened for early discounted prices

 

[beardy gull]

Did the Brighton Marathon last year and thinking of doing it again next year. When can you apply? I seem to remember a few days after the marathon last year the ballot opened for early discounted prices

Entry opens today I believe. I'll be signing up for number 5.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I reckon maybe...just maybe...but £61!

They should provide someone to carry me for that price.

 

[knocky1]

the Marina Triathalon is a full length one and I think the bike ride portion is particularly testing, the swim/run not so much.

A full triathlon is the Olympic distance. 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) swim, 40 kilometres (25 mi) bike, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) run. The Marina is less but still demanding though due to the hilly bike ride!