Marathon Virgin

Flora London Marathon

Marathon Virgin

pearny 01-11-2008, 14:50

Hi all, i am very glad to say that i have now got a gold place on the flm running for CLIC.

Reality has now set in and i realise the consequences of my actions, i have been running on and off for about a year, not too strictly and with some injuries which were picked up from Kick Boxing.

12 weeks ago i started to follow a 24 week training programme which takes me right up to race day, i have managed to keep to it fairly well dispite working away from home and working long hours.

Unfortunately i have reached the end of my knowledge and due to work hours 7 till 7 i can not join a running club :-( , hopefully that is where you guys come in ? i need as much info and tips as possible to see me through the rest of my training and race day itself.

I know very little about this sport, although thankfully i was guided into purchasing the correct running shoes early on, i have had no help since.

My biggest problem is diet, i work away and stay in hotels all week, which results in restuarant or bar meals most night as i have no means of preparing my own food, i would like any help you can give with regards to what food to avoid and what i can eat.

For all those that have seen this kind of blog before, i apologise but it is a scarey experience for us newbies.

Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to pass on to me.

Good luck to all taking part

pearny

http://www.justgiving.com/martinpearn

Re: Marathon Virgin

badger 30% 01-12-2008, 13:09
Hi pearny, sounds like you've got the fitness side well under control, so concerning diet: like you. i'm on the road most of the time staying in hotels, so my tips are:
1. Try to avoid evening meals as much as possible, and have a big continental breakfast insted, which generally tends to allow you a good choice of fresh food.
2.. For the evenings, take some dried fruit, nuts or seeds with you to munch. Holland & Barratts and similar shops have a great selection, and i always have about 2kg of goodies with me whenever i go away for the week!
3. If you have to go to dinner for social reasons, try to stick to soup (almost impossible to make unhealthy!), fish and salad.
Good luck

Re: Marathon Virgin

Claire Mc 01-22-2008, 11:54

Hi I am a Marathon Virgin too,

My partner completed the Paris marathon and thought it would be fun if we both applied for the London one. I agreed, and got on, he didnt. We both sat at home miserable as I hate running and he loves it. Anyway, I have picked myself up and finally started on my training. I have gone with the programme in the actual marathon magazine which consists of 13 weeks. I am finding it hard and although I am sticking to it, I do find it a challenge as I work full-time, long hours and have two kids, one nearly 5 and another 15 months old.

My goal is to get over the finish line, I dont care if it takes me 12 hours and the man dressed as a chicken passes me by.

Anyway good luck with your training, it seems you are very committed with the travel and long hours you do. In terms of food, pasta is suppose to be good.

Re: Marathon Virgin

pearny 01-22-2008, 15:41

Claire,

Thanks for the reply and giving me the reasurrance tht i am not alone ! not sure i have chosen the correct training programme as it seems to be a lot longer than others i have since discovered !!

Now given up the alcohol, which is another bad habit that goes along with working away and staying in hotels, which is helping with the training (do not feel so tired) . Training has been going well although found my legs (especially my calves) have been aching a lot. I was advised that my trainers were probably worn out ! i have now purchased a new pair, same as the previous ones and it feels lie iam running on sponges again, something to be wary of is how soon you clock up the miles and your running shoes have degraded.

So if my training is anything to go by, the more effort you put in the easier it gets, i use to run a 4 mile route which had a long up hill about 2.5 miles in and used to dread it, i have been doing longer and differnet routes since but recently did a 12 mile route that ended with the 4 mile route that i started training on and i flew up that hill even after running 10.5 miles before i got there !! felt great as this was a real sign of the fitness i have achieved to date.

Hop your training goes well and you keep your motivation with all your long hours and commitments.

My goal is also to finish , but would love to do it in under 4 1/2 hours !! probably optimistic !

Pearny

Re: Marathon Virgin

Shamima 01-29-2008, 21:52
Hello all!

I am also running FLM for the first time! Running fo Farm Africa and have to raise £1500! (not sure if I m more nervous about this than the training!) I d also be so pleased if i managed in under 4 1/12 hrs, although finishing without collapsing would be great!

Having only done a half marathon in oct 07 and 2 10 k runs earlier the same year, I get really nervous sometimes, I run 3 runs a week with a long one every sunday, did 11miles this sunday gone and then yesterday did about 4 miles walking..today during my short run, my legs were ACHING!!

My sister who did it last year really recommended doing 1 speed session where you just go to a park/open space and sprint about 50metres before resting and doing it again about 10 times, she thinks it ll really help in the last 6miles of the marathon, so I m going to start that now.

I think i definitely also need new trainers too, have been using the same asics gel cumulus for >18mths and want to change to a nike pair that can accomadate my ipod. Any recommendations??

Hope all your training carries on well.

Shamima

Re: Marathon Virgin

pearny 01-29-2008, 23:24

Shamina,

Your training seems to be going well, i am running in Asics gel nimbus shoes and would not change for the world, did you go to a running store and get sized up for your shoes ? ( very important to get the correct ones for your running style).

Speed sessions sound like a good idea, i think i will ive it a try :-)

As far as the fund raising, i have done quite well by using face book and creating a group for people to see my progress etc. also got the local pubs to donate their quiz night entries etc. Raffles usually do well if yoy can get locl businesses to donate prizes, most peple with give generously if they have a chance of winning something !

Good luck with the rest of your training and on the big day :-)

pearny