Holy Cow...I appear to have a London Marathon place.
Discussion
Well after 5 years of going into the ballot,It appears the Lovely Marathon people felt sorry for me and said yes.
One slight problem..I'm not a runner.
This is where I call on you lot to give me some amazing advice as i now seem to have a million questions going round my head.
Now I don't class myself as unfit..I'm 46 years old 5 foot 10 inches weigh about 12 stone 10 pounds..My general fitness comes from Road cycling..I rode the french Alps famous climbs this year and do regular sportives over 100 miles....actually cycled 162 miles in a day 2 months ago...but i assume my cycling fitness won't switch to marathon running ... Running seems to get me more breathless.
My questions really for you guys are what do I need to do now to prepare for next April..what essential kit do I need,especially in the shorts dept..I'm used to lycra and tight fitting shorts..Is a tight short suitable for long distance..ie rubbing/chaffing areas that may be sensitive.
any tips for me would be appreciated
One slight problem..I'm not a runner.
This is where I call on you lot to give me some amazing advice as i now seem to have a million questions going round my head.
Now I don't class myself as unfit..I'm 46 years old 5 foot 10 inches weigh about 12 stone 10 pounds..My general fitness comes from Road cycling..I rode the french Alps famous climbs this year and do regular sportives over 100 miles....actually cycled 162 miles in a day 2 months ago...but i assume my cycling fitness won't switch to marathon running ... Running seems to get me more breathless.
My questions really for you guys are what do I need to do now to prepare for next April..what essential kit do I need,especially in the shorts dept..I'm used to lycra and tight fitting shorts..Is a tight short suitable for long distance..ie rubbing/chaffing areas that may be sensitive.
any tips for me would be appreciated
Vaseline for nipples, mine were really sore for weeks afterwards!
Make sure you take the training seriously, I did my one and only marathon (London in fact) in 2003, albeit aged 21 and seeing people on stretchers after 5 miles was a scary sight! Wasn't really into exercise beforehand, but wasn't unfit either. Found out I was in about same time as you, so trained from October to end of March, but never did a distance more than 18 miles and only did that once in training. Most runs were approx 12-14 miles, so in the actual marathon, when I hit 15 miles I really struggled, until I reached about mile 22 at which point I knew I would finish even if I crawled! It's the worst part of the year for training, but even if it is snowing, make sure you do that run or train indoors, it will hold you in good stead.
Try not to go off too fast when you do the actual event, it's easy to get caught up in the whole thing and realise you've done the first half way to quick and have little in reserve for the rest.
Make sure you take the training seriously, I did my one and only marathon (London in fact) in 2003, albeit aged 21 and seeing people on stretchers after 5 miles was a scary sight! Wasn't really into exercise beforehand, but wasn't unfit either. Found out I was in about same time as you, so trained from October to end of March, but never did a distance more than 18 miles and only did that once in training. Most runs were approx 12-14 miles, so in the actual marathon, when I hit 15 miles I really struggled, until I reached about mile 22 at which point I knew I would finish even if I crawled! It's the worst part of the year for training, but even if it is snowing, make sure you do that run or train indoors, it will hold you in good stead.
Try not to go off too fast when you do the actual event, it's easy to get caught up in the whole thing and realise you've done the first half way to quick and have little in reserve for the rest.
Possibly, but any movement up and down of the garment against the skin (however small) will cause it to rub eventually I suspect, plus if it's even a remotely warm day, you may be too hot. I was hot in just the running vest when I did it. Funniest thing I remember seeing was St John's Ambulance staff located at regular intervals along the course with industrial sized tubs of Vaseline with runners dipping their hands in and rubbing it into various places around their bodies :-)
Sorry, just thought of a couple more things. Don't wear new kit if you can avoid it for the first time when you do the run, try to break stuff in (trainers, shorts, vest, socks etc) beforehand.
On the day, when you go to the starting pen, you'll have handed the kit you want at the finish in at the big truck so that it's at the finish when you get there. However, you will have a fair amount of time after that standing around getting cold and wet if it's raining before you actually get running. So have something cheap and disposable to wear that you are happy to just throw away once the marathon starts. I had a bin bag and to be honest, even though it was a dry day, it wasn't enough and I should have taken an old or cheap hoodie or something for that purpose. It can be cold in April first thing in the morning!
On the day, when you go to the starting pen, you'll have handed the kit you want at the finish in at the big truck so that it's at the finish when you get there. However, you will have a fair amount of time after that standing around getting cold and wet if it's raining before you actually get running. So have something cheap and disposable to wear that you are happy to just throw away once the marathon starts. I had a bin bag and to be honest, even though it was a dry day, it wasn't enough and I should have taken an old or cheap hoodie or something for that purpose. It can be cold in April first thing in the morning!
Deanno1dad said:
any experience with lycra shorts..im not a fan of the seb coe tiny flappy shorts from the 70's
I've just picked up a set of 3/4 tights similar to these:http://www.startfitness.co.uk/mens/clothing/3-4-ti...
And find them very comfy! There are shorter (above the knee) running tights too. Tights normally aren'ttoo bad for chafing but see how you get on in training.
I've not done a marathon but do run a lot..
Extend the 'nothing new on race day' to eating too.
Make sure you know what's going to be at the food/drink stations and practice with it in the lead up-if it's lucozade bars and drinks eat and drink lucozade in training.
cookie118 said:
Deanno1dad said:
any experience with lycra shorts..im not a fan of the seb coe tiny flappy shorts from the 70's
I've just picked up a set of 3/4 tights similar to these:http://www.startfitness.co.uk/mens/clothing/3-4-ti...
And find them very comfy! There are shorter (above the knee) running tights too. Tights normally aren'ttoo bad for chafing but see how you get on in training.
I've not done a marathon but do run a lot..
Extend the 'nothing new on race day' to eating too.
Make sure you know what's going to be at the food/drink stations and practice with it in the lead up-if it's lucozade bars and drinks eat and drink lucozade in training.
Chafing is an entirely personal thing - I never suffer even over 2 day ultras. Friends suffer over distances as short as a half marathon. You won't know if it's an issue until it becomes one.
You'll get loads of advice I imagine however one thing that occurs to me is that as a cyclist you won't be used to spending 4 hours in your feet. So get some decent running shoes and get out and start putting in the mileage. You will get blisters and the best way is to break in your shoes so they fit your feet like a glove. I used to buy what are called 1000 Mile socks, don't know if you can still get them but if so they are very good. And, another tip, smother you feet with baby powder before putting your socks on. Oh and nipple rub just put up with and your nipples will harden, don't bother with putting plasters on and all that nonsense.
p.s. I used wear short running shorts with split sides, let's air circulate so less sweaty, less chafing.
p.s. I used wear short running shorts with split sides, let's air circulate so less sweaty, less chafing.
Edited by RichB on Friday 14th October 22:57
Quick update guys...trainings going well..im doing 9 and 10 miles sessions at the moment...knees are taking the brunt of it..seem to be improving and pain less every run.
Have had to use a training shoe by a company called Hoka as these are kinder to the knees.
have decided to run for the Prostate cancer UK charity as my dad & Uncle both had issues with it.
Half Marathon booked for March and slowly upping the mileage.
Have had to use a training shoe by a company called Hoka as these are kinder to the knees.
have decided to run for the Prostate cancer UK charity as my dad & Uncle both had issues with it.
Half Marathon booked for March and slowly upping the mileage.
But good luck with the run. Deanno1dad said:
any experience with lycra shorts..im not a fan of the seb coe tiny flappy shorts from the 70's
Lycra shorts, longer flappy shorts over the top.Slather your tackle in Vaseline or Sudocrem, depending on preferences.
Don't forget nipple plasters. One of my running club mates has a big issue with red streaks down his vest at the end of races...
Trabi601 said:
Deanno1dad said:
any experience with lycra shorts..im not a fan of the seb coe tiny flappy shorts from the 70's
Lycra shorts, longer flappy shorts over the top.Slather your tackle in Vaseline or Sudocrem, depending on preferences.
Don't forget nipple plasters. One of my running club mates has a big issue with red streaks down his vest at the end of races...
RichB said:
So almost the exact opposite of my experience, short split side running shorts and nipples will harden, eventually if you're doing the distances regularly. I guess we're all different.
I forgot that I also cover my feet and toes in vaseline to avoid blistering.Most I've done is 25km (Berlin Big 25 - doing it again this year) - you'd not get me anywhere near a full marathon.
A (skinny) neighbour did it a few years ago. Felt ecstatic for a couple weeks and then hit some kind of "wall" when the buzz wore off and felt bushed for about a month afterwards. Quite a lot of people die or get badly injured on the LM, so be prepared and don't overdo it. The balance of evidence now suggests marathoning shortens life expectancy, so may be best not to make a habit of it.
Yipper said:
A (skinny) neighbour did it a few years ago. Felt ecstatic for a couple weeks and then hit some kind of "wall" when the buzz wore off and felt bushed for about a month afterwards. Quite a lot of people die or get badly injured on the LM, so be prepared and don't overdo it. The balance of evidence now suggests marathoning shortens life expectancy, so may be best not to make a habit of it.
What a load of nonsense. I know many, many people who individually have run over 200 marathons. Most have run 100. I have done 50.Admittly there are usually 1 or 2 people who pass away, but these are usually the exception.
AndStilliRise said:
Yipper said:
A (skinny) neighbour did it a few years ago. Felt ecstatic for a couple weeks and then hit some kind of "wall" when the buzz wore off and felt bushed for about a month afterwards. Quite a lot of people die or get badly injured on the LM, so be prepared and don't overdo it. The balance of evidence now suggests marathoning shortens life expectancy, so may be best not to make a habit of it.
What a load of nonsense.
Trabi601 said:
RichB said:
So almost the exact opposite of my experience, short split side running shorts and nipples will harden, eventually if you're doing the distances regularly. I guess we're all different.
I forgot that I also cover my feet and toes in vaseline to avoid blistering. Most I've done is 25km (Berlin Big 25 - doing it again this year) - you'd not get me anywhere near a full marathon.
Best thing I have done! I lost a lot of weight and helped my mental health!
Tips: I wore nike compression shorts underneath my normal shorts fine no problem.
Get good shoes and do not worry about all the creme and Vaseline I never got one blister.
runnersworld have a really good running plan, that's what I used. I probably did too many long runs i ran 22 miles a few times before the big day only because I wanted to in my head know 100% I could complete the course (which turned out to be cross country).
Make training fun/different I often ran home from friends houses just to vary routes.
Run some local 10k races before its very different running in a crowd/ with others, you need to isolate yourself and ignore everyone around you, stick to your plan. You should have a realistic pace in mind.
Tips: I wore nike compression shorts underneath my normal shorts fine no problem.
Get good shoes and do not worry about all the creme and Vaseline I never got one blister.
runnersworld have a really good running plan, that's what I used. I probably did too many long runs i ran 22 miles a few times before the big day only because I wanted to in my head know 100% I could complete the course (which turned out to be cross country).
Make training fun/different I often ran home from friends houses just to vary routes.
Run some local 10k races before its very different running in a crowd/ with others, you need to isolate yourself and ignore everyone around you, stick to your plan. You should have a realistic pace in mind.
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