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Aug 2017
4:47pm, 22 Aug 2017
9,309 posts
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Rosehip
what a fab thread 
My PB is 5.26 so I'm out on the less fast than average end of the bell curve. (and the last two I did were even slower deliberate run-walks in training for longer stuff)
The confidence boost of getting to 20 miles before the first one was REALLY important to me - I felt like if I can cover 20 miles I can do anything!! However I got into London on the ballot and in retrospect was a bit daft "running" it on the mileage I did.
Some really interesting and useful info/insight though.
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Aug 2017
4:48pm, 22 Aug 2017
2,205 posts
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Tim of MK
Perhaps, and I'm genuinely not trying to be contraversial here, we're maybe all guilty of over-analysing marathon training.
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Aug 2017
4:51pm, 22 Aug 2017
13,312 posts
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Fenland (Fenners) Runner
I think it is important to have an honest appraisal of your strengths and weaknesses. In addition what does the athlete enjoy? Sticking to the wrong plan and hating it doesn't sound like a useful way to spend the finite time we have on this planet.
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Aug 2017
5:07pm, 22 Aug 2017
16,006 posts
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Wriggling Snake
LMH is right. My first mara was Edinburgh. May. So I made a 16 week plan based on running a 13 mile LSR before the 16 week plan started...sounds mad but it meant I had all of Nov/Dec to get sorted...nice and easy. London will have a 16 week plan starting Christmas.
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Aug 2017
5:09pm, 22 Aug 2017
3,141 posts
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run-forest-run
Not controversial at all, so many different approaches to training and at all levels. Good to have opinions and share them
FR............. totally agree !! We possibly spend 90 - 95 % of running time training, love what you do and enjoy what you do..... I think that is a big contributor to success in a race, and if perhaps a race does not go to plan (we know all about this) then at least training has been enjoyably
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Aug 2017
5:18pm, 22 Aug 2017
301 posts
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Little Miss Happy
For me the most important thing is to enjoy my running - and part of that is to be well prepared for any races that I do.
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Aug 2017
6:49pm, 22 Aug 2017
406 posts
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Brunski
Agree with the over analysing of plans. I'm guilty of over analysing but more based on my VO2 Max, heart beats per mile, heart rate, etc. I know I'd hate to follow a rigid plan so haven't. When my approach of grabbing as much mileage as I can at varying paces stops working I might see if I can stick to a plan.
For York this year I've tried to get my mileage up around 60 a week but that is really mixed mileage including some tempo, some intervals with mates, some sub LT stuff and a load of steady/recovery mileage when O need it. The only thing I've planned is getting a weekly long run in (normally including or ending in a tempo parkrun).
What I have done is lay off the racing a bit - My parkruns have been mainly Tempo/Threshold on tired legs, and I genuinely think this has helped me put more effort in during the week.
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Aug 2017
6:56pm, 22 Aug 2017
407 posts
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Brunski
Saying that I think a plan followed well gives you a really good idea of what your marathon time/pacing is going to be. I'm going into the last 6 1/2 weeks before York still not knowing what pace I'm going to be aiming for.
If I don't PB it'll be because I've set off too ambitiously.
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Aug 2017
4:07pm, 25 Aug 2017
11,045 posts
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Autumnleaves
I have put together a plan - a lot of my more experienced club mates do the Trimpell 20 race - which is timed to fit quite well into the long runs plan - but given my inexperience at this distance would I be better off doing my own long run rather than an organised one? (I would not, in any way, be racing it).
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Aug 2017
4:14pm, 25 Aug 2017
16,060 posts
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Wriggling Snake
A couple of people ran the 20 at Derwent. After they admitted they gaot caught up in the race....I used the Gloucester 20. Ran it a 9mm and drliberately ran the last 3 quicker. So by all means go to a race but go with a plan and di not deviate.
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