for an ad-free Fetcheveryone experience!

The sub 2.45 marathon thread

222 watchers

depeche_mould Jan 2021 12:52pm, 1 Jan 2021 3 posts	0 depeche_mould Hi AJLB not in your league, but I'm at the 2.51 mark for the marathon and would like to slice off some minutes in 2021. I'm looking at a coach this year, online, not overly expensive, but I reckon it can't hurt, can it? (I mean searing delayed onset muscle soreness or plantar fasciitis excluded.) Interested to hear what your own thoughts are on following through on a coach, where you find one and what your experience is?...happy to share my experiences 🤓
Chris Jan 2021 8:54am, 3 Jan 2021 1,481 posts	0 Chris Ajlb, sounds like we are in a similar boat. I’ve just been using p&d to get me down to 2.39 but am not sure there’s much left to find. I did try an online coach but didn’t have faith in the plan they put together so abandoned it. Since p&d has worked so well I’m a little cautious about putting my trust in someone to train me
jda Jan 2021 3:02pm, 3 Jan 2021 9,158 posts	0 jda Yes, the problem I have with a coach is that you have to trust them or there's not much point. Was v useful to have good coaching at an earlier age when I knew nothing, but now I'm past 50 I reckon I know my body better than anyone else is likely to. I'm happy to listen to ideas (and use some standard books, particularly Jack Daniels) but I think I gain more from forums such as this, where there are a diverse range of views, than I would from direct consultation with one person however experienced and talented they were. Given my lack of innate ability (demonstrated over many years as a junior and young adult) I think I've done pretty well with myself!
damo2000 Jan 2021 4:26pm, 3 Jan 2021 488 posts	0 damo2000 I think a coach is useful if you are looking for some extra motivation, and need some assistance to achieve your goals. They should be able to look at your overall training and guise you better. I've not used one, but my wife uses a PT and she loves it - nothing she cant do herself, but its good to have someone with more knowledge than you do telling you what to do. Of course as JDA says you need to listen to your body. Its a two way street too, you need to give them constant feedback too so they know how you are feeling/recovering and where your limits are.
depeche_mould Jan 2021 11:00pm, 3 Jan 2021 4 posts	0 depeche_mould I'm going to do an online coaching thing for 6 months as an experiment. I'm fairly intrinsically motivated and have a decent amount of understanding of training principles but I still think I can always improve. It won't break the bank and if it has no effect on my marathon times I won't take it up again Feel like an online coach potentially less "real" and thus motivation influence slightly watered down? Hard to get an in person coach because of the pestilence though right?
AJLB Jan 2021 8:26am, 4 Jan 2021 211 posts	0 AJLB Motivation isnt a problem for me, but with no experience of coaching or training techniques beyond what I've read I wonder if I'm missing out. The point about online coaching is a good one - any recommendations?
RunningBob Jan 2021 9:26am, 4 Jan 2021 4,788 posts	0 RunningBob Happy New Year All! I only managed 3 races in 2020 ... but enjoyed plenty of running in the hills just for the nature and freedom. 5376km with 142,240m of climb according to ~~strava~~ which I guess is further than usual. I might make a comeback for VLM 2021
RunningBob Jan 2021 9:28am, 4 Jan 2021 4,789 posts	0 RunningBob Depeche - I'd start with the basics - what are your best times for 5k, 10k, HM?
Daz Love Jan 2021 10:20am, 4 Jan 2021 1,409 posts	0 Daz Love AJLB - I follow the 'Welsh Runner@ Matt Rees on Instagram. He also does Coaching. thewelshrunner.com Also Tom Craggs/Robbie Britton offer online Coaching fastrunning.com I haven't used any of these but things I have stumbled across!!
depeche_mould Jan 2021 12:15pm, 4 Jan 2021 5 posts	0 depeche_mould Bob -- 5k 16.31 10k 35.34 HM 1.17.03 M 2.52.56...