|
Sep 2022
9:09am, 16 Sep 2022
1,994 posts
|
Big_G
B Rubble, that’s partly my concern. I think I’ve got a time that I’ll qualify with, for the first time, and will it be only time? I’d like to do the race so I’ve entered, and I’ll see if I get in. Sorry you couldn’t get over there with the covid issues though.
I’ve entered and I did pay the extra $15 or so which means I can get a refund if injured. I booked a reasonably priced (refundable) hotel months ago, and have began looking at flights. OH is wondering whether we should go to NYC first for a few days and then catch the train up to Boston. It’s such a long way off, but need to figure out plans, but I’ve booked a hotel for London as well, incase I get in with my hoped for GFA time.
As it stands, I’m slowly returning from injury at the moment, so it feels very odd shelling out that cash for a race when I’m injured but with refundable options, it’s not too much of a risk I don’t feel.
|
|
Sep 2022
9:17am, 16 Sep 2022
43,864 posts
|
HappyG(rrr)
I pretty much did London as my last GFA because I reckoned it was last time I'd get it and same for Boston. Not because one can't get a GFA or BQ after 50 but because I suspected I wouldn't be training well enough (lack of desire or inability through injury, general frailty) any longer.
Plenty of people doing so though. Just with better commitment than me! A few over 50s in our club doing all the majors, some targeting sub 3 at all of them!  G
|
|
Sep 2022
9:32am, 16 Sep 2022
1,996 posts
|
Big_G
A V55 at my club has done London something like 25 years in a row, and has obviously had to qualify in more recent years. He does about 20 marathons a year, although he did say he’s going to reduce the numbers soon.
|
|
Sep 2022
9:45pm, 19 Sep 2022
293 posts
|
Forrest Jooligan
Figured my Manchester time wouldn’t be good enough so not going to bother putting GFA application.
Doubt Abo (no Newport as they pulled the Autumn slot) next month will be as quick, let alone better. Training over the summer has been disrupted by both fun & catching COVID twice. Not done a 20M since July, though
I did manage 25M Saturday as wu/parkrun(20:02)/cd for 7.4M followed by a 17.6M fell race at noon in 3:25.
Day off yesterday but 17.4M today at 9:03 pace still felt hard work.
|
|
Sep 2022
9:29am, 20 Sep 2022
43,910 posts
|
HappyG(rrr)
Sorry to hear that FJ. Covid has been a nightmare for many. Hope you have fully recovered. That 25 mile Saturday sounds bonkers, but in a good way, well done! G
|
|
Sep 2022
9:55am, 20 Sep 2022
19,011 posts
|
larkim
That's a bonkers Saturday FJ! No wonder 9:03 pace felt hard.
Quick question for the London afficiandos - despite doing pretty much no real training, my lad is finally planning to do London in a couple of weeks mainly because it is bought and paid for and he's exhausted all of the deferral options. (I'm predicting a car crash, but he did run a 17 mile run a few days ago at 6:45 pace which is clearly bonkers youthful ability, so he still reckons a sub 3 is on 😲 so I thought I might head down to pick up the pieces.)
If I drove most of the way and then picked up a train into the most appropriate part of London, where would you be heading to to spectate and potentially catch him on the course and after the finish?
|
|
Sep 2022
10:21am, 20 Sep 2022
43,916 posts
|
HappyG(rrr)
It's super busy, obviously larkim. I've never spectated (just been on the course, 3 x !) but missus has seen me a couple of times.
Beware! Don't cross the streams! By which I mean, getting ACROSS the course can be really hard. So if you are north of the route, stay there, or south, same.
Obviously finishes on the Mall so Trafalgar Square tube and Charing Cross train are both good. But I'll let locals tell you best travel arrangements. Enjoy. And good luck to larkim Jnr. G
|
|
Sep 2022
11:29am, 20 Sep 2022
19,012 posts
|
larkim
Yep, will stay north. Likely will be on my tod which will help for nipping around if I do get down there. Good advice about not crossing the streams!
|
|
Sep 2022
12:54pm, 20 Sep 2022
5,526 posts
|
Windsor Wool
lark, there's some optimization potential in being in the area 13->14 and 21->22 miles. There are some bridges across the course there that mean you can get on both sides.
Something that I haven't done but I have heard works well is to watch around Greenwich / Cutty Sark (6->7 miles) and then take the foot tunnel up to Isle of Dogs (16->17).
My experience is that it's not that difficult to get around on the tube on the day and so you can get to see participants in a couple of places and be at the end. It also takes the finishers *ages* to get (stumble / trudge / stagger / crawl / limp) from the finish line to the meeting points around Horse Guard's parade so you've got a bit more time than you think.
Warning, once you've spectated you're gonna wanna run it!
|
|
Sep 2022
12:57pm, 20 Sep 2022
23,561 posts
|
Bazoaxe
There is an underpass at Tower Bridge and my family are usually on the bridge when I pass about 12 miles in and then on the other side where I come back (in a mess) just past 23 miles.
|
