Flora London Marathon

[spm23]

Just thought I would let you know I have been given a charity place in next years Marathon, running for Dreams Come True which quite often send kids to Disney.

Should be fun!!!!! First time and I will just be 40 so post Christmas its going to be strict diet and tired legs for 4 months......

Will keep you posted on training and how I get on

[higgy66]

That's great!

I honestly don't know how people run 26 miles :scared1:

I run 2 - 3 times a week and only manage a 3 mile run! I would love to do a marathan but can not imagine running that number of miles. I have thought of running slower and for maybe longer but then I would still only be talking 5 miles :rotfl:

Good luck and keep us posted on the training

[natalielongstaff]

Thats great ! best of luck, i can't run to the end of the road :rotfl2:

[jjk]

great news ,good luck :thumbsup2

[Pinky166]

That's really great, good luck with your training. :thumbsup2

[mandymouse]

That's great :thumbsup2 I look forward to hearing about your progress

[PoppyAnna]

:worship: Congratulations, best of Luck!
A great charity will benefit from your hard work:thumbsup2


Thats great ! best of luck, i can't run to the end of the road :rotfl2:

Same as me, Nat....:lmao:

[katiec]

Hi congratulations!!

I had a charity place last year for Guys and St Thomas Kidney Research (my cousin had the first living donor from a friend last year).

It was a drunken "i'll do it with you"!!!at my wedding that led me to 26+miles last April.

I must admit that although I am a little overweight I could quite happily run 5-7 miles without thinking about it too much, but 26 miles is a different matter altogether.

I too celebrated my 40th birthday in the January.... i can tick it off my "must do" things now!!!!

I am by nature not built to be a sprinter,so I just took it at my normal training pace - especially at the begining when it is VERY tempting to run as fast as everyone else is. DONT do it - do your own thing - you will be very grateful at 18 miles that you did. (I am sure that is one of the reasons I didnt hit the preverbial wall as they say.)

Get two decent pairs of trainers made for running - go to a specialist sports shop rather than one that does all the trendy gear - you should be able to buy a pair for around £60ish - there is no need to spend a fortune on them (if they can do a "gait analysis" they will advise you on a pair that will support you for the way you run,rather than just general support.) DO NOT WEAR FASHION TRAINERS!!!!

Treat yourself to some nice training kit - it will make you more inclined to put in on, rather than old worn out stuff. Again it doesnt have to be expensive, just fit for purpose.

MY TOP TIP ------ put your favourite music on your Ipod and just run (I have an ipod shuffle which fits just nicely in a little pocket in the back of my trousers and doesnt weigh anything at all.

SECOND TOP TIP - put your name on your running t-shirt on the day- it really really really helps when people cheer you on by calling out your name.

(If you are well endowed put a large lump of vaseline under your endowements - will stop the skin rubbing)

The crowds are just fabulous all the way around- they will hand out jelly babies and jaffa cakes. I found that the atmosphere was so great i didnt run with my ipod - which I couldnt do without in training. I found it rather sad that people missed out on the atmosphere by running with their earphones it.

THIRD TOP TIP --- use pub/McDonalds toilets en route - it will add ages to your time if you stop to use the portaloos!!! (I wasnt too bothered about my time, but when I realised I could have been over 45minutes quicker I was most annoyed!)

You will need to put the miles in in training, but you dont have to stick to a published shedule if you dont feel like it. If you feel like running more, then do it - if you dont feel like it have the day off and you'll be more inclined to do it again the next day. Listen to your body - it will hurt (but shouldnt do too much - more achey than painful), but no pain no 26 miles gained!!

ABOVE ALL - enjoy it, you'll be more likely to stick at it

Good luck and if I can be of any help let me know.

Katie x

[Minniespal]

Best of luck:thumbsup2

[MouseHouseUK]

I honestly don't know how people run 26 miles :scared1:

I could barely wobble myself from the end of the line to the start :rotfl:

[spm23]

Katie,

Many Thanks for the advice, definitely going to the specialist shop as I am not the slimmest and will get the vaseline to ease an rubbing.

Spoke to some others today who said its the best and worst day of your life.

It all starts next week....I plod along so will be happy to just get through it.