Running the ING Luxembourg night Marathon soon!

[marco83]

Hi all!

it has been more than a year that I don't write here... Sorry...

I have been busy with a new job (bigger responsibilities and more travelling) and just keep up with life has been difficult. But I have decided to give an update today

In September I ran my fastest half marathon yet (below 1h35! - well 1h 34' 40'', but still I was proud of it :), so I decided I was going to challenge my self a bit over the infinite and cold winter and entered the Luxembourg marathon (hilly!). I am running it in 15 days, so I am officially tapering!!! I will be my 4th marathon, with 3 done in Belfast (Northern Ireland).

I am fairly happy about the training, the winter didn't go as planned. Got twice a flu (missing at least 2 weeks of running) and went to the US for work 3 times in February, March, and April, + a round trip to Brussels and one to Berlin... so I struggled finding the time to run...

But I managed to run 125 miles in January, 135 in February, 180 in March and I am close to 200 in April.

I hope, even if I missed a few long runs, I will be able do well. My PB - 4h15 - would be great, considering the profile of that marathon... ). The plan however is to try the sub 4 hours. so I will start at 8:30 per mile and will assess after half.

happy run to all and I hope I will not leave another year before I write again...

Quick update... I found the profile (in the pic, both half and full - I am in for a long hill...), and it's a bit more than hilly at the end, nothing major for some of you, but it could be hard for me (Maybe I should have checked this before... )

any suggestions for people who knows how to deal mentally with hills (cannot do anything for the training at this point...) is welcome Thanks!

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Hey Marco! Long time Big congratulations on the new job - and especially on the half marathon pb, go you!!!

Would you like me to add your marathon to my (cheer list) Events calendar?

[marco83 Marathon in reply to roseabi]

yes, please. See what happens if you stay away from something for too long? I didn't know about this event calendar, nice idea!

the Marathon is on the 12th of May.

have a great day!

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to marco83]

Thanks, and the same to you

[misswobble Marathon]

Hello Marco, long time no talk to 👍😃

Sounds like you’ve been hellishly busy. Running must be a good outlet I think.

Good news on the running front. Good luck with your latest adventure. A hilly Marathon! Oh gawd 😁💪 courage mon brave 😃

[marco83 Marathon in reply to misswobble]

it just a bit hilly, not like the few I have seen done by somebody on this site. it has about 2/300 meters difference between the top and the bottom and the top is both the beginning (nice) and the end (awful). And it was not looked for, I just forgot to check before accepting the invite

I will keep you posted

[misswobble Marathon]

😁 fools rush in 😃 so they say

I have got four hilly races coming up but they’re relatively short thank goodness

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Wow! That's a lot of miles clocked up! Sounds to me like sub 4 is a great aim, will look forward yo hearing all about it 😊good luck!

[JaySeeSkinny Half Marathon]

Wow, you’re doing brilliantly! Lots of mileage under your belt and fantastic times. Good to see you back!

[Anniemurph Half Marathon]

Congratulations on the new job and on your pb! Good luck for this race - a hilly marathon But you have put the training in so it sounds as though you are ready for it. Nice to see you back again

[C3PO Marathon]

Exciting news, Marco. And excellent mileage. Can’t wait to hear how it goes.

[marco83 Marathon]

-4 days to the marathon! tapering is working fine, with 46 miles two weeks ago and 36 last week. This week I will not even run 20 miles until Friday and then the Marathon... I am recovering well for the big day and enjoying the extra time

The plan:

I will fly to Luxembourg on Friday, meeting my cousin (who invited me there and will run the HM) and do nothing for the evening. On Saturday morning I will visit the expo and get my race pack. A part from that, I will get a late lunch and get mentally prepared for the marathon. I am fairly worried for the last 10 Km up hill, but I want to ignore the fact that they exist until I am actually running on them. So I will run the first half as I believed a sub 4 hours was possible (passing at 10K in 50/55, half in 1h52/55, 20 miles in 2h45/50). With this pace I will have a bit more than 1 hour for the last 10K (up hill).

I will assess at half and see whether the 4 hours are feasible or not.

after the race, a nice beer and in bad late (I will be probably running until 11:30 pm...)