Should I transfer to the 10 mile race or defer the Yorkshire Marathon 2019?

[Pippa49]

I am having serious doubts about whether I can do the above and am considering either transferring to the 10 mile race on the 20th October or deferring or even withdrawing altogether. I know it's a confidence thing and I am also having second thoughts about London and Brighton (would be deferring Brighton if I get into London via the ballot) can you withdraw from the ballot? The reason for my doubts is that I really suffered from sore feet and don't think that upping the mileage like some have suggested will solve the problem.

I did not get the job I went for although not too bothered as the days were not what I wanted and they did not take on any of the other candidates from today either.

[C3PO Marathon]

I'm having similar thoughts about my September race. It's not only about confidence. A marathon is a huge undertaking, and should only be done if you're able to put the work in. One thing is knowing that you can finish in 6+ hours if you walk a lot, but do you want to be out there that long? I've done 3 events now that have lasted that long, and it's not great.

I think there's nothing wrong with downscaling a planned event. After having done several events that haven't gone as well as I'd like this year, I've learned that sometimes we have to give it time. See how things go, and then decide. Do you want to suffer through a marathon (or rather the marathon training) or do a shorter distance that you'll be able to train to, and do well at?

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to C3PO]

Thanks. I want to try to do a marathon just to say I have done the distance however I am not that fast over the half marathon distance (pb 4:10:00). I think I would prefer a marathon later in the year to avoid winter training because I have nobody who runs at my pace so have to run alone which means I am stuck when the dark nights start and as I don't get home from work until almost 6pm it's another obstacle to running also a personal safety issue going too far on my own in the dark. It's not that I don't want to do the training but I have to fit it around my life not the other way around. I was hoping for a sub four hour finish at Swansea Half marathon but it didn't go to plan however I did knock 6mins off last year's time(4:26:33 in 2018 to 4:19:45 on Sunday). I also got a guard of honour from the army cadets who clapped and cheered me as I went to get my medal and t-shirt. They were fantastic waiting in the pouring rain. I have to give kudos to Swansea Half Marathon because they said they couldn't guarantee that the finish line would still be open for those finishing over 4hrs but they were and I am eternally grateful to them. It was tough out on the course and I know some didn't finish. I am aware that some will say if you can't do a half under 4 or even 3.5hrs you shouldn't be doing a marathon. We can't all be GFA or elite.

[C3PO Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

I completely sympathize. Living in a country that is cold, dark and icy for many months, I wanted to train in better conditions as well, which is why I've been planning to do the Oslo marathon, which is in late September. I trained through the winter for London last year, and it wasn't fun!

I see that the Yorkshire marathon has a maximum finish time of 7 hours, so I would suggest you find a different one with a longer maximum finish time, so that you actually get a reward for all your efforts. Faster people don't understand the mental and physical effort it takes to be out there pounding the road for so many hours. Like I said a few weeks ago when I did the 31 km Ecotrail Oslo, it was really frustrating to be out there for 8 hours and not get a marathon medal. I know the distance wasn't a marathon, but the terrain was way worse!

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to C3PO]

There are not many marathons around with 8 or more hours so I have been told. London is one but it doesn't start from the last runner crossing the start line which is a bit unfair and Brighton doesn't have a cut off as such as someone took 8.5hrs last year. I am going to train and see how it goes and the deadline for transfers or deferral hasn't passed then I will either drop to the 10 mile race or defer to 2020.

[Snuffy_T Half Marathon]

Theres no shame in deferring. I'd go for the 10 miles , and enjoy it and maybe see if you can knock a few more minutes off you're time, which will feel great. I'd like to do a marathon one day, but I found the brighton half marathon I did in February was bad enough..! I'll probably never do a marathon. That said everyone says London is amazing

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Snuffy_T]

I’ve trained through winter, running in the snow, and many dark wet nights, getting tsunamied by passing lorries and it’s no fun My marathon was in November so the cold weather training came in handy though

Give yourself time to get the training done. Doing it while it’s good weather would be a much more pleasant affair

Good luck 😃👍🏃‍♀️💪

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Thank you. I draw the line at running in snow/slushas hate walking on it as paranoid about falling (broke my leg over 20years ago) if and when it does that I will be in the gym. I am starting back on Monday as I will have recovered sufficiently from the Swansea Half marathon just gone. I have 15-16 weeks until the marathon or the 10 mile if I decide to drop down. I have Cardiff Half on 6th October two weeks before Yorkshire Marathon on. 20th October: this will be part of my tapering.

[Beccym Marathon]

Pippa, you like me wanting to do a Marathon before the big one hits? Maybe you need new trainers? I am running Brighton next year and I am currently doing about 8 mile long runs and upping my distance a mile a week, if you don't feel ready for full in October why not do the 10 and look at it as a training run for Brighton or London. I am booking halfs along the way to April next year to keep me training. What distance are you currently doing?

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Beccym]

I did Swansea Half last Sunday (23rd June) but don't have anything until Cardiff Half on 6th October and this week has been recovery week but will start back again on Monday.