Marathon training Week 12 of 18. Final Week! .... and.....relax.

[SlowLoris]

Finally the marathon that was never going to happen is not going to happen. The organiser cancelled today.

Training for a first marathon is not easy. Doing it during lockdown has been wearisome. There are no decent long routes from my front door. Twice now I have failed to launch my long run on a Sunday because I knew it would be busy. Monday became my new long run day.

What to do? Carry on for a solo virtual marathon? Not my idea of fun.

So I went for a run.

Trail shoes back on for the first time in weeks and out for a slow 8 miles around the local countryside. Absolute bliss.

New goal is the New Forest Marathon in September. If it goes ahead. For the next few weeks I’m going to stop training and enjoy running.

Happy running all.

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Well done on just shifting your goal SL and not letting it get to you. Hope the training for New Forest goes well!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Arrgghh, frustrating! But an opportunity too. I think lots of us are enjoying the unexpected freedom from plans and events for a while, especially at this time of year when there is just so much nature to be lapped up. Enjoy the break, great attitude there 👍😊

[SlowLoris in reply to linda9389]

I went for a bike ride today. That was hard work. Different muscles.

Not as hard as the flippin' yoga though.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SlowLoris]

Haha! Choose your yoga sessions with care 😍

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

I totally understand why you don’t relish the idea of a solo virtual marathon - how tedious. 👎 Yes, this is the perfect time to enjoy running for what it is, pressure free. Sounds like you’ve found that out! Get out and enjoy the relative peace of lockdown, run for fun and of course stay safe. 😀

[misswobble Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Much of the time during a marathon you will find yourself alone. Long distance running is not for everyone. You have to enjoy being solitary and able to keep yourself focussed, and amused for hours on end. It does teach you a lot about yourself 🙂. More so if the weather is bad 🙂

[SlowLoris in reply to misswobble]

Hi Miss Wobble

I'm okay with my own company and enjoy the solitary runs. My longest so far is nearly 3½ hours. That was easy long run pace though and I know from my HM that keeping to race pace for 26 miles would not be easy. If it was just for the run it would make no difference to me if I did 25 miles or 27 miles. It's the event I was looking forward to. Making a day of it. Supporters, family, live music, beer and burger afterwards.

As for keeping focussed? Well, suffice it to say I probably do need marshals and signposts. I quite often drift off to Loris land and wander off route. Not a good idea on the day. Garmin pacer keeps me on track pace wise.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to SlowLoris]

Yes, having a welcome committee on completion of your Marathon would have been the icing on the cake 🙂

I drifted off on a run once and ended up knee deep in black boggy filth I ran completely off the trail without noticing ☺️😄

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

That looks beautiful 🙂 Enjoy running amok with abandon 🏃‍♀️🏃🙂

[misswobble Marathon]

It’s still training though 💪😃

Enjoy it 🏃‍♂️

[C3PO Marathon]

It sounds like you make the right decision.