Maratrail in October?

[Cmoi]

I've just found out that our local maratrail - Le Grand Trail du St Jacques - has been postponed from June to the beginning of October, a couple of days before my 61st birthday. Am I out of my mind to consider entering?

On the one hand, it's only eleven months since I started C25K, and this would be a serious event: 42km of trail, 1750m ascent and 1700m descent. I've never entered a real event before, my longest run to date is 26.3km, and my attitude to training has been lackadaisical, to say the least.

On the other, I've been running hills since the start of C25K, run a lot in the forest and on other tracks and trails, and get in a fair bit of elevation.

So - is it realistic for me to enter?

[HeavyFoot Half Marathon]

So you have 6 months to get ready for a very hilly marathon. With the right planning with incremental stretches you can do it. You’re still young!! You’ll need a doctor’s certificate in France, bien entendu. If you go ahead, post us on your progress. 😃

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to HeavyFoot]

Thanks HeavyFoot . Bloody medical certificates - I think it has to be a "course à pied en compétition" for this as well. Haven't been to the doctor in years. I'll probably get a lecture on how I should go and do "gym douce pour séniors." 😱🤣

[HeavyFoot Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Or a weekly boules session with pastis, rough cigarettes and a lot of arguments. 😎

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to HeavyFoot]

That'd be an epic fail... I have no hand-eye co-ordination, don't like pastis, and have never smoked in my life. I could do the arguing though!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to HeavyFoot]

😁

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

There's nothing like a big goal to focus the mind - anyway, it looks to me as though you want to do it! So go for it xxx

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to roseabi]

You're right as usual roseabi - I think I do want to do it, it's just that I'm pretty intimidated by the company I'd be keeping. I know a couple of other potential entrants, but professionally rather than as friends, and they're both guys who are 15-20 years younger than I am.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Yes! Nothing to add. Well, except maybe ... just do it!!!

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks linda9389 - I think I need to kick myself up the backside!

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

The bigger question is Do you want to? If you want it, go for it. If you're not sure, wait for the one you don't want to wait for...

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Put like that GoGo_JoJo it's actually quite simple - yes, I do want to do it! Had it been going ahead on the original planned date in early June, it would've been too much too soon, and in any case I'm working as an examiner that day. It's been moved because of Covid - we're still locked-down here and will be for another two weeks - and the October date is what's made it potentially do-able.

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to Cmoi]

In that case you must! 👍🏻😁🤞🏻

[Cmoi Marathon]

HeavyFoot , roseabi , linda9389 , GoGo_JoJo - I went onto the website to sign up and... it's not working!

Interestingly, my reaction was not "Oh well, that's a sign, don't bother!" but immediately to try via my mobile instead. That didn't work either, so I've now added "Sign up for St Jacques Trail" to my to-do list, nicely squished up against "Do tax return." 🤡 🤣

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

😅😅😅 there's definitely a will there, you'll find a way 👍

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to linda9389]

linda9389 , see my latest post. I still have to get on with the tax return... 😜😘

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Priorities!!!

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

Looking at the other replies, it looks like decision made! I'd like to add that I think training for a marathon usually takes you up to around 32k so you should have plenty of time to build up to that.

Going off what you wrote, I reckon our ages differ by about 5 days (I hit 61 on the 9th).

Seems you have a training target! Happy running.

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to SkiMonday]

Thanks SkiMonday ! Yes, decision is made, although the event registration website is still playing up. I figured if I don't try, I'll never know. Plus, the usual June date for the event is really inconvenient for me, as it's exam season. You're right re the birthday calculations too 😀 - mine's the 5th.

[Rising60]

OMG that is ambitious! 50 years ago, who'd have anticipated this? (Though it's pretty awful being able to write "50 years ago".) I am so impressed.

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Rising60]

Thanks Rising60 ., that means a lot. Frankly I wouldn't have anticipated it one year ago, let alone 50. Though I actually rather like the fact that we can write "50 years ago," as long as we hide the photographic evidence! 🙃🤗

[Cmoi Marathon]

Well, the site was working again this morning, so I've signed up. Here's the event - Le Trail du Gévaudan: trailsaintjacques.com/epreu...

I'm going to have to take this running lark seriously now, aren't I?!

[nowster Metric Marathon]

Eek! I couldn't see myself doing that, and I'm ten years younger than you. On the other hand a couple of years ago I was in awe of the guy at the office who ran a half marathon, and I'm nearly there.

Never say never.

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to nowster]

Thanks nowster . This is undoubtedly a challenge for me, not least because I'll have to train properly and stop just messing around.

However, when I got back from the HUHM - which turned into a metric marathon for me because I was running on emotion and it seemed a good idea at the time - there were two little gremlins whispering to me. One was saying "You bloody fool, you've overdone it, you feel ill now, what the hell were you thinking!" and the other was going "Hey, you know, a marathon is only a ten-miler more than this. You can run ten miles."

Paradoxically the thought of running trails and being able to take my time makes it feel more do-able than having to run on roads and worry about pace. So I'm going to go for it and see what happens. If I don't try, I'll never know.

[misswobble Marathon]

Oh good for you! 😃. I did my first marathon on my 60th birthday so we’re never too old to start. I’ve done one every year since 🙂

Minimum of four months training I’d say. I suppose you could start now as you run the trails anyway don’t you 😃🏃‍♀️👍

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Thanks misswobble . I've found a marathon trail running training guide that lasts 16 weeks and describes runs really simply (hills, speed, easy, tempo, long) so doesn't stress me out.

So, on the basis that I might need to take extra time with the plan - lockdown, work, holiday, life in general - I've already done my first run. It was supposed to be 30 minutes of hills so I headed straight up into the forest and stayed there, except for the last 250m or so, where I dropped back downhill through the field.

Unfortunately Strava messed up, so while I know I ran for 35 minutes, I don't have an accurate record of distance or elevation. Ah well, guess I'll be going back again soon!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

It doesn’t matter. You did the work. Enjoy varied runs. Trail running is harder so do some strength too. We use hips and shoulders more 💪. Go steady and build up gradually Have fun out there 🙂👍. Take some food and drink 🙂