Couch to 42k: I could certainly have... - Fun Beyond 10K & ...

Fun Beyond 10K & Race Support

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Couch to 42k

Snail_Male profile image
Snail_MaleMarathon
β€’38 Replies

I could certainly have done it better, faster, smarter but on Sunday I completed the London Marathon, and it was truly wonderful. Painful but wonderful.

There was a point during the training when I really doubted my ability to complete it or even start the race but the advice I received from this group was superbly practical and got me through, for which I can only say thanks.

Never thought I had a marathon in me. Even having run several halves in training last year, I remember chatting to a friend about it and saying exactly that and believing it. A combination of Hal Higdon, Jeff Galloway and the advice from a few key friends, and from strangers on this forum got me through when things felt tough.

In the end my strategy was run the first 10k so as not to get in anyone's way, Jeff the next 11k to get to half way, simply put one foot in front of the other until Mile 20, then see how I felt. And when I got to Mile 20 I realised that I felt great and yes, I was going to cross the finish line!

The atmosphere, always friendly and supportive, suddenly became magical. (I'd like to say that I glided home from there but the photos suggest otherwise.) Nonetheless I was smiling for much of it and feeling happier with each passing kilometre.

Never thought I'd say I was a marathoner. To be honest never had any ambition to say it, but now its up there with my proudest achievements. Never thought I would be part of the running community either, but it seems one of the friendliest most supportive communities around. Thanks to all who have inspired or supported me.

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Snail_Male profile image
Snail_Male
Marathon
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38 Replies
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AlMorr profile image
AlMorrHalf Marathon

Congratulations to you Snail Male on completing The London Marathon on Sunday, I agree with you that this is one of the most friendliest and supportive forms on the Internet, you will soon see the magic words MARATHON next to your username, I hope you celebrated that wonderful achievement in style. 😊 πŸƒπŸΎ πŸŽ“

Snail_Male profile image
Snail_MaleMarathonβ€’ in reply toAlMorr

I tried but having finished feeling great, I worked my way across to Victoria for a celebratory meal, took half a dozen bites, felt sick, stood up to go to the toilet, felt faint, sat down again then lay on the seat in the restaurant for 10 minutes! I thought alcohol was probably to be avoided for a few days after that. πŸ˜…πŸ˜± I have felt fine since and will doubtless make up for it on Friday night.

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRun10 Miles

Awesome! πŸ˜ƒa whole marathon, a distance that’s a distant dream for most of us

Snail_Male profile image
Snail_MaleMarathonβ€’ in reply toSueAppleRun

Believe me when I say if you'd told me, or anyone who knew me before lock down that I'd run one, you would have been disbelieved. Most of all by me. But really anything is possible, it turns out.

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRun10 Milesβ€’ in reply toSnail_Male

Yes anything is possible, I can’t see me getting the time to train until i retire but well anything is possible,

PandaCory profile image
PandaCoryβ€’ in reply toSueAppleRun

Me too - I can't wait to have more time to (hopefully) run. Still working full-time at the moment & there just aren't enough hours in the day.

Cmoi profile image
CmoiMarathonβ€’ in reply toSnail_Male

Congratulations Snail_Male ! You've nailed it there. I have never, ever been sporty, but did a trail marathon on Saturday. Were it not for Strava, the race and photo records, the finishers' T-shirt next to me, and the fact that my husband saw me finish, I'd think I'd dreamt it all.

Snail_Male profile image
Snail_MaleMarathonβ€’ in reply toCmoi

Trail marathon is amazing πŸ‘. I did the Dirt Half remotely towards the end of last year, and for very similar reasons to you. I registered my Strava record, paid for the t-shirt and medal, just so I could own one bit of evidence that I'd been able to run that far! I was amazed and didn't really think it could last or that I could ever go further.

GoGo_JoJo profile image
GoGo_JoJoUltramarathon

Fantastic! Very well done! πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ˜πŸ‘πŸ»πŸŽ– it just shows what vwe can really do!

Definitely avoid alcohol for a couple of days, keep your hydration high and be on your guard for the "post marathon blues". All that expectation, hard work and training with the big build up can come crashing down mentally over the following days. Gentle movement, good diet, it all helps.

Cmoi profile image
CmoiMarathonβ€’ in reply toGoGo_JoJo

Your posts have always been invaluable to me GoGo_JoJo , but I'm going to ignore (some of) your advice this time. I'm 61 today, which also marks being able to get my hands on part of my pension. So this evening, wine 🍷 🍾 is me! 😜🀣

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathonβ€’ in reply toCmoi

Happy birthday lovely lady - cheers!!! πŸ₯‚

nowster profile image
nowsterMetric Marathonβ€’ in reply toCmoi

A very happy birthday. A good excuse to put your feet up with a large glass of your adopted country's excellent produce.

Snail_Male profile image
Snail_MaleMarathonβ€’ in reply toGoGo_JoJo

I'd not heard about the post-marathon blues, but can totally understand how that could be a thing. Very useful to know, thanks.

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Half Marathon

Congratulations on your wonderful achievement! πŸ˜€πŸ…I like to think that I cheered you on, as I was up in London on Sunday watching my husband as he ran his first marathon too! What an amazing atmosphere and what a lot of inspiring people! Hope you are recovering well and enjoying the bling and fluorescent orange tshirt!πŸ˜€

Snail_Male profile image
Snail_MaleMarathonβ€’ in reply toSandraj39

If you didn't cheer me I'm sure you cheered plenty of others. Yes, the shirt - good for night runs!🀣

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksHalf Marathon

Snail_Male, you’re amazing. What an achievement! I’m so happy for you, and it gives me hope that if I should ever be successful in getting a ballot place to London (only London, nowhere else) , I could do it too.

Fantastic! I hope you’re still buzzing with pride. πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

Snail_Male profile image
Snail_MaleMarathonβ€’ in reply tocheekychipmunks

It still feels surreal, like I can't have really done it. Even though it dominated my summer (remember that heat waveπŸ₯΅) and my legs are now very sore!

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnMarathon

Inspiring! :)Well done and thank you for your post :) πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon

Wonderful race and congratulations on this mega milestone!

Congratulations and well done! You acted on a dream and did it. A dream many of us may never reach to fulfill!

Snail_Male profile image
Snail_MaleMarathonβ€’ in reply to

I can only say pick a date (preferably one quite a way offπŸ˜‰) and start planning towards it. You will get there if you follow the plan and your luck holds.

Week7 profile image
Week7Half Marathon

Congratulations ! I have always considered attempting to run a marathon totally unrealistic for me but your post makes it appear slightly more achievable. Your plan to break it down into segments for running, jeffing and just putting one foot in front of the other is inspired.

You must be so proud of yourself!

Congratulations again πŸ‘πŸ†πŸ…

Snail_Male profile image
Snail_MaleMarathonβ€’ in reply toWeek7

Thank you. It's definitely achievable barring health reasons. During training my #1 priority was always avoiding injuries, because I'm at the age where they take too long to heal. And a good friend who does run a lot just kept saying 'find a realistic training plan, trust it and stick to it as much as you can.'

Week7 profile image
Week7Half Marathonβ€’ in reply toSnail_Male

Sounds like good advice! Hope you are wearing you bling everywhere for all to see

πŸ…

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon

What a fabulous post! An amazing achievement, you must feel very proud! I've given you your marathon badge although the LM bling is quite something isn't it!!!

Snail_Male profile image
Snail_MaleMarathonβ€’ in reply tolinda9389

Thank you very much. Yes, the VLM medal itself is certainly quite something. I wore it to a large online team meeting at work yesterday with saying anything, just for a laugh. There was no danger of it not being spotted, which is the idea, I guess.

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathonβ€’ in reply toSnail_Male

🀣🀣🀣 they're just huge aren't they, but then it's a huge achievement

Guinea70 profile image
Guinea70Marathon

Congratulations and well done! it must have been a wonderful atmosphere there πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ…

Snail_Male profile image
Snail_MaleMarathonβ€’ in reply toGuinea70

It's really something else. Having been and supported others many times I can now confirm it's great on both sides of the fence. πŸ˜€

NanaPlum profile image
NanaPlumHalf Marathon

FABULOUS

Frenc profile image
FrencHalf Marathon

Ah well done you, it sounds as though you had an amazing time and also a great plan too! I couldn’t even contemplate that distance, so I am incredibly impressed - you have every right to be so proud of yourself! Hurrah Snail_Male! 🀩🀩🀩

Snail_Male profile image
Snail_MaleMarathonβ€’ in reply toFrenc

Yep, it's an intimidating distance to think about. Definitely worked for me not to think about it at all and just focus on the training. Whenever I did think about it is when I wobbled.

PandaCory profile image
PandaCory

Brilliant - congratulations on an amazing achievement! (I am officially envious 😁😁).

Blackberrypie profile image
BlackberrypieHalf Marathon

Congratulations, our bodies are capable of so much more than we think they can!

RunWillie profile image
RunWillieMarathon

Well done Snail_Male πŸ‘πŸ»

ElephantRunner profile image
ElephantRunnerMarathon

Well done snail-male! Putting one foot in front of the other ha ha I hear you!!

Lavender1962 profile image
Lavender1962Half Marathon

Congratulations on your marathon! Inspiring post and sounds like you had a great plan! πŸŽ‰πŸ‘πŸ‘

Katnap profile image
KatnapMarathon

πŸŽ‰ Snails rule! πŸ’ͺ

🐱 Katnap 🐱

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