Having completed a couple of marathons and taken a couple of cutback weeks, I'm trying to decide what to do next.
I was considering attempting another ultra (the South Canum in April) but I think I'd prefer to focus on marathon distance for a while.
Leaving a sizeable gap seems like a good idea so I'm considering another marathon around April time.
That gives me about 20 weeks to prepare. I could just start at the beginning of the NRC 18 week marathon plan but initially that's quite a drop in mileage.
So, any suggestions as to how I should go about preparing for an April marathon would be appreciated.
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SkiMonday
Ultramarathon
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I was thinking the same but getting ahead of myself as my hip still niggles 😏
If you’re doing the NRC app it will give you detailed instructions about the runs. Other than that I’d be planning my eating, sleeping, hydrating, cross training, and embracing hills. It will be time-consuming so clear your diary 😃
As for the drop in mileage, you could pick the plan up further along to suit where you’re at now. I assume though you might be having a festive break and reducing your mileage somewhat. It won’t hurt to back off a bit til when your training starts.
Apparently elite marathoners take four to six weeks off after marathons.
Good post, and it’s bound to generate some good conversations 👍🙂
I suspect that he did that by running them at an easy pace. There’s a huge difference between that and running one to achieve a podium finish. That said, they’re both great achievements. Personally, I’m aiming somewhere between those two extremes!
OMG! What a runner! Awesome ✊. I really enjoyed the documentary that he made on the epic runs in Africa. Really inspiring.
He cycles long distances for charity. He pitched up in my small corner of the world once, and was in search of food. He asked a group of local school kids where he’d best get a meal and they took him back to their school canteen 🙂.
I like his Bonkers CD 💿 😁 He’s very clever and apparently can do his stand-up in several languages
I think Eddie is a good human being and that’s what counts😃. Tough though, as life hasn’t been plain-sailing for him 🙂.
He did a really daft sketch about a carpet sweeper -
a “hodder-der-der” 😁 That’s the noise a carpet sweeper makes apparently. You know, one of the Bex Bissell or Ewbank non-electric ones. Or maybe you don’t 😁 I forget that not everyone is as old as me ☺️
I still think of Eddie the man though as I followed his career from early days 🙂
We adore Eddie's "death by tray" sketch so maybe had to high expectations when we went to see the comedy show in Bexhill some years ago now. He'd just come off his France tour and kept going on about what the French found funny but seemed to have forgotten what the English find funny. It was far less laughs than we were anticipating. Bit of a shame really. In fact the venue was more impressive that night. Its lovely building in Bexhill.
Thanks misswobble, it does seem like a good time for sorting out any niggles.
What I might do is drop back to my routine of three short runs and one long run each week. And, yes, it’s probably time for me to resume hill training; there’s a short one near here that’s handy for doing circuits. I could do a hill run and a speed run on alternate weeks.
I do hills every week but not thoroughly enough it would appear. Hence my hip getting crocked on my 25 Sept hilly half. So, I shall do more vertical, regularly, starting carefully and building up 💪 ⛰
Your runs plan sounds good 😃👍. Do you do intervals? The guided ones on the app are good. I dreaded them but with Coach Cory Malcolm I got through them. He sticks with you throughout 🙂.
As regards the Nike app, I saw that the fab NRC guided runs coach Shalane Flanagan (supposedly retired) ran a very good New a York City marathon today. Apparently she’s running several consecutively 🏃♀️
Intervals? Hmm. Think I started the plan with the NRC “Long and Strong and Fast” followed a week later with a fartlek run (where I miscounted so I had an unexpected final interval at the end). This time, I’m planning on adjusting the plan in the early stages so I’m likely to be doing plenty of intervals and hills.
I have signed up for the Milton Keynes marathon which is on May 2nd next year. I found a 12 week winter triathlon plan to keep me running (at reduced kilometerage) and cross training over the winter - and I am adding in strength work. This plan, I hope, will keep me fit while I address a couple of niggles. It will finish just in time for me to start a marathon training plan in mid-Jan next year.
I’m thinking of doing Brighton and Milton Keynes (three weeks apart seems like a reasonable spread) so I might see you around the start.
Milton Keynes also makes sense because I have friends who live in the area. Thinking about it, it might make sense to do Manchester rather than Brighton because I’m from round there and still have friends in the area.
Sorry SM I have no advice to give you whatsoever as the thought of a HM makes my eyes water and my legs start to shake 🤣. But best of luck with whatever you choose - I always follow your adventures with awe and interest! ⭐️
Thanks Frenc. I guess I could claim that I slowly sneaked up on HM distance then just kept on sneaking! Also, congratulations on your runniversary! Since you’ve just done a 10 miler, I’m sure you could do another HM if you wanted to.
Thanks for posting this SkiMonday . I'll be interested to see the replies, although I wouldn't presume to advise as I'm in a somewhat similar position.
Since the trail marathon (plus bonus 10%!) five weeks ago I haven't run much, as I've had to prioritise other stuff. I'm really not very interested in events, certainly not in races for the sake of, so if I enter anything else it'll probably be well into Spring 2022.
I did have a project to run up to a particular village and back, on forest trails as much as possible. This would involve quite a lot of elevation and probably marathon-plus distance. However temperatures have dropped recently, and it's dawned on me that it's not really a winter project, especially if we get snow!
I've also realised that if I am going to do any more "interesting" events I need to get much more technically competent on trails - learning how to run with poles and in the dark, for example. I'm kinda hoping that would automatically make me faster, but fear I'll have to work on speed too.
So I guess I'll probably just experiment and see what happens. I might even try an audio-coached run one day! Am thinking of trying yoga again too. I used to do some every day, but stopped when I realised that certain postures were doing more harm than good.
Hope you find solutions to suit you for the winter months. 😀
Must admit, my first thought on running in the dark was “buy a running light”! For the kind of trails you’re running, it does seem that poles would be useful; the only time that I use them tends to be for turning on moguls. From my experience, if you want to speed up, something like the NRC plans work well. I suspect that yoga would help your running but have no idea about what would work although I have an idea that “yoga for runners” may be available.
It does seem that your village project should be on hold for now; maybe something for late spring?
I guess I’ve become interested in what I can do marathon wise hence I’m looking to enter some next year. I suppose I’d also like to do a few of the local events at least once (they’re mostly 10ks). The Sodbury Slog could be interesting! Then there’s the Forest of Dean half (I power walked that so it would be good to try running it) and the Thames Meander Marathon (I entered but didn’t make it to the start because of pump problems). I also have unfinished business with the GMU. That lot should keep me busy for a couple of years!
You're absolutely right re buying a running light - I'm just trying to decide which! I've seen lots of head torch recommendations, but there seems to be quite a gap (in both lumens and price) between what's recommended by people who frequently run off-road at night, and those who are looking for extra light on roads at dawn or dusk.
Almost everyone on the maratrail had poles, and knew how to use them. I might as well have had a big arrow over my head saying "Idiot newbie, beware!" I used to ski, so I'm not totally inexperienced with using poles, but there's lots to learn. We've got a pair of relatively light hiking poles, I might give them a try before investing.
Though right now I need to spend more time actually running and less time pontificating. Tomorrow is another day...
I use a chest light which was about £21 from Amazon. It’s been fine on unlit roads and I’ve done some off road with it which went OK. I suspect that chest lights come with a bigger battery that head lights so can be brighter or last longer although I think it’s sometimes useful having the light higher up and it’s a bit strange having to turn your torso to see what’s to the side.
I suspect that there’s a technique to running with poles (they could have been useful for stability on today’s mud run). Maybe Google would help?
And, yes, I sometimes seem to spend more time on here than actually running!
Thanks misswobble . Petzl Swift (900 lumens) keeps cropping up among hilly-trails-by-night runners. More sensible people say 300 lumens is fine. I need to work out how silly things might get! On my current performance, I need precisely nothing. 😳
I got the LED Lenser Lens Neon when it was cheap! It was recommended but it's not bright enough on out of town lit roads, especially at ground level! On the trail it's not good enough as that's black as pitch. If mine ever conks out I'll trade up.
The Petzyl ones are similar in size and shape. Neat actually, as is mine.
I’m sort of in the same boat as you Ski. Sounds like you have some good options. I’ve been researching some races next year though the ones I am looking at are out of province in Alberta or BC, and one 50 miler is in California running among the Sequoia trees - a dream of mine. Though I will probably wind up with something more local as I have many family responsibilities here at home this year. We will see.
I guess it makes a lot of sense to decide what we're training for before embarking on a plan! Think I'm now settled on aiming for a marathon around April and a second three weeks later. It seems that you've a good idea as to what you're going to be doing but haven't committed to it yet.
As for the big question about training right now, looks like I'm going to start on the NRC plan a little early but extend the long runs so I just drop some of my distance. I'll also swap out some of the speed runs for hills. Also, I need to add in some strength training.
So, looks like an HM some time this week which ties in quite nicely with the HUHM. To start, having been out running on Fri, Sat & Sun, I'm taking a couple of days off.
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Half marathon here I come
I just couldn't do it!
Banff 2020...here I come! 
