Virtual London Marathon training week 9 run 3 - long run

[David_G]

Hi everyone, I ran my longest ever distance (25.1 km or 15.6 miles) this morning as part of my marathon training🏃‍♂️. It was forecast to be very hot on the south coast, so my running club friends and I decided to set off at 6:00 am. Even so, it was very warm from 8:00 am or so.🥵

I really struggled in the heat and wouldn’t have got through it without the support of my friends. I’ll be forever grateful to them for sticking with me and helping me get through it. Fortunately most of the group are also training for marathons, so we’ve got a great little support group going!😊

It’s helped give me the confidence that I might just be able to finish the Virtual London Marathon. Just 7 weeks until the big day, with about 4 more long runs before the tapering starts. Wish me luck!

[TailChaser Marathon]

That’s lovely to see David, amazingly well done! I know you’ve really struggled getting those long runs in and you’ve done yourself proud doing that today. I also started out just after 6am so I know what you’ve been through today, and I’ve done plenty of long runs now and that distance is still a struggle. Massive congratulations, you’ve got this you know!! 🥳🥳🥳👏👏👏

Have you seen the finishers shirt? It’s really nice!

[David_G Metric Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Thanks TailChaser yes, I’ve seen the finishers t-shirt and I’m impressed with it. I’ll wear it with pride as soon as it arrives!

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to David_G]

Oh yes! 💪

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Wow David, that’s an epic distance to do any day, let alone on a day like today! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 You’ll find the GSR a doddle and you know you’ll smash your VLM. 👏👊🏃‍♂️🎉

[David_G Metric Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks cheekychipmunks I hope I’ve recovered enough in time for the GSR!

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Just simply great!! Well done you xxx

[David_G Metric Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks Oldfloss huge credit to my running club friends for keeping me motivated to finish!

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to David_G]

....but you still have to do it! Go you!

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

David that is brilliant, the heat is brutal on the south coast, it should start cooling down soon and then will feel lovely after the weeks of hot running

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to SueAppleRun]

It started cooling down when I came back off holiday W&S. it wasn’t hot on the beach today.

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to Dexy5]

It’s getting cooler, I love the heat but it has been a bit draining, the sea has been bliss though

[Frenc Half Marathon]

Well done David_G ! That’s fantastic, especially in this weather. It sounds as though you have a great group to train with. And it’s going to get cooler hurrah! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[David_G Metric Marathon in reply to Frenc]

Thanks Frenc the cooler weather will be lovely!

[Cowladyrunning Marathon]

Well done and how lovely to have that support! Very hard in this heat so extra well done!

[David_G Metric Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Thanks Cowladyrunning we have an excellent little team, all working towards a marathon!

[Cmoi Marathon]

Well done David_G , roll on the cooler weather!

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Very well done David. It’s great that you’ve found a supportive running group in Bognor. I’m sure you’ll have no problem with that virtual marathon

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

That's a fabulous run, especially after all the injury issues you've had recently. To do that distance in the heat must be equivalent to the effort of a much longer run in normal temperatures. You should be able to take lots of confidence from that.

[misswobble Marathon]

Great job Dave! 😀👍🏃💥

It’s tough in normal U.K. weather but in heat it’s a whole different ball game. You have to find a way to keep going as you’ve got to get back. I think about my lunch 😁.

I’ve got an old cast iron bath in my garden, tucked away against a hedge, so I’ve recently cleaned it up and put some water in it, ready for my return from hot, sweaty runs. On my 17k run/6k walk this week, it was the thought of my cool Al fresco dunk that kept me going! Bliss🥰

Good luck with your remaining training runs. It sounds like it’s going just lovely 💪😀🏃. Come the day you’ll be race ready 🏅🍰

[David_G Metric Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Thanks misswobble the bath in the garden sounds like an excellent idea! 💦 My friends who I was running with suggested I concentrated on what I was going to eat afterwards - they all know I love my food😋

[misswobble Marathon in reply to David_G]

I usually have some makings of lunch available but the thought of how it’s going to come together post run keeps me going. Like a virtual carrot 🥕dangling ahead of me 😁🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Well done on your long run, David - that’s a great distance, especially in the heat!🥵 It’s so hot to run at the moment - I am sure you will soon find things much easier as it starts to cool down. Keep faith in the programme - you can do this!🙂

[David_G Metric Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandraj39 I’m following the ‘official’ TCS London Marathon beginner’s training plan. I’m doing slightly more than the plan requires, but not by too much. I expect to get up to a maximum of 20 miles in training before the taper starts. I’m sure the change in the weather will help me get there 😀👍

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Good morning David. My comms have been in and out recently; why does a change over to new kit with the same supplier cause such disruption. Never mind; it is up and running now 🤞

I took a look at your run stats and my immediate reaction was, wow, this guy is going to make it! An average heart rate of 130 for that distance, in those conditions is excellent. You have got your pace under control and are clearly totally focussed on getting the distance on the day. Your preparation seems to this lowly HM max man to be just where it needs to be. Things have started to cool off a bit up here over the last couple of days; we have even had some rain….I will try to send some of it your way. Whatever, I feel sure that you have got this. 👏👏👏👏👏

[David_G Metric Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thanks Beachcomber66 I hope I keep on track over the coming few weeks and stay injury-free🤞 My lower average heart rate was probably a result of walking from time to time, particularly when it got hotter 🥵 towards the end, but I’m pleased with how things are going 👍

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to David_G]

You did what was needed in the conditions David; best insurance against injury.👍

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon]

That’s fantastic David. It is so motivating to run with others and your running group/club sounds lovely. I wish you good luck with the rest of the plan.

You’ve got this. 👍💪