Just coming to the end of week 8 of a 16 week plan for the Amsterdam Marathon on 15th October. I’m doing the London Marathon ‘Improvers’ plan and it’s not been bad so far, 4 runs a week is more than doable and pushes me more than the 3 runs/week of my London plan. There are all sorts of training plans on the London Marathon website: tcslondonmarathon.com/train... Katnap is doing most of it with me with occasionally veering off to do his own thing. Hopefully he’s finding that following a plan is actually a good thing 😂
Unlike training for London last year, the weather has been very kind so far. No excruciatingly hot days and not a huge amount of bad weather on run days. This means no stupidly early runs this time, which has helped with recovery as I actually get some decent sleep! To avoid the boredom of some of the long runs, we’ve booked more races. I can only do my two mile loop so many times without losing the will to live, and much as it was handy to have a home pit stop every two miles, I think it actually prevented me preparing my body with what to expect from the endurance of the marathon distance. So get away from home, remove the temptation to loop and get lots of runs in with other people.
Nutrition hasn’t much come into play yet as we’re just starting to ramp up the mileage. I made a batch of chocolate bites and flapjack from Anita Beans’ runners cookbook last week. The chocolate bites worked a treat at the Solihull HM but they have to be wrapped in grease proof paper or everything gets covered in chocolate! We had the flapjack as recovery food. Generally speaking I know a bit more this time as what my body will put up with but I’m still having the occasional hiccup: I made the mistake before Solihull of having a lentil curry the night before and I won’t be doing that again in a hurry 😳 Bland is definitely best!
This plan doesn’t have hill reps or progression runs, but it does have lots of interval work, which is fine with me. And thankfully the intervals are in doable periods of time, unlike the 35 minute tempo that was in my London plan (scuppered by it coinciding with the 40ºC day…oh what a shame!). However, the distance and time on your feet creeps up and I hit my first 50km week today. That felt such a milestone when I hit it last time but this time I’m looking forward to pushing beyond it.
I sussed what to wear with London. Spent a fortune finding out what worked. I wore New Balance 1080 v12s and they were ok but they didn’t have much oomph. So this time, I’m trying to find something a bit/lot bouncier. I love my Saucony Endorphin Speed 2s but they are a bit unstable on my right side and have caused some problems with my right hip & ITB (thankfully changing shoes has helped together with regular massages and lumpy rollering). I have a newer pair of 2s that I’m saving for racing only but I don’t think they’re stable enough for a marathon distance. So I’m trying out the Speed 3s and Pro 3s at the moment. They both have their positives and negatives, but if I could find something that has the sole of the Speed 3s with the upper of the Pro 3s I’d be very happy! Any ideas anyone?
So that’s about it for now. You never stop learning with this running lark and I’m sure there’ll be plenty more to report over the next few weeks, particularly with the ‘joy’ of long run Sundays really kicking in. Happy running everyone! 💪🙌💪
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TailChaser
Marathon
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You’re in the thick of it now TC, and it looks like this particular plan is working a treat! I can’t wait to hear how it all pans out on race day. So exciting! 👏👏
I love your idea of incorporating races into your training. A constant supply of bling is never a bad thing! Hope you get your shoe dilemma sorted though. Whichever ones you end up with, I know you’ll smash your marathon. I hope we can track you like we did for London - know if that’s possible?
In the meantime, see you very soon! 🏴 🏴
I was quite surprised when I saw it cheeky as it seemed so doable. Maybe the first one was more of a shock to the system than I realised?
It’s making a bit difference running with Katnap as we can do these races together and the bling is great! It’s been a good balance of lone runs with my headphones and runs with company so far. I hope Katnap can cope with my bad temperedness at the end of the long runs over the next few weeks but that can easily be resolved with a pint of Guinness or a brownie in a cafe 😋
Apparently there is an app. I suppose it’s a TCS run like London so it’s the same technology each time. You’ll be busy at the GSR though, we’ll be one hour ahead so you might be able to plot us before you start and for an hour or two when you’re recovering after?
I loved reading that, I've seen all your Strava runs, that illustration is great, and lentil curry? What were you thinking? Wishing your training continues to go well,
You 2 are superstars . It’s great that you can do your training with others this time round. In fact I think you may be running ahead of me next weekend. With you doing an HM there’s an outside chance that I’ll do my 10k before you get in. 😂
I’m so glad you’ll be ok to run Dexy, I was worried you wouldn’t be able to do it. I’m sure you’ll finish way before we do, certainly before me…depends if Katnap wants to go off on his own this time.
We will see how it goes at parkrun tomorrow but if I can run that, then I’m sure I can run/walk Severn Bridge. The condition is so much better than this time last week
I'm sorry too! I saw you from behind when you were busy at the bag drop but I was in my "pre race toilet queue " phase so couldn't linger. Maybe another year?
Though of course I hope training will go smoothly for both of you and that you'll have a great race!
(And I love that song, really must add it to my Spotify collection. Though I've been running minus audio for ages as my ultra-cheapy headphones died and I don't like the ultra-cheapy earbuds I bought to replace them, horribly tinny sound.)
I was very tempted to mention headphones in my post but now you mention them… I treated myself to some Shokz in the Prime sale a couple of months ago, backed up by a Christmas voucher. 2 months they have lasted, 2 months. Definitely not ultra cheapy. All they did was fall off the bed and one earpiece has stopped working. Why are they called Shokz if they can’t survive falling off the bed? I can’t run or go to the gym without any audio, I don’t know how you can do it!
Definitely not good re your Shokz TailChaser - but they must be under warranty, surely? Two months is nowhere near good enough!
As for running minus audio, bear in mind I run in the countryside and forest so get to listen to birdsong and cowbells (and tractors, logging machines, quad bikes and occasionally cars!)
Yes they are. I’m just awaiting a response from Shokz. I filled in the form, got an acknowledgement when I submitted it, just no email response which I’m a bit worried about.
Yes, that is true, much nicer than the roar of the A3400.
There were some good memes Runnerno, but this was one of the best! Here is the other I nearly chose.
Shoes are such a minefield, especially when you’ve no good running shops nearby (why is this when our town has so many runners?). I’m hoping someone will work out the perfect shoe for me if I give them the right ingredients from other shoes…😬
Runner laying on the ground looking very tired with a medal around his neck
Finding the perfect marathon shoe is fun but expensive. I’ve got two Saucony ones that were suppose to be for marathon training. Only 250 miles to go before I can say goodbye 🤣
I know! Isn’t it just?! Everyone raves about Saucony and I think they are great as a benchmark but if they don’t suit you, they don’t suit you 🤷🏻♀️. The miles you put in RW, you’ll be able to say goodbye in no time!!
I love the brand & will always have a soft spot for them as completed C25K in an old triumph. It’s really the speed 3 that have not been great for me. 200 miles on that one to go! I wore it to park run yesterday & it got wet on the grass section & I had to endure it squeaking for the rest of the run which made me dislike it even more 🤣
I don’t know if I’ll ever do another one IP, I’m playing it by ear. However, I was only going to do one wasn’t I? I would love to keep learning, at 55 I never thought I’d be learning so much about myself still! So let’s see what Amsterdam brings…
Your coming along nicely. I also find the speeds unstable, especially on uneven surfaces and where some road's curve due to weight of cars. I definitely wouldn't wear them for a marathon myself. I also purchased a pair of pros but find them a bit tight. I think my feet will be numb in no time if I wore them for a marathon.
I have more or less narrowed my choice for my marathon next week. I think it's between the Alphaflys or Glycerine 20. Both suit my wider feet and both do a good job. However, I'm leaning towards the alpha's because I'm reading so much about the energy return. I'm no elite runner and an hoping for 4:30 ish but I think they will benefit me more when I get tireder.
That’s quite a difference Freecloud, between the Alphas and Glycerines, they don’t often get mentioned in the same breath as potential racing shoes! I think you’re right about the Alphas though, it would really help you save something for the latter part of the marathon - that is what I’m looking for as well.
The Speed 2s I’m now using for races I make sure I don’t wear them to walk far in before and after. I was walking far too much in my old ones after parkruns and training runs. I can see that, if you have wider feet, how the Pros would be snug. My size 5s fit perfectly, and considering my everyday shoe size is a 4, there is normally a bit of wriggle room. I’m going to try them out on the longer runs when I start to include marathon pace and see how it goes. I may still go with them, they’re just taking a little getting used to.
I know what you mean. But I've constantly come across both of them on the same articles when looking for best long distance running shoes, along with the Speeds and the pros as well as the rest of them. The Glycerines would be for comfort more than pace, but they would be faster than the likes of Nimbus 25s, if you get what I mean. I'm always conflicted which way to go lol. I always look to see what people are wearing at the runs and it really is a mixed bag.
Yeah, the Alphas are already in my bag and will most likely go for those. I just sometimes get too self-conscious wearing "racing" shoes when I will be nowhere near the front. Stupidity I know. I got the Pro 3s because they look normal and don't stand out. But my toes started to feel a bit numb for my last half on the 5th August. So I will have to try and wear them in a bit on shorter runs and see if they get a bit looser (I doubt it).
I do quite often see the Speed 2's at the top of peoples lists for a lot of races but the instability is a bit much for my size 12s and weight. I do feel unsteady with them at times and feel that my foot would give way. I also slightly feel this in the vaporflys.
I have quite a collection of shoes at this stage for different runs and distances. I have been lucky enough to get most of them at half price or less and I do rotate quite a bit.
Thanks very much, it's in Longford over here in Ireland. Training has been going well and my pace has been quite constant. I just have to be disciplined at the start and not go off too quick, which is something I didn't do in my last race.
I ran a marathon in Kinvara’s. I had to as they were all I had. They were fine but it wasn’t wet that day 🙏
I’m ordering some winterised puma velocity nitro. It’s trying to find a balance isn’t it between cushioning and a bit of bounce when needed. If we were speed merchants running marathons in 2 hours we would find it easy to choose a shoe 😁
You’re spot on there misswobble. I went out and did my long run in my 1080 v12s today and I’ve had enough of them for long runs. They’re very pretty but they have absolutely no personality, no bounce, no oomph, nothing. After about 9 miles they’ve given all they can and it’s just a slog. Whereas last week’s half was a dream in the Speed 2s.
There is a Kinvara Pro now which has had rave reviews. Unfortunately it’s >£200 so maybe not. I’ve heard good things about the nitro as well though, and they’re a bargain.
If we did marathons in 2 hours we’d have shoes given to us. Not fair is it?!
I was watching Fordy review Nike Peg Shield 39. He said buy them! He always has a pair in his rotation I think he liked the Puma VN. Both now under £70 so I might get both. He said he thought the peg 39 had some oomph now at toe off. He was so surprised he was going to double check in case he was sadly mistaken 😀
I love the speedy bounce of the Speeds, but in the dry 😀. I did the Monsal HM in them year before last. It as dry though so I was ok I could only get the baby pink uns in the sale and don’t like to get them mucky 😁☺️
I’ve run a half marathon this morning in my dead Pegasus 😩 I think I’ve destroyed them a bit before the end of their life but not surprisingly
Mr Fordy costs me a fortune misswobble! Yes, he really liked the Pumas. Everyone seems to like the Speed 3s, so I’ll keep at them, they just aren’t as squishy as the 2s. I got my HM PB in the 2s at the Monsal Trail this year 😃 (although it was slightly short). Yes, neither have much in the way of tread but I could never buy any in baby pink. Mind you my Pro 3s are sparkly pink, which is even more girly!!
Have your Pegasus got any bounce left? I don’t think I ever want to run a non bouncy HM ever again after yesterday’s training run, so I’d be interested to know if they still have bounce when they’ve practically had it?
They’ve not much oomph even new. Rubber sole mostly but some react foam now I think, and two zoom units They’re just workhorses road shoes for bad conditions. I wear them as trail shoes mostly
It’s a pity they go flat before they’ve shown barely any wear The outsole and uppers are fine I run a lot on a stoney trail which I think has done them in
Great post TC 👍 A great insight into the world of marathon training. 😀 Good luck to you and Katnap with the rest of it and of course the race itself. 👍
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