Training for my first Marathon

[dory950]

Hello there,

I’m training for my very first marathon (Paris) on April 13th. I started my training before Christmas using the Nike Run Club app and got to week 4 but then got a viral infection which halted any training for over 2 weeks . Panic set in as this impacted on my confidence. I enlisted the help of an online coach who I knew. She set me a plan which I am on week 7 covering around 50 plus Km a week at the moment. This weeks long run is 30km .

I’m learning to use gels and better hydration along the way .my long run was 28km yesterday but by the end my legs were suffering!

My goal race before tapering is a 33km road race called Ashby 20 a hilly race a lot of people enter before spring marathons. I did this last year in a time of 3.40 mins . Paris has a 6 hr cut off which makes me a bit nervous. I’m hoping I will be within it without having to panic.

Any tips on how to approach the marathon would be greatly appreciated!!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

It sounds like you are well on track again now! If you did a hilly 33k in 3 hours 40 mins, surely that leaves you lots of time for the remaining 10k? I'm sure you won't need to panic. I have only done one marathon and I jeffed it, having not jad time to properly train for a marathon. Even with a lot of walking intervals I was comfortably within a 6 hour cut off. I'm sure you will be very much OK and hopefully will even have time to enjoy it 😊

[dory950 Metric Marathon Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you 😄I’m hoping to run as much as I can and run/walk the rest

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to dory950]

I knew I couldn't get feom 21k running to 42k in the 5 weeks I had, so I built the walks in right from the start. Despite about 25% walking, I still finished under 5h 30m, so I'm sure you'll have no problem whatsoever 😊

[dory950 Metric Marathon Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Wow! That’s impressive did you walk/run it ? I will be more than happy with 530

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to dory950]

We walked the first couple of kilometres as a warm up, then did strict intervals of 1.2km run, 0.4km walk. The aim was to finish with some walking if necessary and a final 'sprint', but we kept the intervals up til the end. 5h 23m in all.Honestly, you've got this!

[dory950 Metric Marathon Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Very well done so impressed 👏

[Tessie66 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Glad I've just read this I'm definitely considering doing this for the Manchester marathon just a bit worried about walking at the beginning and getting in people's way

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Tessie66]

Mine was the virtual London marathon when the real race was cancelled because of Covid, so there was no-one to hold up, but I guess that's a fair point. If you start right over to one side though, maybe it will be ok?

[Cmoi Marathon]

Linda's absolutely right, there's no reason to panic. Your Ashby 20 miler time leaves you with 2 hours 20 minutes to do less than 10k on a course that's as flat as a pancake.

Have you uploaded your (ridiculously named) Health Prevention Course (HPC) certificate?

[dory950 Metric Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

that’s what I’m hoping I can just wing the last 10k 😩😂 yes I have downloaded the stuff, but of a game doing it mind you !

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to dory950]

You could walk the last10k with all the time you will have left 😍

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to dory950]

Given all your experience and training there's no reason at all why you'd need to wing the last 10k. In any case, once you've got to 33k, you can just count down the remaining 10k, psychologically it makes it much easier. Plus it's an accurately measured road race, you won't get interesting surprises about the distance !

The HPC is absurd, but less hassle than having to provide a medical certificate. As long as you've uploaded your valid HPC to the race site at least a week in advance, you're good to go!

[dory950 Metric Marathon Half Marathon]

hopefully I can do it ok 😄thank you for the reassurance

[Teresa1632 Marathon]

That's plenty of time. Slow your long runs down and enjoy them. It will also help your recovery time. Also, it's all about the miles in the legs, and the cumulative effect of all the training runs. Paris is the victory lap. You have loads of time, and the crowd will pull you through as well. Best of legs 🦵, you've got this!

[dory950 Metric Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Teresa1632]

Thank you for the advice and encouragement 😊

[RiceAndPeas Marathon]

I've only done one marathon but it sounds to me like you have this under control. As well as practising gels and hydration make sure your system us used to eating breakfast before a long run at the same time you will have to on race day. I didn't do this and was greatly thankful for the presence of many portaloos on the route.

[dory950 Metric Marathon Half Marathon]

thank you, new to gels so early days with those . Usually I just have Haribo/ Soreen and Kendal mint cake . Always a worry regarding wanting the loo !!

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to dory950]

If Haribo, Soreen and Kendal mint cake work for you on long runs why use gels? They're not obligatory - in fact your choice of snacks is way closer to what you'll find at the Paris Marathon feeding stations!

[dory950 Metric Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

I seem to be getting ok with the gels and sips of electrolyte drinks at the moment . But I will take a small bag of sweets as a back up I think

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to dory950]

If gels and electrolytes are working for you that's great.

I'm biased as I've always snacked on real food. I loathe gels - tried one, once, couldn't finish it. Only ever used an electrolyte drink once, during my trail marathon, because I thought I was supposed to. Not sure it made any difference.

[dory950 Metric Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

It’s all fairly new to me . Will see how it goes but I’m sure I could eat proper snacks too !

[RiceAndPeas Marathon]

Definitely practice with them to get your system used to them if that's how you will be fuelling. I carried mine in a Naked running belt. Expensive but well worth it. Carry your own supply of toilet paper too! I did this and was very glad because there was none left in any of the facilities.

[dory950 Metric Marathon Half Marathon in reply to RiceAndPeas]

Great advice I number the back of them with the km I need to take them

Loo paper is a great idea thank you

[00marks Marathon]

I ran the Paris marathon last year. It is really good. If you need any advice on the practicalities of Paris then do get in touch.

[dory950 Metric Marathon Half Marathon in reply to 00marks]

Oh nice, congratulations and thank you . Is the Expo very far away . We are staying about 5 mins walk from the start of the marathon

[00marks Marathon in reply to dory950]

You start on the Champs Elysees close to the Arc de Triomphe. The expo isn't close to there but is very easy to get to on the Paris metro. Just get a Navigo Easy card (or use it with the travel pass part of your iphone wallet) and travelling on the Paris metro is straightforward.

[Tessie66 Half Marathon]

Reading how many miles you've already done you have no worries and will absolutely smash it

[dory950 Metric Marathon Half Marathon]

thank you 😊