Has anyone ever done one (26.2 miles, not the chocolate bar) and if so has anyone got any advice for a marathon-virgin? I've just entered the Greater Manchester one on 10th April, which starts and finishes near "there". Needs must as to the one i've chosen, as it has to be spring this year. I've done 8 half marathons before and have always wanted to have a crack at a full, just can't understand how my body will survive twice the distance. Up to 15.2 mile in training, so long way to go yet.
Snail pace, quickest is around 2 hours, but that was when i was 18 years ago! I've done 2 hours 13 in my last half but i'm fitter and a little quicker now i reckon. Why?
Been told: You need to keep consistent times going. Don't be tempted to go faster as you'll burn yourself out. You're roughly running a 10 min mile, so you NEED to do 5 x 18 / 20 mile runs before the marathon at this pace. (at your target pace) Then you will know how comfortable you will feel in the marathon. Make sure you break your shoes in before the marathon. Advice came from a work colleague. He and his brother run for England
Cheers for the advise mate. As it stands i've done 2 x 15 mile runs both around 10 min/mile pace (and obviously some 10,11,12,13 mile runs), hoping to do 16-17 mile this Saturday. Got some new shoes about 12 days ago, run in them 5 times so far and will be out again tonight. Wasn't confident my old shoes would make it through all the training and still be decent enough, so bit the bullet.
Pass it twice so, one on the way out and one on the way back Not sure if it actually finishes there as well, there's loads of rumours its been moved to the cricket ground.
Good advice re the toilet I always carried some toilet paper as got caught short a few times and hopping around in the undergrowth looking for dock leaves is not a good experience. but good luck and enjoy, hope it all gos well.
We are excited to announce the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon is moving to a new venue, the Emirates Old Trafford, the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club, for the 2016 race on Sunday 10th April.
To be fair knowing what i'm like, i'll have cleared myself out through nervousness within an hour of being up on the day
Good luck with the marothon mate,rather you than me!!! Some good advice above,apart from the training seek put some help on nutrition,it is vital in ypur training and during the run,running for 5 hours with no food could equal a trio to the hospital.
Sound advice regarding nutrition there. My wife did the Bournemouth marathon in 2013 and London 2014 and she struggled with the first one. For London, I found her a training plan diet that, from memory was the whole week running up to the marathon including the day itself and covered meals, drinks, snacks etc and it really helped. I had the same meals (without the snacks) even though I couldn't run a bath and the food was good so, if you have family, they could do it with you - I think the support is good. From memory, I think it was part of the BBC Good Food website but I could be wrong and will happily dig it out for the link if you are interested?
I think anyone who runs 20-odd miles is a dick and deserves to get the ****s. ****ing running......idiots.......fun run?...........no such ****ing thing..........I'm going back to bed.
Yeah, been trialling a few different things. I think my best could be flapjack, although its not easy to eat while running its got to be said
