London Marathon 2011 Finished

[EdO]

After several failed attempts at getting a ballot place, I've bagged a place in the London Marathon.

Did it in 2009 (3.43) but didn't train hard enough. I think I can take quite a bit of time off that.
I'll take a look at the runners world site for a training plan. Need to get a proper garmin watch.

Anyone got any advice ?


Cheers


ed

[Sylv]

DON'T try and alter your running stride all of a sudden if you haven't before ; )

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11831

[Paul H]

Join South London Harriers if you can get to Coulsdon in the evenings

[Lucyap]

I brought a Garmin forerunner 50 watch last year. It's not GPS, (costs a lot less) but uses a foot pod which you attach to your trainers. I liked it because it can be used as a bike computer as well, but I didn't really get on with it. Seemed to need syncing quite often, and ate batteries especially if left in the cold on my bike. Also, downloading data to the website became a problem, not sure if thats a Mac thing! That said, it did give accurate milage, both on the bike and run (a brick session confused it like hell however!) - when compared to GPS watches.

I don't use it now, prefer to run for a time using a stopwatch. I'm running the Brighton marathon next year, my first, so may give it another go at some point. But I quite like using an online map to work out a route and milage before hand.

Also, I agree with Paul H about joining SLH, it really helps me to run with others and push myself.

Good luck with your training!

[EdO]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll try and pop down to Coulsdon in the next couple of weeks.

Will do some lunchtime 5ks to start off with.
I like the idea of a garmin 405 forerunner so will probably get one of those bad boys.


Cheers


ed

[Andrew G]

Depending where you live Ed, Blackheath Harriers are a good running club based in Hayes just down from Coney Hall. Weekly runs from the clubhouse on Wednesday evenings. My Dad did those, I used to go to the track on the same night but not really for you for marathon training . Very good club and if you're interested then pick my Dad's brains as he ran with them for years on their Wednesday night outings and did marathons from training with them, they have quite a lot of members run the marathon every year and some who've done all the London's I think. [url]http://www.bandbhac.org.uk/membership.html[/url]

[EdO]

Thanks Andrew for recommending them. I'm sticking with Beckenham RC atm as they're 400 metres from my house. If I train with those guys once I week I will definately improve.
Went out with in a group last night at 7min/mile pace for 10 miles and found it quite tough going up hills. Mainly due to getting used to running and not being able to freewheel occasionally

I've bought a garmin 310XT bundle with the bikemounts. Done some tests with the HRM and GPS just walking round the block today. First time I've started recording any data.
I expect I'm gonna have fun looking at the graphs.

[Marek]

If you have an Iphone there is a great App called Imapmyrun. This has GPS and the great thing is that you can listen to music whilst you run and then you can set it so that every two minutes a lady cuts in and tells you a bunch of stats like average speed and how far you have run. This is cool as you don't have to check your watch or anything. Seems to be pretty accurate etc.

Cheers

Marek....

[EdO]

Hi everyone,
Just an update on my VLM progress.
I've now covered four weeks of training following the runnersworld plan.
All runs I've recorded using my garmin forerunner.
http://connect.garmin.com/explore?owner=edwardosborne

Nothing special there but I am starting to see some improvement like in the park runs I'm doing over at Norman park.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/comp ... 2=62449313
The surface over there is still a bit boggy because of rain but I plan to get down to 19mins soon.

Went out on Saturday for a long run. Was planning for 16miles but was cut short as I needed to pickup the kids.
Was gutted because I felt I could do that distance keeping my pace 7.40m/m.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/64539142
I run these without water, gels or music and so need to get properly organised and get all three.

I hope to get over to Banstead (parkrun) in a few weeks time possibly Feb 19th and combine it with a clubrun.
I'm trying out a track session at Ladywell tomorrow night and will look at a few half marathons for late Feb / early March.

Nothing else to report on here

Cheers,

Ed

[Sylv]

I did happen across your Garmin files by accident recently whilst doing a search and noticed the park runs

How do you find running to work or in London with all the roads to cross traffic etc? My commute is 10 miles but I've never done it running.

[EdO]

To be honest it wasn't fun and I only did it as I knew I wouldn't get a chance to run at lunchtime or after work.
I didn't like the stop and starting, avoiding pedestrians and trying to cross busy main roads looking over your shoulder without breaking stride. Felt great once I'd finished though

[Sylv]

Did it on Friday, and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Only had to come to a complete halt a couple times.

Felt like in a dream at times, those roads I'm so familiar with having ridden them daily for years, yet I had never been there on foot, very weird.

Locked the cruise control on a comfortable 12km/h, or 2min /400m on the GPS. Ended up with exactly the same time, to the second, in the morning and the evening!

That was the most I'd ever ran in a day, by a long way.

[Dominic]

Did you run along Walworth Road Sylv? I am sure it was you that ran past me!

[Sylv]

A215? No

[EdO]

Six weeks training is up and there are now 10 weeks left The last two have been a bit erractic because of a busy work schedule but clocked up 40 miles last week.
http://connect.garmin.com/explore?owner=edwardosborne

Parkrun PB time is now at 20.11. Missed Saturday's run as I was up 24hours on Friday again because of work so will have to wait another week before I can get that time down. I find these efforts tough.

Did a long 18m run yesterday out to the Thames barrier at 7.40m/m pace.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/66953367
Felt pretty easy apart from the last few miles running back into the head wind.
Resting pulse is around 45bpm and weight is coming down a bit.

I've signed up to Paddock Wood 27thMarch half marathon. Tunbridge Wells a maybe.
Sidcup 10m this Sunday so will move my training around to accomodate. Try another run to work and extend it. This time with no rucksack.
Will try to stick to the runnersworld marathon training schedule as much as possible. Let the hard work begin.

Cheers.