Running

avoiding ill people.

my first marathon this was my greatest fear after all my hard work in training and I was forced onto the tube where seemingly every person who sat next to me had a cough or a runny nose for 3 months because i didn't have the energy to train and commute 20+ miles a day on the bike.

Yeah I've picked up the start of a cold it feels like. Rather now than in two weeks I guess but I could do with it getting on with it at the moment.

I’ve just started on a low dose of antihistamines so I’m used to them by the May marathon, and so my immune system doesn’t get distracted and allow a cold to gatecrash. Iced foot feels like it’ll be run-ready tomorrow.

New shoes should be here soon. Slim pickings for those of us with neutral/medium arch feet that happen to require a dead straight last. Even semi-curved can make my feet feel like they’re fighting the shoe. Sometimes I think I’d be better off running in special Kevlar reinforced slipper socks, but they don’t exist.

Sometimes I think I’d be better off running in special Kevlar reinforced slipper socks, but they don’t exist.

You'll have to make do with chainmail
http://gost-barefoots.com/

I read their copy and sensed an underlying instruction to join their cult.

Did my first outdoor run since the end of Jan last night: 5.5k at about 6min/k pace. Not unhappy with being slow but still not 100% if I even enjoy running... Gonna stick to it for a bit and see what happens though! So, hi again!

The best bit of it for me is the opportunity to listen to loads of music. That generally keeps me positive if I'm cold, tired, bored, etc.

3 x 3 miles on, 1 mile off tonight for a 15 mile semi long run. Bad route planning had me doing the last set charging down a steep hill, not ideal.

Sometimes I think I’d be better off running in special Kevlar reinforced slipper socks, but they don’t exist.

Not kevlar reinforced but these might foot the bill: https://www.getfyf.com/products/fyf

They’re more appealing than the chainmail cult, but where those people confused ‘lose’ with ‘loose’, the fyfers have used ‘it’s’ where it should be ‘its’.

It makes me wary of the company’s attention to detail.

Look interesting, but not so much for running.

That's a monster session. Sounds good. At least the steep hill helps with pace...

My run this morning was tough, legs were very heavy and felt pretty light-headed. Got something done though.

They sell interesting sho'es though.

Really pleased with this morning's run, gave it a proper blast at Dulwich parkrun and shaved 2 seconds off my pb. 16:09, good enough for the V45 course record and heading up the UK V45 parkrun rankings for the year so far. Assuming I've got any mojo left after VMLM I definitely feel like sub-16 is on for 5k this Summer.

I've got the Manchester marathon tomorrow and aiming for a GFA, but it will require about five mins off my pb. Looking for some mental prep advice.

I'm currently swinging between hyping myself up or just calmly focusing on running my own race. The worry about the latter is that I won't be ready for the extra push or go out too slow, and with the former that I will go out too fast and suffer the consequences both in the race and afterward.
The main concern is that I won't believe I can do it and that doubt will play on my mind. Light encouragement welcome.

Probably and age old debate so apologies if this is a bore.

My fastest involved a sprint for the bus, a much later train than I'd planned on, another sprint from the station to the start and a kind stranger dropping my bag off as I ran to the starting pen. I was so stressed then relieved that all that training wasn't going to be wasted that everything else was a breeze.

Not textbook prep

Trust your training & focus on not going out too hard, that'd kill the pb attempt. Too slow at first not a bad thing unless you go extreme and walk first mile.

Don't chase fancy dress runners.

Have fun!

P.s. mcr marathoners did I mention I'm helping give out Erdinger at the finish? Free beer* gotta be a good thing yeah?

'* 0%

Start of calmly and monitor it and then if you aren't going to get the pb, hype yourself and go full gas...
*Full disclosure: I've only ever done a slow HM so I may not be the best person to take advice from 😉

Bloody hell. Well done

16:09,? I just exploded today at 22:35

Any tips on chilblains? The past couple of cold months have played havoc with my feet. I have to keep them in flip flops and nearly freezing all the time to stop the swelling and itching. Running just seems to super heat my feet again and my toes swell like crazy.

Thanks for the tips, definitely was at risk of messing up the start. Time to eat pasta and trust my legs.

@rhb - any chance you can swap mine for a boozy beer?

I'll tell you it's boozy if that helps?

Ideal race conditions btw.

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yeah i'll probably believe anything at that point.

Good luck. Try and enjoy it. Marathons are much more fun when you try and enjoy them!