My swim is a major embarrassment at the moment, think I will be the tail end Charlie in Nice
Quite the year you’ll of had. Imagine you’ll need a lie down for 2020!
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I have the European Mara Champs in Metz in Oct 19, Lanza Mara in Dec 19, VLM in April 20 (subject to GFA) and Long Course Wales Mara in July 20 all entered - I have contingency plans on top of plans!!
Metz will be my 40th Mara and feel like I’m going to end up in the 100 Marathon Club as a consequence of chasing this elusive target!!
Only really needing a few minutes gets me thinking that some expensive red Nike daps might be all that’s required …
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Another +1 for being impressed with Matts race schedule this year. I’m still thinking an end of season serious run race is out the question and I’ve only done 3 tri’s 
was hoping to use ironman fitness to try get close to a 1:20 half but unlikely to enter one if I don’t start training properly.
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Wilmslow is rapid.
Don’t let the undulations put you off - they’re minor and help with pacing.
There’s also 75, 80, 85 minute pacers. I can’t find another local race that has that.
York Brass Monkey also look good (not done it)
Manchester Half in October is meant to be the nuts for a PB, but the course is really Stretford to Sale and back along the main road. I’m on the fence still.
Blackpool is quick, on a still day. But it’s a grim course. And I saw human poo last time I did it.
Worksop and Clowne over in North Derbyshire are good races. Worksop is probably the best half I’ve done - the course is quick, but challenging, and it’s pretty.
You should do ~80 based on your Strava
I need to enter something to start my training again
Did the Aquathon kill you? 
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I think they’ll be clearing up T1 by the time I get out of the water Matt, they might even have to send out search and rescue!
On top of that my left shoulder is playing up, I did a mile yesterday so know I can finish but won’t be swimming much before then to avoid aggravating it.
Can only think it was from falling off my MTB 2 weeks ago.
Jeff
Brass Monkey is fast, but weather in January can be dodgy, it needs to be cold and still. It opens on 2nd September this year and fills in minutes, so if you want to enter be ready.
Got my eye on Manchester in October, nice to hear it’s fast 
Redcar is also flat but if it’s windy it’s very exposed, it’s on 29th Sept.
Jeff
Cheers will keep those in mind. Pb is 85 from last October so would need fast course to challenge 80 barrier but would be close.
Is more that my girlfriend wants to try complete a half, so I might get tempted into entering one rather than watch from sidelines but not really the passion yet to go pb hunting.
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I tried to do Redcar few years ago for my first run event when I quit swimming. Started training and got to 75km/month and that was me injured typical newbie 
never made it in for the tri either yet.
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My PB was 82 before Wilmslow, but about 95-105 in the couple of years before.
@jeffb - Id like to do Manchester, but don’t know yet. I was looking at it for a 75-77 attempt, but I ain’t anywhere near that now 
Chester Mara is out, as I can’t do a sub3.
I need to find some mojo.
If Mojo=cheese and wine, I’d beat Mo 
There’s about 7 weeks for Manchester @Poet but I know what you mean about the mojo, mine was slowly coming back after Hamburg but a few niggles and my sinuses playing up are delaying things this week. One bonus with a half is that you don’t need to factor in 20 miles and the associated recovery, so less time commitment.
I’ll probably make a decision about Frankfurt in late Sept, not sure a Sub 3 is realistic but London GFA’s closed on 3:07 yesterday for M45 so sub 3:05 might be more reasonable if I can get a consistent block. Although by the time London 2021 comes round I’ll be nearly 51 but entering on an M45 time such are the quirks of entering.
Jeff
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I’ve got the Yorkshire Marathon in 2 months. Time to start increasing my weekly distance/time, atm I average around 40km/3:30 (most of my running is hilly). Plan is to reach 100km 3 weeks out and then start tapering. I’ve got an 8k swim and sprint tri to fit in before the marathon as well!
I’m in ‘training’ week 10 of 18 and its a write off thanks to illness. Ive also put weight back on as i’ve been comfort eating. 66.8kg felt good… 67.8kg less so. Week 11 will be sparse too as i’m away with the family. Thankfully i’d planned for 2 easier weeks anyway and i’m ahead of the game with a 3hr coastal run, a 20 miler and 3x 18 milers in the bank. 5 hard weeks of training from the 1st of sep with a 1/2 marathon on the 15th to assess my level. 1h21.xx hopefully. If i can stay off the grog (and cake) for that final 7 weeks and hit 66kg, i’m confident of hitting the mid 2.5x kind of time on october 20th…
Its my wife’s birthday so a weekend of dinners and partying lined up… its nice to switch off and not have an early sunday long run to worry about this week !!
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Was probably one off us dropping it off earlier in the race
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Likely considering the chat the other night…
Blackpool is quick, on a still day. But it’s a grim course. And I saw human poo last time. I did it.
All the difference a full stop makes
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Just realised it’s less than 7 weeks to go for me (NYC Marathon, Nov 3rd). Yikes - where does the time ego when you’re putting off training through the summer?
A complete week off almost last week - 2 mental days at work, then one bailed attempt on the track thinking something was off, before a few days ill doing absolutely nothing. Not ideal. But hopefully pick it up for 4 weeks at 50-60+ miles now, including a mid-week effort at mara pace (40 mins @ 6:30 last night) and a weekly interval session with the club. Let’s see if I can crack January’s pb of 2:56:xx but on a slower course
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I’ve pretty much binned off an Autumn marathon, not sure I can be bothered with all the hard sessions, although my running has come back a bit in the last few weeks.
I’ve got Manchester half and will do Redcar half or 10K, also entering Leeds 10K, and have the 65K Ultra in November, appreciate I’ll need to do some longer runs for that but I won’t be chasing a time or anything.
I did get into Boston next year, part of me fancies another sub 3 attempt, but the whole big city marathon experience means it’s hard to stay off your feet in the days before and there’s possibly jetlag. There’s also the unknowns, the course looks to be net downhill, but Strava reckons it has 300M of ascent which isn’t flat. There’s also the weather element, they’ve had some extremes from the storms the year Tim Don did it to 26+. The heat will be the bigger issue, I’ll have been used to a winter of cold and storms by then!
But a 3:05 might take a bit of pressure and a chance of getting into London in 2021.
Jeff
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