Sub-4 Marathon

Training
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Yeah, most of us would just retire if we were as slow as you :roll_eyes:

It’s October this time so the weather could do anything :joy:

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It’s all injury-free endurance training :grinning:

Ive still got half an eye on Brighton mid September. It’s three weeks before IM Barcelona. That’ll be alright…right? :sweat_smile::wink:

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Thanks for the feedback, went for Abingdon on the basis that it’s logistically easier and a couple of weeks later so more likely to be cool and a couple more weeks training time.

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I’ve done that one, albeit a number of years ago.

Nice race. Flat as a pancake.

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Ok - so got round to writing a bit of a training plan. Have a gander and provide feedback. The midweek days can shift with work, the weekend stuff is more fixed due to family commitments and my wife’s races. Feedback please?

Just to say, I have no aspiration to come anywhere near to a sub 3. My HM best time is 1.32 and marathon (one and only) time is a 3.56. I’d like to be in shape to run the whole thing and I think 3.30 is a good target for this one. I ran 1.45 HM off close to no training pacing a friend, how hard is it to do that twice over?

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A 1.32 HM should see you comfortably under 3.30 IMO. I ran a 1.38 HM in early 2019 and a 3.38 mara late 2020 (with very sub optimal prep).

I think you’ll go better than you are currently thinking.

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Back when I was a sub 3 runner/triathlete, I never got out to 34k, to big imho to recover from 3 weeks out. I go there now, but I am running 100miles a week and aiming for way under 3 hours, so more use to it.

I was running 60-80k a week I reckon and then cycling quite a bit, so not too dissimilar to you.

My last 3 Sundays were always 20 miles, 13 miles, 8 miles. No more. (so 32/21/13). The final Sunday 8 mile I would run steady and as long as I came in under an hour I know I was in 3 hour shape.
I know you are not going for sub 3 or anywhere near, but just wanted to demonstrate you don’t need big miles on the last weeks to achieve. I can see that if you want to go over 20 miles it will be tough as your previous 2 weekends are taken out, so I would suggest dont bother :grinning:

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Thanks, food for thought. I’ll reconsider running over 20 miles.

I may bail on the 100m ride, it was delayed from earlier in the year but was going to be a social one with mates.

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Email from Abingdon, race cancelled due to lack of interest. Need to find an alternative in October

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Too many other races clashing, and where people might have rollovers, London, Manchester etc?

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That’s all I can think as Abingdon has always bee a really popular autumn mara amongst the runnists.

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I think brighton is mid sept?

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Given I’m signed up I should know, but had to Google it, Sunday 12th Sept. General entries look to have sold out.

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Manchester is 10th October. The website suggests that the entry deadline it tomorrow

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Too early for me

I’ll check Chelmsford again, think it’s mid-Oct and will also check if Manchester is still open for entries.

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I thought that was the cheap entries?

Could be getting confused with the half though.

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Dialling into a webinar with Nick Anderson from Running With Us next week. Hoping it’s interesting.

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I wonder if the Goodwood mara in Dec is happening again? I quite liked that.

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They seem to do them 3-4 times a year

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Sweet. Think I’ll give it a bash. @Adam you in mate?