So..... running

[Jonny69]

I ran once or twice over Christmas down at Southampton. I'd planned out a 7km route across country, through some woods, across a golf course and along some lanes out in the back of beyond, but took a wrong turning and ended up visiting a number of local villages, racking up 14k instead

It was quite good. I'd been planning to do a long slow one so I'm glad I'd kept the pace down at the beginning. Begs the question now: how far can I go?

Once I'm back at work I'm planning to run the 6km from the station once or twice a week as my regime and I'll probably vary the route a bit. It'll break up the cycling and it's one less day a week I'm risking my life on the bike.

[lostkat]

Originally Posted by petemc

Hmmm cross country. Dunno. Its muddy

Kate, did you do anything specific for marathon training or just increase your distance? I'm thinking that if I increase my distance by 1km a week, or 2km every other week then I'll hit the required amount in time for October.

Yes I followed a marathon training plan. Doing a marathon is so unlike training for any other distance, so I'd seriously suggest you find a plan and follow it, including any speed/hillwork suggested. You also need to do things like dropping your distance for rest weeks etc., or you'll burn yourself out.

Nutrition is important too, so read up on it. You'll need to start practicing fuelling up on the hoof with gels, energy drinks etc.

Try this as a starting point: http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/racing...index/813.html

Mine was customised and codged together from a few different training plans, but I followed it, ticked off my runs and it worked

[petemc]

Hmm ok. Had a quick look and there's a run a marathon in 16 week plan. 16 weeks? That seems awfully ambitious.

Hadn't considered gels, drinks etc. Makes sense as I'll be doing 4hr runs. Probably need a drink in there.

A year ago 5k seemed like a marathon. I could run for about 2 mins and the idea of running for 30 seemed crazy. So in a way I'm over the hard bit. I'm up to 16k and if I throw another 5 on its a half marathon, sounds easy. Maybe I'm being stupid but all I'm thinking is "Its just further, keep going." Maybe thats the confidence I need to do it or maybe its the thing that will kill me

[petemc]

Seems RunKeeper does fitness classes. For $25 I can sign up for a beginner to marathon 16 week course. I'm assuming that integrates with the app as it has a course option. Could be handy.

http://runkeeper.com/fitness-class/running-marathon/9

[Haly]

RunKeeper Pro is free on iTunes at the moment in case anyone's interested.

[lostkat]

Cheers Jen Never used anything like that as I have my Garmin which is far more accurate than my iPhone, but it might come in handy, especially as it's free

[petemc]

I'd highly recommend it. The stats tracking is awesome.

http://runkeeper.com/user/petemc/profile

[lostkat]

Yeah it looks similar to the Garmin Connect utility that I use. Phone/3G reception is patchy in some of the areas I run around here, and the iPhone just loses whole chunks of a run sometimes. Garmin never does that though and it has the added bonus of being waterproof, shockproof and on my wrist so I can check what pace/distance I'm doing.
May give it a go though and compare it to my Garmin stats

[petemc]

Sounds good. The iPhone does have issues in cities with tall buildings. Been times when I've apparently ran through solid concrete

[jmc41]

Originally Posted by lostkat

Yeah it looks similar to the Garmin Connect utility that I use. Phone/3G reception is patchy in some of the areas I run around here, and the iPhone just loses whole chunks of a run sometimes. Garmin never does that though and it has the added bonus of being waterproof, shockproof and on my wrist so I can check what pace/distance I'm doing.
May give it a go though and compare it to my Garmin stats

Which one do you have, assuming it's one of the GPS things I was looking at? I was picking up a new pair of trainers over Xmas (omg it's so much better running in a new pair, legs didn't feel like death the day afterwards), and some running gloves which have yellow reflective bits and noticed the GPS watches display.

The Forerunner 305 looks like one of the most recommended out there and is on sale in various places? Just so fed up of trying to map my route on return especially if running in unknown areas / cross country, plus I never know if I'm going at the pace I want to be until I get back.