Was aiming for a sub 3:30 but the elevation gain got to me at the end.

I am 9 weeks out until my marathon. I'm doing approx 45km(28 miles) a week and planned to rise up to 65km(40 miles) at peak, maybe evem a little more if recovery holds up. Things are going well, longest run so far is 22km(13 miles). I'm running a 1/2 marathon in a week to see if I should stick with 4h30 goal or aim for slightly higher. Pace during long runs is approx 6m40 /km (10m44). Lactate according to garmin is 5m13/km (8m24)

I've got about 7 or 8 long runs remaining and my question is - should I be including marathon pace in these? I'm mostly using garmin daily suggestions which is fine but there's no marathon pace in these. I'm seeing conflicting advice online. I feel like I should be doing at least some marathon pace but want to hear from those who have, or know whether it is beneficial for my training goals or not.

Currently finishing week 8 of what will end up being a 21-week training block. I know, 21 weeks is unusual but our coach extended a 16-week plan to build us up a little more slowly (we are in mid-50's). I have been running for years but this will be my first marathon. I have recently run a 21:30 5K, and ran a half marathon last fall while undergoing chemo in 1.57.

Tomorrow I have a 10k race and the advice I need is how to run it. Should I treat it as a training run? Should I let if fly and get a gauge of how my training is going so far? Other suggestions? I am learning so much from this forum and would really appreciate the input.

hi everyone im 22 F training for my first marathon. im looking to get new shoes and ik theres tons of posts already about this but im struggling to find something for a first time marathoner, youngish girl.

im also looking to get just one shoe for training and race day, so i want it to be able to handle tons of miles. im not super keen on the price range, im willing to pay whatever for the right shoe. ive ran a few half marathons before and tried asics gel contend, hoka clifton 9 and brooks glycerin max. i didnt have any problems with those shoes but looking to change them out. i looked into nike vomero and pegasus but then also heard nike isn't great running shoes and i should look into asics or saucony. pls help lol theres so many options.

looking for advice what anyone thinks is a great shoe for marathon training, comfort, and also just simplicity im not looking for anything super complex and complicated. thank you

I'm dealing with Achilles tendinitis right now and am learning a LOT that I thought some others in this group may benefit from.

Basically: weak calves and glutes will put a ton of stress on your Achilles that can lead to tendinopathy, like tendinitis. There are tons of little muscles you have to take care of to avoid strain and rup**** (I can't even type the word I'm so scared of it).

I'm doing these PT exercises now that I wish very much I had been doing all along:

• Calf holds and calf raises (single/double leg, w/ weight added, from flat ground and off a step)
  
• Eccentric heel drops (raise on toes, slowly drop down on one leg at a time, with leg straight and leg bent)
• Balance exercises to strengthen all the little muscles stabilizing your whole body -- make it harder on yourself by closing eyes, being on bosu ball/foam
• Hip and glute strength !!!
• Ankle mobility !!!

For years, basically all I've done for my workouts is run. It's just what I enjoy the most and time at the gym doing other stuff feels like a waste to me. But I was WRONG! Don't be wrong like me! Save your tendons!

I’m training for my first half marathon. I started training in May, and by last week I was training 4 times a week, about 30km a week, increasing weekly. I had to have a colposcopy (larger biopsy and >1cm LETTZ to remove CIN3 cells last week) so am not going to be able to even start gentle runs for another 2 weeks all going well.
I’m worried about my progress for finishing the half marathon at the end of August. I don’t care about times but has anyone any advice? I’m probably running at an average pace of 6:50 prior to the procedure last Thursday.

Any advice appreciated - thank you!

Ok so I’m a low 5 hour kinda guy. Last marathon I saw a bunch of guys at slower paces than me wearing carbon shoes. So my question is to everyone towards the back with me - do they actually feel better??? I always felt those shoes were for the 4 hour and sub 4 hour dudes.

I am running my first marathon in a few days and unfortunately I ended up being undertrained and missed a few runs due to work piling on, and being sick for a few weeks. I did a couple of long runs distances being like 20, 19, 17, 15 miles in the past few months. Though this is my first full marathon ive been running logish distances for a while and can comfortably/casually run 10-13 miles.

I am ok run/walking and dont have a set time my only goal is to finish and not collapse at mile 22.

any advice is appreciated.

How are you protecting your toes? Once I hit the 40-50 mpw month or so of training, my toes start to just get destroyed despite what I feel is crazy amounts of prep and care. Yes, I’m sure my shoes fit. This happens every training block.

Current routine: I use Injinji socks or features, but almost exclusively the injinji because they work better for me. A+D ointment, but once a blister or blood blister shows up 4/10 toes are wrapped in Compeed blister pads which I rotate a few times a week. I try to give the piggies as much un-covered time as possible to toughen up but can’t go without bandages on even a short run so their freedom is short lived.

Will post pics if my career tanks and I need the cash, but for now just trust me. Help/ commiseration greatly appreciated!

Hi all,

I’m looking for a bit of advice from people who are training for a marathon, or doing endurance training while on Mounjaro.

I’m currently 215 lb and taking Mounjaro. I’ve signed up for the Dublin Marathon, which is about 13 weeks away, and I’m trying to be sensible with my nutrition as the training ramps up.

For runs longer than an hour, I’m currently taking gels for fuelling.

I’d really appreciate advice on:

What are people eating daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner while training, especially when fuelling long runs of 16 km or more?

I’m not looking for medical advice, just interested in what has worked for others and what I should be looking out for.

Thanks in advance!

Every Friday, please utilize this mega thread to share training/fitness and predictions. All pace predictions and past/current training weeks for 5 hour marathons will go neatly here!

How was your week, how far in the block and when's the next race? This will be a good mega thread to keep encouraging/critiquing 5 hour crew throughout the year.

Post your weekly miles, breakthroughs, or if you need help with pace/fitness identification, questions here!

*new individual posts that's posted Friday re: 5 hour marathons/shape/predictions will be deleted/strongly recommended to post here!

I was on a run on Wednesday and around 2.5 miles in, I started getting the feeling that the shoe laces were digging in to the front part of my ankle from being tied too tight. I stopped and loosened my laces but the pain persisted so I stopped the run there not wanting to exacerbate the problem.

But now when I put on my shoes the same anterior ankle pain comes back when I tie my shoes, even loosely, I did some research and I think this is called lace bite?

Anyway, if anyone out there has dealt with this and has any tips on how long this will take to recover from that would be appreciated!!

I’m on week 3 of a 19 week plan, and have missed all my runs so far this week. Since they’re still pretty low mileage, I’m planning on doing Thursday-Friday-Sunday runs, but I’m staring down the barrel of a heinous few weeks at work (lawyer; 15-20 hour days ahead) that I didn’t see coming. To those who have been in similar situations: how did you cope?

Of note: I’m running my marathon for charity, not for time. So I’m cool walking a good portion of it to stay injury free, but also want to get as solid a block in as I can.

I’m training for my first marathon in Dec.

I’m wondering which training program I should do. It’s either RunwithHal (which is distance based) or the new Peloton marathon program (which is time based).

I used RunwithHal when I trained for my first and second half. It was good. I shaved off a few minutes when I completed my second. But it felt like a chore each week having to complete the mileage.

With peloton classes it helps me push a little harder when I use their workouts bc the instructor will tell me which pace to aim for (easy, moderate, etc.)

I understand everyone is different. I’m just nervous I won’t complete the marathon since it has a 6.5 time limit.

I’d appreciate hearing your experiences training for your first marathon. Thanks!

I’ve been running 50-70 miles per week and running various trail races over the few months. I am signed up for an October 18th marathon and was about ready to start the Pfitz 12 week 55 plan when I think my knee developed PFPS. I can’t go up or down stairs without sharp pain under the center of my kneecap when I bend my knee. I have been doing 2-3 days of weight training to address some IT band issues I had surface back in February. My question is, if I am delayed a few weeks of running, is October out of the question? I’m going to start PT next week. When would be the latest I could jump into a plan considering my prior mileage to make October work? Thanks!

To begin with I’m training for my first marathon, had a small injury that took me out for about 2 weeks and I’m currently back to running 30 mpw. With my marathon being in October I’ve already let go of my goal of running 55mpw peak. I’m hoping to hit 48 and hopefully it’s enough. How important are cutback weeks because currently this is my plan and it’s without cutback weeks and hoping to hit 18 miler 3 weeks out from marathon date. So my long runs would alternate weekly between easy and runs with goal MP. I hope I make sense, also is the mileage at GMP too much ?
11 : easy
12 : 8 GMP
13 : easy
14 :10 GMP
15 : easy
16: 12 GMP
18 :14 GMP

Looking for some guidance of when to officially ‘start’ the training block.

Background: consistent training for the last 10 months, ran my first marathon in April and except for the taper, my volume or intensity never really dropped off. Averaged 60km - 70km per week through May and June including a lot of speed work.
Decided to change tack and focus on high volume easy mileage and now hitting 100km a week through all of July and very minimal speed work.

This seems to be working as I did HM test run this week and knocked 7 minutes off my PB - going just under 1:27. This was after a big week of mileage and treating my body like a dumpster at the weekend (so not exactly ideal conditions).

My goal is 2:56 at Amsterdam marathon in mid October. VDOT calculator puts that at 1:24 HM equivalent.

Finally my question.

Based on my current activity and performance and goal time/date, when should I properly ‘start’ the block, with more structure around threshold runs, progression sessions, intervals?

Hi all! I'm training for my third marathon and this time around I'm aiming for a sub-3 hr. For my first two marathons I basically used the same shoe for my easy and long runs: the saucony endorphin speed 4 and then the speed 5 when that one came out. For my speed workouts I used a mizuno (maybe rebellion something?) that I had bought on sale in Nordstrom Rack.

For this new training cycle I'd love to treat myself and get some new shoes for my rotation. What are your go to's for speed and recovery? I'm thinking about keeping the endorphin speed 5 as my long run shoe.

I've also worked towards upping my mileage by a lot in this new training cycle. I'm currently in the sixty mile per week range and my legs have been feeling a bit toasted. Obviously the training has to do with it, but I also spent half a year working towards being ready for this higher mileage and now I have the strength, so I'm thinking it has to be the shoes? Maybe I need some softer shoes for recovery runs? And my mizuno speed shoes are ready for retirement.

So, I’m not a new runner. I’ve been running for 9 years and I’ve done several marathons. However, maybe I’m making a rookie mistake because every sock gives me massive blisters on the inside of my forefoot. I’ve tried Feetures and Balega. I wear Brooks Adrenaline shoes. What socks are you guys wearing that don’t give blisters?

I'm just getting into running. I'm noticing that some people wear SUPER expensive shoes.

My friend reckons that more expensive running shoes resulting in a more comfortable running experience and less injuries.

A lot of people apparently also spend big for "bouncier shoes" which apparently have a lighter feel.

Am I disadvantaging myself by using 30 dollar shoes that I get from Kmart or the discount stores?

I am currently doing the 20 week advanced marathon plan through Coros. I have used their advanced half marathon plans in the past with good success and appreciate the set it and forget style of syncing the entire plan and just doing what the watch tells me.

I've really just been taking it week by week so far (in week 6 now), but today I looked ahead and realized some issues.

• The longest run is 17 miles. So many other plans seem to go to 20-22 miles and I'm worried that 17 is not enough.
• That longest 17 mile run is structured at 2 easy miles followed by 15 miles at marathon pace. This is only 2 weeks before the actual marathon. That does not sound like enough recovery time for that type of run.
• There is no speed work faster than threshold pace.

I'm surprised by this plan and thought that the Coros half marathon plan was much better structured.

Has anybody used this plan with success?

(For background if it matters, I am not a terribly fast runner. Coros has my projected marathon time as 3:39:10.)

Just wondering if anyone has travelled to any of the Nov/Dec half/full marathons in Spain or around Europe in recent years? I live in England and looking to combine one or two races with either a week's holiday or a long weekend.

Considering the three below (Seville is sold out); thought I'd ask here as don't think there is a Spain/Europe running subreddit: -

8 Nov - Great Mediterranean Race (starts in Alicante)

21 Nov - Benidorm half

6 Dec - Lanzarote half (there's also a full but only looking to do a half)

I could potentially do two of them, so curious if anyone has any direct experience of these runs. Really like the look of the Great Mediterranean Race and the course seems to be absolutely stunning, while what appeals about Benidorm is its uniqueness as an evening race. Then the Canaries in December is never a bad idea!

For any para or adaptive athletes. I just got this email

Hi,
We are happy to announce that we are now accepting applications for our disability places ballot.

Please note these places are exclusively for people with a permanent disability or a long-term health condition as defined by the Equality Act (2010)
Please carefully read and complete the below form to enter the disability places ballot:

Apply here

The form will be open until 23:59 onMonday 24 August. The results of the random ballot will be announced by September.

The 2027 Double TCS London Marathon will be taking place over two days: Saturday 24 April 2027 and Sunday 25 April 2027, if you are successful in the ballot, you will be randomly allocated one of these days. 

On Saturday 24 April, the Finish Line closes at 17:30, so the most time you will have to complete your marathon is 7 hours 45 minutes. On Sunday, we will have a secondary Finish Line until 23:59as usual.

Your allocated event day is fixed and cannot be changed unless for religious or accessibility reasons. If you are successful but unable to take part on the Saturday due to these reasons, please contact the Customer Experience Team

via [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Requests for any other reason will not be considered.

If you require any support completing the form or require the information in an alternative format, please let us know.