Running a marathon

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

So, after about 20 years of solid rejections I have finally got a place in the London Marathon for next year. Annoyingly I had also signed up to Manchester Marathon (which is on the same day) a few weeks ago on the assumption that I wouldn't get in to London.

Who here has done a marathon and how does London compare to others?

Any top tips for training? I've done a few Half's in about 1:45 so have set a target of 3:45 for the full...

[Turkish]

good luck mate. I fancy doing a marathon. I've done loads of tough mudders and similar, for the last 4 years i've been doing crossfit so done quite a few competitions with that but knocked that on the head now. A marathon and a triathlon feel like the only things left to tick off. under 4 hours would be a really good time. I wont do it that quick but then i am the wrong side of 45 lol. 

[Fan The Flames]

I don't know crossfit, is it like zumba?

[Turkish]

6 hours ago, Fan The Flames said:

I don't know crossfit, is it like zumba?

lol yeah it’s exactly like that 

[badgerx16]

8 hours ago, Fan The Flames said:

I don't know crossfit, is it like zumba?

It is exercising whilst angry.

[Weston Super Saint]

This is apparently one of the best training videos.

[Turkish]

11 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

It is exercising whilst angry.

maybe. Or maybe its by far the best training program on the planet. 

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

Anyone else since found out they're in London or other marathon. If so, how's the training going?

It's dawned on me that according to my plan I'm needing to run (at least) a half marathon at least once a week for the next 3 months, plus about 3-4 other runs/gym sessions per week. It's actually flipping exhausting. New found appreciation for people who do marathons, or similar/longer, endurance events regularly. Not sure where you're supposed to find the time either.

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

Anyone do the Southampton or Brighton marathons last weekend? Bit sweaty?

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

2 hour time officially broken at the London Marathon today. Unbelievable sporting milestone that just a few years ago sounded impossible. Appreciate better shoes help, but nothing to take away from the achievement 

I'm an OK runner - not great, but better than average (3:30ish marathon PB), but I couldn't' keep up their pace for barely 100m. It's basically (fast) sprinting for over 26 miles.

[benjii]

1 hour ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

2 hour time officially broken at the London Marathon today. Unbelievable sporting milestone that just a few years ago sounded impossible. Appreciate better shoes help, but nothing to take away from the achievement 

I'm an OK runner - not great, but better than average (3:30ish marathon PB), but I couldn't' keep up their pace for barely 100m. It's basically (fast) sprinting for over 26 miles.

Yeah, it's mental.

[Turkish]

On 26/04/2026 at 21:31, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

2 hour time officially broken at the London Marathon today. Unbelievable sporting milestone that just a few years ago sounded impossible. Appreciate better shoes help, but nothing to take away from the achievement 

I'm an OK runner - not great, but better than average (3:30ish marathon PB), but I couldn't' keep up their pace for barely 100m. It's basically (fast) sprinting for over 26 miles.

Isn’t it running at 21kmph for just under 2 hours? I remember a few years back I did 20kmph on for 20 seconds and 20 off for 20 minutes a few times and was absolutely gassed by the end of it. It’s a crazy pace 

Saw earlier some other bloke ran it with a  a fridge on his back which is mental as well

 

 

[whelk]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

Isn’t it running at 21kmph for just under 2 hours? I remember a few years back I did 20kmph on for 20 seconds and 20 off for 20 minutes a few times and was absolutely gassed by the end of it. It’s a crazy pace 

Saw earlier some other bloke ran it with a  a fridge on his back which is mental as well

 

 

It is insane. Just over 14 mins for each 5k! And doing 100 metres in 17 seconds odd - over 400 of them consecutively. 
As you say stick that on a treadmill and you are flying off if you make it to a minute

[egg]

6 hours ago, whelk said:

It is insane. Just over 14 mins for each 5k! And doing 100 metres in 17 seconds odd - over 400 of them consecutively. 
As you say stick that on a treadmill and you are flying off if you make it to a minute

Insane, and bloody impressive. Like Turkish, I've done 20kph bursts, or built up to 20kph, but you've got to be superhuman to manage it for a sustained period. 

[Turkish]

Okay any of you runners want to give me some advice? I've started again, not long distances but doing about 5km alongside my crossfit 3/4 times a week. Last couple of times i've been out i've had pain at the bottom of my calf that starts about 15 minutes in and slowly gets worse and worse making me stop. The all knowing chatgpt seemed to single it down to two issues, shit trainers, (i have a pair of Brooks which are proper running trainers but about 7 years old now) or basically going too far too quickly. Seems a bit weird that only 15 minutes of running would do that, but then i am getting on a bit and havent really run more than 1k up until recently since lockdown. Any ideas what it might be and what i can do to sort it?

[whelk]

5 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Last couple of times i've been out i've had pain at the bottom of my calf that starts about 15 minutes in and slowly gets worse

Should only have a minute longer to handle the pain😀

 

[whelk]

6 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Okay any of you runners want to give me some advice? I've started again, not long distances but doing about 5km alongside my crossfit 3/4 times a week. Last couple of times i've been out i've had pain at the bottom of my calf that starts about 15 minutes in and slowly gets worse and worse making me stop. The all knowing chatgpt seemed to single it down to two issues, shit trainers, (i have a pair of Brooks which are proper running trainers but about 7 years old now) or basically going too far too quickly. Seems a bit weird that only 15 minutes of running would do that, but then i am getting on a bit and havent really run more than 1k up until recently since lockdown. Any ideas what it might be and what i can do to sort it?

I used to like running but knee pain last 6 months or so means realistically can’t do anymore. Annoying as such an easy way of doing exercise but have to face up that now consequence of just getting too old to do

[egg]

4 hours ago, Turkish said:

Okay any of you runners want to give me some advice? I've started again, not long distances but doing about 5km alongside my crossfit 3/4 times a week. Last couple of times i've been out i've had pain at the bottom of my calf that starts about 15 minutes in and slowly gets worse and worse making me stop. The all knowing chatgpt seemed to single it down to two issues, shit trainers, (i have a pair of Brooks which are proper running trainers but about 7 years old now) or basically going too far too quickly. Seems a bit weird that only 15 minutes of running would do that, but then i am getting on a bit and havent really run more than 1k up until recently since lockdown. Any ideas what it might be and what i can do to sort it?

It could be anything, but too much too soon sounds plausible. I'd stretch it through (both sides of the calf), and smash it with a massage gun. If you've git access to a power plate machine, set it the absolute max, for several minutes, and lay flat leaving the machine to pummel from the ankle and up the calf. You'll never get a better lower leg massage. 

If you've never done muscle activation, take a look. It could that you're using your calves but unactivated, hence early strain. I've been doing it as part of my recovery from surgery and it's a game changer. As odd as it sounds, there's an area just below the rib cage on each side which fires the calves. 

I've never got on with brooks and found them quite a hard run. They're probably great if you're built like a distance runner and don't need the protection against impact, but I'm not built that way and they're not for me. I'd get to a proper running shoes shop and get assessed for what you need - if the shoes aren't the main problem, something suited to your frame and gait will help anyway. 

[Turkish]

29 minutes ago, egg said:

It could be anything, but too much too soon sounds plausible. I'd stretch it through (both sides of the calf), and smash it with a massage gun. If you've git access to a power plate machine, set it the absolute max, for several minutes, and lay flat leaving the machine to pummel from the ankle and up the calf. You'll never get a better lower leg massage. 

If you've never done muscle activation, take a look. It could that you're using your calves but unactivated, hence early strain. I've been doing it as part of my recovery from surgery and it's a game changer. As odd as it sounds, there's an area just below the rib cage on each side which fires the calves. 

I've never got on with brooks and found them quite a hard run. They're probably great if you're built like a distance runner and don't need the protection against impact, but I'm not built that way and they're not for me. I'd get to a proper running shoes shop and get assessed for what you need - if the shoes aren't the main problem, something suited to your frame and gait will help anyway. 

I’ve just ordered some asics which I am informed are one of the better ones for what I want

coach at the gym said it sounds like too much too soon without stretching before so did some stretching and foam rolling earlier and eased a bit. 

Interesting what you’re saying about the rib cage. I had issues with my knee for about 4 months. It was fine when I ran but really just squating and lunging. went for physio and after some mobility tests he said it was my back, the muscles in my lower back were compressed and pulling when I flexed gave me sort of needle therapy and aside from the off twinge been fine ever since. 

[egg]

9 minutes ago, Turkish said:

I’ve just ordered some asics which I am informed are one of the better ones for what I want

coach at the gym said it sounds like too much too soon without stretching before so did some stretching and foam rolling earlier and eased a bit. 

Interesting what you’re saying about the rib cage. I had issues with my knee for about 4 months. It was fine when I ran but really just squating and lunging. went for physio and after some mobility tests he said it was my back, the muscles in my lower back were compressed and pulling when I flexed gave me sort of needle therapy and aside from the off twinge been fine ever since. 

When I ran lots, knee pain was nearly always the IT bands pulling - easy fix - or tight quads. The pain area - symptom - is often not the problem. When my neck went, symptoms were the tricep and forearm! The body is weird AF.