GOT Fitness LOG

[ArtetaMoney]

I completed my first ever marathon yesterday, the Liverpool Rock n Roll.

The furthest I'd ever raced before was 10k, so I knew it was going to be difficult. The training was hard, I left myself 10 weeks to get ready for it, starting by running a few 3 to 4 mile runs during the week and doing a 6 or 7 mile run of a weekend. Extending the runs each week by a mile or 2, towards the last few weeks I was running 10 to 15 miles every Saturday and my longest run was 17.5 last Thursday.

For anyone who is thinking about doing one bare in mind the training, it takes a lot out of your normal life. I was going the match some weeks, not drinking, getting home and going out for a 2 hour run. That was hard, you really miss them warm Chang!

The race itself I was dreading, I decided to do it for Alder Hey Children's Charity to give me a bit more motivation and set myself a time of below 3 hours 30. Some people sponsored me then said they'd double it if I broke my time, which spurred me on a bit.

It was organised brilliantly and with it being around the city and covering as many landmarks as possible it was pretty scenic. The volunteers who help out and the crowds who come to watch are a god send and probably helped me knock at least an extra 5 min off my time.

For anyone who is ever thinking of doing a marathon, don't feel too daunted, it is a long distance but with some training and determination you will get through it. The feeling of crossing the line will make it all worth it also!

I managed to complete it in 3:26:41 but more importantly raised £900 for Alder Hey.

I would definitely recommend it to anyone thinking of doing it next year.

 

[evilwebby]

I completed my first ever marathon yesterday, the Liverpool Rock n Roll.

The furthest I'd ever raced before was 10k, so I knew it was going to be difficult. The training was hard, I left myself 10 weeks to get ready for it, starting by running a few 3 to 4 mile runs during the week and doing a 6 or 7 mile run of a weekend. Extending the runs each week by a mile or 2, towards the last few weeks I was running 10 to 15 miles every Saturday and my longest run was 17.5 last Thursday.

For anyone who is thinking about doing one bare in mind the training, it takes a lot out of your normal life. I was going the match some weeks, not drinking, getting home and going out for a 2 hour run. That was hard, you really miss them warm Chang!

The race itself I was dreading, I decided to do it for Alder Hey Children's Charity to give me a bit more motivation and set myself a time of below 3 hours 30. Some people sponsored me then said they'd double it if I broke my time, which spurred me on a bit.

It was organised brilliantly and with it being around the city and covering as many landmarks as possible it was pretty scenic. The volunteers who help out and the crowds who come to watch are a god send and probably helped me knock at least an extra 5 min off my time.

For anyone who is ever thinking of doing a marathon, don't feel too daunted, it is a long distance but with some training and determination you will get through it. The feeling of crossing the line will make it all worth it also!

I managed to complete it in 3:26:41 but more importantly raised £900 for Alder Hey.

I would definitely recommend it to anyone thinking of doing it next year.

Brilliant. Absolutely stonking effort, especially with the fund raising.

Planning on doing my 3rd marathon later in the year. You are right about the commitment to training, but I do about half of my running to/from work, so it doesn't take up that much out of other areas of my life. That just leaves me with probably 1 midweek evening run and one long run at the weekend to fit in.

 

[ArtetaMoney]

Brilliant. Absolutely stonking effort, especially with the fund raising.

Planning on doing my 3rd marathon later in the year. You are right about the commitment to training, but I do about half of my running to/from work, so it doesn't take up that much out of other areas of my life. That just leaves me with probably 1 midweek evening run and one long run at the weekend to fit in.

Cheers mate, as soon as I crossed the line I said to my girlfriend 'I'm never doing that again' but I think I will do another one. A fella I ran next to until the last 7 miles had done over 100! Fair play!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Cheers mate, as soon as I crossed the line I said to my girlfriend 'I'm never doing that again' but I think I will do another one. A fella I ran next to until the last 7 miles had done over 100! Fair play!

Superb effort. Well done mate I always say I'll never do these kind of things again at the finish line, but I always do. Once the bug has bitten...

 

[evilwebby]

Cheers mate, as soon as I crossed the line I said to my girlfriend 'I'm never doing that again' but I think I will do another one. A fella I ran next to until the last 7 miles had done over 100! Fair play!

After my first marathon my legs were absolutely trashed! Had to lie down on the ground for an hour or so.. wondering how all the people around me were still standing - I was thinking "how on earth are they still standing?? Did they just not try hard enough?"

But the 2nd one I was much stronger.. even managed to cycle home afterwards.

The body does get stronger with each macro training cycle you put it through. Hopefully when you do your next one your body will be stronger for having done this one!

Be sure to go easy over the next few weeks. Full marathon recovery takes a long time, so don't be surprised that you don't quite have the same energy levels for a couple of weeks even long after the DOMS has receeded.

 

[ArtetaMoney]

After my first marathon my legs were absolutely trashed! Had to lie down on the ground for an hour or so.. wondering how all the people around me were still standing - I was thinking "how on earth are they still standing?? Did they just not try hard enough?"

But the 2nd one I was much stronger.. even managed to cycle home afterwards.

The body does get stronger with each macro training cycle you put it through. Hopefully when you do your next one your body will be stronger for having done this one!

Be sure to go easy over the next few weeks. Full marathon recovery takes a long time, so don't be surprised that you don't quite have the same energy levels for a couple of weeks even long after the DOMS has receeded.

We had to go into the Echo Arena to pick up our bags and t shirts etc. The exit for finishers was up a set of steps, everyone was proper crawling up them haha!

I won't be doing much training for a couple of weeks now, I'm off on holiday in a week. Looking forward to getting back out again after it, going to do some 5k and 10k races through July and August I think.

Which marathon you doing later this year?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Just under 3 weeks now until the Maratona. Must say I'm getting rather excited

 

[Bilko]

I completed my first ever marathon yesterday, the Liverpool Rock n Roll.

The furthest I'd ever raced before was 10k, so I knew it was going to be difficult. The training was hard, I left myself 10 weeks to get ready for it, starting by running a few 3 to 4 mile runs during the week and doing a 6 or 7 mile run of a weekend. Extending the runs each week by a mile or 2, towards the last few weeks I was running 10 to 15 miles every Saturday and my longest run was 17.5 last Thursday.

For anyone who is thinking about doing one bare in mind the training, it takes a lot out of your normal life. I was going the match some weeks, not drinking, getting home and going out for a 2 hour run. That was hard, you really miss them warm Chang!

The race itself I was dreading, I decided to do it for Alder Hey Children's Charity to give me a bit more motivation and set myself a time of below 3 hours 30. Some people sponsored me then said they'd double it if I broke my time, which spurred me on a bit.

It was organised brilliantly and with it being around the city and covering as many landmarks as possible it was pretty scenic. The volunteers who help out and the crowds who come to watch are a god send and probably helped me knock at least an extra 5 min off my time.

For anyone who is ever thinking of doing a marathon, don't feel too daunted, it is a long distance but with some training and determination you will get through it. The feeling of crossing the line will make it all worth it also!

I managed to complete it in 3:26:41 but more importantly raised £900 for Alder Hey.

I would definitely recommend it to anyone thinking of doing it next year.

impressive, that was a decent time, quite a jump from 17.5 up to the 26 miles mark.that's what,approx seven and a half miles per hour.well done.I suppose going for a run after matches was to get rid of the frustration of the game !.

 

[Bilko]

Just under 3 weeks now until the Maratona. Must say I'm getting rather excited

. just looked at it online,excited.........I'd be crapping it !.looks stunning,which course are you doing ?.

 

[ArtetaMoney]

impressive, that was a decent time, quite a jump from 17.5 up to the 26 miles mark.that's what,approx seven and a half miles per hour.well done.I suppose going for a run after matches was to get rid of the frustration of the game !.

I done 17.5 miles in 2:40 odd, that was the furthest I went in training, I couldn't go any further as I kept getting cramp in my right calf. On the day I made sure I drank water at every station as well as taking 3 gels with me plus the ones they give you.

Yeah it was a good way to clear my head after watching utter dross for 90 min!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

. just looked at it online,excited.........I'd be crapping it !.looks stunning,which course are you doing ?.

I always do the full one. Can't really miss out the Giau The route itself is doable, and I've probably done harder rides, but the event itself is the best in Europe imo. Perfectly run. We always stay in Corvara in the week leading up to the event and it's a great atmosphere all week, and there are some incredible climbs in the area that aren't on the route, such as the Erbe and Fedaia, so it's great to get your mountain legs in before the Sunday if possible. Plus you can do the tourist thing and really savour what is an incredibly beautiful part of the world.

I mean the ride down to the Fedaia pass through the Sottaguda gorge is absolutely stunning, and the lake at the top takes your breath away.

and then back down the Gardena into Corvara. Makes me grin just thinking about it

It's one of the great things about cycling for me. I grew up watching Pantani in this area, whether it was his first win over the Erbe in 94 or en route to victory over the Fedaia/Sella in 98. To be able to ride the same climbs is awesome. Like being able to play your Sunday league at Goodison.

 

[Tooley1878]

Being doing 5x5 on and off for 6 months.. back at it now.. supplementing my protein and getting really into it. Only thing is the waistline ! I assumed it would reduce the gut aswell as building muscle.. but nah ! I'm averaging about 1950kal a day so that's not bad but its solid to get 40% protein intake ! your going to tell me to do some cardio aren't you ! :-( whats the best ? Maybe running on my rest days?

 

[Bilko]

I always do the full one. Can't really miss out the Giau The route itself is doable, and I've probably done harder rides, but the event itself is the best in Europe imo. Perfectly run. We always stay in Corvara in the week leading up to the event and it's a great atmosphere all week, and there are some incredible climbs in the area that aren't on the route, such as the Erbe and Fedaia, so it's great to get your mountain legs in before the Sunday if possible. Plus you can do the tourist thing and really savour what is an incredibly beautiful part of the world.

I mean the ride down to the Fedaia pass through the Sottaguda gorge is absolutely stunning, and the lake at the top takes your breath away.

and then back down the Gardena into Corvara. Makes me grin just thinking about it

It's one of the great things about cycling for me. I grew up watching Pantani in this area, whether it was his first win over the Erbe in 94 or en route to victory over the Fedaia/Sella in 98. To be able to ride the same climbs is awesome. Like being able to play your Sunday league at Goodison.

it looks just absolutely beautiful,and challenging enough to me, i'd need a motor bike !.must get Mrs B to check out for a holiday destination for next year.would love to look around that area

 

[Bruce Wayne]

it looks just absolutely beautiful,and challenging enough to me, i'd need a motor bike !.must get Mrs B to check out for a holiday destination for next year.would love to look around that area

I'd recommend it wholeheartedly. It is certainly challenging, but is challenging in the sense that you can ride hard on the climbs rather than just slogging yourself to get over them, as you would on say the Mortirolo.

@the esk regularly holidays in that area too so will no doubt have some tips on other non-cycling things you can do out there.

 

[evilwebby]

I done 17.5 miles in 2:40 odd, that was the furthest I went in training, I couldn't go any further as I kept getting cramp in my right calf. On the day I made sure I drank water at every station as well as taking 3 gels with me plus the ones they give you.

Yeah it was a good way to clear my head after watching utter dross for 90 min!

I reckon 17.5 is more than fine as your longest run. All these plans that go up to 20-22 miles is just belt & braces stuff. There are diminishing returns to training longer and longer, and much beyond about 2-2.5hrs you do excessive damage which then compromises your recovery and midweek workouts. The idea that you need to complete a 22 mile long run if you are a 5hr is missing the bigger picture.