Anyone run a marathon before?

[Bedford Red]

Help!

I am 40 in March and as well as doing loads of things to celebrate it I decided in an act of stupidity at the start of the year to enter the New York Marathon in November!

Well today i got the letter to say i've been accepted!!!!

So; i have 9 months (to the day) to train for it. My fitness levels aren't exactly up to much, although i do eat quite healthily so i am taking that as a positive.

Anyone run a marathon before and any useful tips (apart from training hard) would be very welcome?

(I am running it for Children for Lukemia as I knew someone who died from this so that's what made me enter it so i could raise some money in memory of them).

[janaage]

Never run a marathon Bedford, but make sure you set up an online sponsor thingy, I'd like to contribute.

[Bedford Red]

Never run a marathon Bedford, but make sure you set up an online sponsor thingy, I'd like to contribute.

Thanks; that is very kind; i will sort that out when i get more info from the charity.

[Bob's Orange]

Never run a marathon Bedford, but make sure you set up an online sponsor thingy, I'd like to contribute.

Thanks; that is very kind; i will sort that out when i get more info from the charity.

yeah post it on here mate, I am sure there are lots of people who will contribute.

My mate did the Luxembourg version in May last year, roasting hot and he did it in full Scottish gear, kilt, sporran and all the other gubbins you get. He vowed never to do it again!

[Ardiles]

I ran the New York City Marathon in 2002 for Children Nationwide and finally got around to running in London last year for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  Congratulations on your place...you're going to have one of the best weekends of your life.  The crowds in New York (and in London, for that matter) are phenomenal...especially from the 16 mile point when you cross in to Manhattan for the first time.  And the finish in Central Park is special.

Take your training steadily.  Nine months will be easily enough time to get yourself match fit as long as you're sensible and don't take risks with your training.  Avoid injury at all costs!  And good luck!

[Bedford Red]

Never run a marathon Bedford, but make sure you set up an online sponsor thingy, I'd like to contribute.

Thanks; that is very kind; i will sort that out when i get more info from the charity.

yeah post it on here mate, I am sure there are lots of people who will contribute.

My mate did the Luxembourg version in May last year, roasting hot and he did it in full Scottish gear, kilt, sporran and all the other gubbins you get. He vowed never to do it again!

I will not be running in anything other than normal running gear; i've already decided that; it's going to be hard enough without any hinderences!

[Bedford Red]

I ran the New York City Marathon in 2002 for Children Nationwide and finally got around to running in London last year for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  Congratulations on your place...you're going to have one of the best weekends of your life.  The crowds in New York (and in London, for that matter) are phenomenal...especially from the 16 mile point when you cross in to Manhattan for the first time.  And the finish in Central Park is special.

Take your training steadily.  Nine months will be easily enough time to get yourself match fit as long as you're sensible and don't take risks with your training.  Avoid injury at all costs!  And good luck!

I am quite excited about it; two of my friends have already said they are going to come out and watch and give me some support which will be cool.

I bet the crowds are phenomenal; thanks for the good luck  

[janaage]

Not even a TEF shirt designed by Ben or anything?  Come on!!

[Bedford Red]

Not even a TEF shirt designed by Ben or anything?  Come on!!

I did think about Swindon Town based shirts; but the charity have specially designed Mr Men t-shirts you have to wear (i think it's Mr Happy) so i will have to wear that on the day.

Otherwise i would!

[donkey]

Haven't been able to run the length of a marathon since they changed the name to snickers.
























































Sorry.

[Batch]

Started training a few years ago from 0 fitness. Got up to 8 miles before the rejection letter came. Then I gave up (was going to do a 1/2  marathon but my motivation evaporated).

There are a lot of training plans and advice available online, have a look around, I'm sure that Flora do one for the London Marathon, amongst others. Obviously the idea is to start with not much and build it up over time, not doing too much to quickly.

The training I followed was different kind of running in the week , interval running, hill running, etc - designed to increase strength, stamina and cardio vascular efficiency  On the weekend was the 'long' run, a slower paced run as per the title really.

Two things though - 1 - It soaks up a lot of time.  2. It would be easier to motivate yourself with a running partner.  It's too easy to make excuses on these cold mornings if it's just you!

Good luck. Let us know when you start looking for sponsorship.

[Ardiles]

One thing you will notice is that there isn't the same marathon/charity thing going on in the US that we have here.  Run in London, and everyone is wearing a charity shirt ('Running in memory of my Mum' etc), which I found very moving at times.  In New York, though, everyone seems to want to let you know where they're from.  'I'm Billy Bob from Dallas, TX' etc).

I'm sure you could customise your shirt with an STFC theme if you wanted.

[Arriba]

i did the first swindon walkathon if that counts?

[Reg Smeeton]

i did the first swindon walkathon if that counts?

 I've walked a marathon....as well,  took me about 8 hours, but did stop for lunch.....ddin't really need too much training just a couple of longish walks the 2 weekends preceding.

[Milmo]

I'm running in this years London Marathon.  It's my first marathon (and last).

It's the second lifelong ambition i've attempted.  The first one was to go to evey Town game home and away for a season, which I did in 04/05.

The only advice I have to give based on the training I've done so far, is prepare yourself mentally.

Going out on cold dark nights to run on your own for two hours is very hard to do.

Best of luck in New York, sounds great and it's going to be a great feeling to cross that finish line!