Running Clique

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Did 16.3 miles yesterday, which was slightly disappointing as I was aiming for 18. Seem to be hitting a wall at 16 that I can’t get around.

Why are you finding it difficult? What's hurting or are you just tired? Have you been for a sports massage since you've been putting in all the miles? You're doing a great job, don't take any shortcuts in the training and everything around it or it will catch you out. Don't ever think that you can't or you never will, half this battle when you get into these distances are mental.

Just seem to be reaching my limit, physically and mentally, at around 16. Admittedly at the weekend I made the ridiculous decision to try and get up the hill in Charlton (those who have been to the ground will know it’s not called the Valley for nothing) and it completely finished me off.

I’m mixing up my training a little now, trying to get ten miles in during the week (did 7 on Tuesday night and will do a short 3 tonight) and plan to do 18 on Saturday. If I can get that in then I’ll feel a bit better about things. Also experimenting with fuelling, I realise now that Isotonic stuff gives me cramp while I’m running so it’s water. Having large bowls of porridge an hour or two before setting off. Someone at work advised boiling a load of pasta the night before, portioning it into little bags of 60g and having one every hour. Going to try that on Saturday.

Have you tried adding a bit of honey to the porridge? Pasta whilst you run or generally throughout the day? I certainly wouldn't do it whilst running as you need muscles to digest food and this takes away from using the muscles to run. I doubt it's whilst running but just incase as that does sound insane. I'd think about getting a sports massage in though if I were you, relieve some of the tension in your calves and release the toxins created. If you can't do that, go swimming somewhere that has a jacuzzi, it's not quiet the same effect but it will loosen the muscles up. When you've done your run now too, ice on your calfs and achilles for 10/15 minutes will help aid recivery for your next run. Don't do it for any longer though or you'll get ice burn. Epsom salts in the bath too are good.

There aren't any big hills on the marathon so you don't really need hill training, cancel that bit off your training.

The hill was just on my way home, problem I have is that I live at the top of one and Greenwich is full of the sodding things.

It actually was pasta whilst running, not a good idea then? Need something mid run, maybe I’ll invest in a packet of jelly babies.

Definitely not whilst running, you should stop the carb loading a couple of days before the race as you should be done by then after a heavy week of it. It's all really too heavy on your digestion whilst running and you don't want, you'll get cramp when the stomach muscles can't digest because the energy is needed elsewhere that is working much harder.

I do agree that you sound like you need something whilst running though. How have you got on with gels? have you tried caffeine gum? I know a few that just use jelly babies or haribo, they aren't as good but they do a job for a quick sugar rush. You'll get lots of handouts on course for these, people with bananas and orange segments too. Use them but just don't go dining out on them too much.

I know you're not a fan of carrying bottles but have you thought about a bottle belt and using water with some SIS "GO" in them? It's a powder form rather than gel and is designed to replace electrolytes when the body slows done and help with endurance.