Druid Challenge - Munky's First Marathon

[andygates]

After falling on my head, I've signed up to race the Druid Challenge.  Not all of it - it's an 85 mile ultramarathon - but the last day, along the Ridgeway from Wantage to Avebury.  Near as dammit a marathon.  In seven weeks' time. 

I think "WTF" covers everything.

So, training plan.   I love me some plans.  Looking around, all marathon plans have a taper between 2 and 3 weeks, and most don't go up to race distance for noobs like me.  Runners World's Basic Marathon Plan peaks at 16-18 miles; the alternative FIRST Plan peaks at 20 miles and tapers longer.  The rest of the week is variously structured, so the traditional "long run at the weekend, couple of short runs in the week" rough outline ought to do.  Build up the distance to a peak leaving 2 weeks to taper down. 

Now, where the hell can I find long offroad tracks to train on? 

Comments

[skean.livejournal.com]

WTF? I thought it was a *bike* marathon? I thought you were into lifting not running for the winter?

[andygates.livejournal.com]

C'mon, twenty five miles on a bike barely warrants a mention!

I quite like gloomy gloaming runs, Autumn is hiking season, and the tension between lifting and running might help keep off the "lift eat get huge" peril.

[despaer.livejournal.com]

What Skean said. Your reply does make sense though. Enjoy it, and take a load of gels or similar on the day

[andygates.livejournal.com]

I'll probably make a vile broth in a camelbak, since I'll have to carry a small rucksack of survival toys anyway.

[ladyjulian.livejournal.com]

*reads website*

That looks gloriously mental. Chapeau, and a bucket of zam-buk.

[arabis.livejournal.com]

I think "WTF" covers everything

I think you're probably right!

[fialta.livejournal.com]

Long off-road tracks - New Forest!!!

[skean.livejournal.com]

Just reflecting on it a bit. I've never done more than 33km for a training run for a marathon, and I thought that was too far. I think time on your feet is more important than distance, particularly for an off roader like yours.

Also, what's your bonking strategy (fnar, fnar)? Can you get through a bonk and carry on running, or does bonk mean walking from then on in? It looks like Druid has walkers as well, so can you do a run/walk strategy? (that ultra marathon article had some points on that - plan walks in the whole thing, so it doesn't feel like "giving up" when you start to walk).

Can you get some support crew at any stage? Someone to take you to the start and pick your carcass up at the end? Help keep the nerve demons at bay.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

>I've never done more than 33km for a training run for a marathon, and I thought that was too far. I think time on your feet is more important than distance, particularly for an off roader like yours.

Goodoh :)

>what's your bonking strategy (fnar, fnar)?

I don't know yet: I've never bonked on a run. One of the reasons I never went for a marathon was because bonking is so horrid on the bike that I didn't want to court it on a run!

My usual bonkage runs: go slow and stare at feet. Get angry with universe. Realise I've bonked when I'm getting cross at rocks and sheep and such silly things. Put off having a load of sugar. Get crosser. Get cross at sugar. Stop, eat all the sugar in the world, and lurch along muttering.

I'm thinking that a camelbak filled with gel might just be enough...

>It looks like Druid has walkers as well, so can you do a run/walk strategy? (that ultra marathon article had some points on that - plan walks in the whole thing, so it doesn't feel like "giving up" when you start to walk).

I'm certainly not going to blow myself up scaling the first big incline in hip-deep mud. Walking the tough bits is a definite part of the plan here. :)

>Can you get some support crew at any stage? Someone to take you to the start and pick your carcass up at the end? Help keep the nerve demons at bay.

Working on that. Anne's said she'll buy me a pint at the Red Lion...