SteveMac

This is on my list of to do events, but not sure if I can do it next year....will make a note to do it for 2019 if not as I know the 10k course is flat and fast.

Congrats @Paddywhack You will definately go much faster next time. Hope the injury clears up @andyjsg Birmingham marathon done in just under 3:19 for my second fastest time. Was going well until about 19 miles, then fell apart. 10k splits of 44:26/43:59/44:20/53:16. Got through 30k at PB pace, but couldn't hold on. Kind of knew I wasn't in shape for a PB after the ultra, but wanted to give it a go, to see if I could sneak a PB or a GFA time. Route wasn't the best with the 2 laps and was hillier than I thought it would be. However road marathon number 5 done. No spring marathon for me next year, going to focus on getting my HM time down, then have an ultra in May and will target an autumn marathon (not sure which one yet) for a PB attempt.

Thanks. It was SVP (Stour Valley Path), really nice route. Good luck with the ultra, which one are you doing? "Only" 33 miles said like only an ultra runner can Marathon training will get you through 33 miles imo. However if you can train on the terrain you'll encounter on the route that is much better. Also get used to taking on fuel during your runs and maybe taking walking breaks, which I then use to fuel, but finding out what works for you in regards to fuel is key. I like back to back long runs, so maybe 20m Saturday and 10m Sunday, but it's not necessary and people complete ultras without doing that, but I know it works for me. The key is to find what is right for you so you reach the start line fit and healthy and ready to run. No point doing back to back long runs if you get injured. Also just learn to slow down....it's all about the finish rather than pace in an ultra.

Ha ha, yeah I do have a car....should have just used that!!

100k (well 63 miles) done and dusted in 12 hours 22 minutes. Had low points around 28 miles and 47 miles where things got tough and I did think I might have to pull out at the next checkpoint at 33 miles when I hit 28 miles. But kept going and got tot he finish eventually. Was on for a sub 12 hour finish for part of the race, but slowed down too much in the second half. Now to recover and try to be ready for Birmingham marathon, although not sure what time I'll target there yet!

I wouldn't cope with the heat!!

100k is still at the shorter end of ultras, plenty of longer ones around!! Just like @darrenm said, lots of VERY easy distance running, spending lots of time on feet and getting used to running on tired legs (back to back long runs) have worked for me. Also it's all in the head, there is nothing stopping you from carrying on after marathon distance, as that is just an arbitrary distance.The key though is fuelling, get that wrong and you'll have a very long day! However I quite like the ultras as there is no time pressure (unless you are at the front of the field trying to win!) unlike a road marathon where I am chasing a PB and looking at mile splits etc. I just know I need to keep going from checkpoint to checkpoint until I finish.

Did my 50k this weekend.....52 minute PB...BOOM! 5:06:09, thought a sub 5 was on the cards at one point, but was over the moon with that as was hoping for a sub 5:45!! Was a nice confidence boost ahead of the 100k!! One last big mileage week and then I get to taper.

Even if you walk the last 10 miles, you'll still finish. Think positively. There is still plenty of time to build the mileage up though.

Haven't posted for a while, but still been running (obvs!!). Did Endure 24 as part of a team of 4 in June, used it as a training run and did 5 laps (25 miles) on Saturday afternoon in the heat and another 3 laps (15 miles) on Sunday in the dark and rain!! A great event though, would defo recommend. I ran Basignstoke Parkrun a few weeks back, it was boiling even at 9am. Set off at PB pace, but heat made it tough, so backed off and planned to use it as a tough training run but somehow managed to equal my PB, if I would have known I'd have pushed a bit harder to knock a few seconds off!! Running a 50k ultra this weekend as a training run, but hoping to beat last years time. I actually need to do the Birmingham Black Country Half one year too, it sounds like a good race! I still can't believe how quickly the Birmingham marathon is coming around!!!

It's the same for everyone! I remember thinking I'd never run sub 1:30 for a half as that was just too fast, but yeah you just improve and get faster.

That's a great improvement over a year!! I actually said that I wouldn't race another one for a PB after I finished...but that 3:05 GFA carrot seems agonisingly close now!!

Thinking of going to Portugal for a week....any tips of where to stay, would like to see Lisbon obviously, but would you do that for a whole week?

Been missing from here, but thanks all Yes, I had a great race, put Berlin behind me (after crashing at 20 miles) and came in at 3:10:15, went through half way in 1:34:xx, so slowed in the second half (after 22 miles), a bit gutted I missed a 3:09 time by 16 seconds, but gives me something to aim for next time!! Sorry to hear @darrenm missed it due to injury, get yourself injury free! Superb running from @PauloBarnesi awesome PB and well run race! How is everyone else feeling? VLM in a couple of weeks!

So Warwick HM for me this Sunday which was my first "race" of the year and a good indication of where I am and how my training has gone so far. Crossed the line and stopped my watch on 1:24:58 and was exhausted but over the moon that I had done a sub 1:25 HM!! BOOM!! Looked on results later to find an official time of 1:24:52 (PB of 1:50) and also 26th out of 1,720 runners! A good day out and a very happy runner! Bring on Manchester in April!! I'll be looking for sub 3:15, I know (as discussed on Strava) that this HM points to a faster marathon time, but after running 1:26:46 at Kenilworth I went out at 3:10 pace in Berlin and blew up at 20 miles and finished in 3:25 plus I definately enjoy racing the HM distance more than the marathon.