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.

Just the usual, music/podcasts, social media, photos, e-mail etc. I like the OnePlus 3T, but not decided fully yet as it seems large coming from a Nexus 4, which is slowly dying (very laggy now and no longer supported). Will however be buying the phone, rather than getting on contract.

Sorry think I got mixed up....I think earlier OnePlus models did though! Doh..... So still the one to go for??

With the news about CyanogenMod is the One Plus 3T still a good buy? Also considering a Samsung Galaxy S7, but obviously that's more expensive to buy outright. Any other phones I should be looking at?

Also training for Manchester marathon, aiming to peak at about 55 miles as my biggest training week compared to about 45 for Brighton last year. Impressive training mileage from @villakramand @andyjsg Recovery week last week, so lower mileage. First 50 mile week of the plan this week. Will also be doing a 100k (62 mile) ultra in August, which will be another 16 miles on top of last years ultra distance!!

I ran Berlin marathon the weekend, it's a great event, very well organised and has a great atmosphere. After GNR I decided to target a 3:10-3:15 time (rather than the 3:20 I was hoping for at the start of the year). Went through half way in 1:36 and maintained pretty even 5k splits until 20 miles which I passed in 2:27 (I knew 2:25 was good for 3:10, so was happy). However then the wheels fell off badly and I ran the worst 10k I've ever run in a race, took 58 minutes and finished in 3:25, 2 minutes slower than my PB. I was gutted on the day, but realise it happens to us all at some point. After all they do say the marathon starts at 20 miles! I'll be back to race another marathon next year as still confident I can get a sub 3:15.

Parkrun - you can easily do this on a empty stomach. I'll do all my training runs before breakfast, but I'm used to it now, but I know it doesn't work for everyone. Marathon - Missing the last LSR is not ideal, but if it means you make it to the start line fit and healthy then it doesn't matter too much. So long as you are prepared for the mental battle you'll finish.

It's been a while since I posted, so here goes! August was the big ultra I had been training for and I ran 46 miles around the coast of Jersey in 9 hours 23 minutes. I loved most of it, expect just before 40 miles when I had bad cramp in both of my legs :-( It was very hot, but I finished and was happy to do so under my 10 hour target. Last weekend I ran at the Kenilworth HM, was hoping for a PB (1:29 at Stafford earlier this year), but wasn't sure what sort of shape I was in speed wise after the long distance runs I'd done this year. However it went VERY well and I came in under 1:27 for a 2 minute 40 second PB!! Which sets me up very nicely for a PB in Berlin. This weekend I ran the Great North Run, was planning to run at marathon pace and get around in 1:37ish. But went too fast and finished just under 1:35 but it did feel easy apart from the heat!

Have you looked at companies such as explore, exodus and intrepid, they all cater for solos travellers and have holidays in many destinations.

Thanks, if you can do an ironman, you'll defo be able to complete an ultra. Epic ironman result, no idea how you can run a 3:36 marathon at the end of the swimming and cycling!!

Finally watched season 2 of The Tunnel which was good, not sure if it was better than the first though. Currently watching season 2 of Gomorrah which is very good, got 3 episodes left. Also started watching Limitless (2 espisodes in).