andyjsg

I used to live near Elephant and Castle and there is a massive building in the centre, anyway I remember leaning up against that on a 1k run coughing my lungs up then carrying on, only took a few weeks for that to get much easier.

Totally agree with this, I started at 34 after being a 20 a day smoker, trained for a few months and dragged myself round a 10K in 55 mins, didnt think I could get much faster and mixed it up with cycling and as I got fitter from both, times started to come down. Year on year consistent training has done it, sadly I get injured a lot but can usually drop in a couple of good performances a year, managed a 1:15:30 half last year, ran 2:57 this year despite jogging (and stopping for over 5 mins combined) the last 10 miles. Have a PB of 2:45 but think if I can finally turn up to one of these races fit I might break 2:40. At the height of marathon training Im doing 10 hours a week, 3 in one run and maybe 1.5-2 in another and the rest made up of mileage here and there and a lot of it at easy pace with a couple of hard sessions a week (or races, not both). I've just been out on a 13 miler to test my injury, seems okay actually but man have I lost fitness in the last month or so, London at the weekend is gonna be tough even if I shut it down as I just dont have the conditioning. Also starting in a pen (I'm on the front of the blue wave so actually first time I've run out that way, I'm usually on red which has a different route for first 5k) where everyone is planning to run an hour faster than you is kinda embarrassing, I reckon Im gonna have a couple of thousand people pass me.

I’m looking at Yorkshire after I came off the rails at Tokyo. I have London next week which hopefully if my body is okay (basically been broke since Tokyo) should be a nice day out and I might stop for a beer halfway round.

Max has been my fav UFC fighter for years, willing to risk everything for the win. I found myself screaming at the tv at the end there.

Marathon Majors Completed Actual race was a little bit of a mare, been struggling with a hamstring issue for last few weeks and have had days off and just doing light running during my taper. Anyway decided to ignore that and go out with a bang, which involve a 1:20:42 first half, followed by a 1:35:50 managed jog/stop stretch to pull a sub 3 out of my arse. Still finished with a smile, other than the discomfort I actually enjoyed and took in the last few miles and most importantly I got the 6 star medal I’ve been desperate for. Totally worth it, what a journey and now a couple of days in Kyoto before I go back to the wife and kids (who I miss very much - but you know )

They are all amazing, I particularly liked Boston. This is no6/final one

Had to queue for an hour but just about to pickup my bib for Tokyo Marathon - been waiting/looking forward to this one for about 5 years….

I have a 3 year old but yeah the wife has to take the hit for me training sort of 8-9 hours a week. For marathon training plan I would highly recommend something around this: Advanced Marathoning https://amzn.eu/d/c2RGFIX - we run an 18 week adapted version of this for the spring marathon runners in our club (getting 30+ turning up to sessions currently). But yes need the fast stuff, staring with LTP sessions and then onto reps (which is where I am at the moment - got 6x1k Thursday night, supposed to be 5k pace but I always attempt to smash them).

Does me saying Im 45 make this better or worse? BUT, I have a friend who didn't think he would ever crack 4 hours looking at attempting sub 3 at Tokyo. Its amazing how quickly the perspective shifts once running 5+ times a week - joining a club (preferably ones with serious runners) makes a huge difference. a few years ago I was aiming for < 1:45 half, ran just over 1:19 yesterday and it was a terrible race for me (had some sort of stomach bug all week).

Technology has always been developed though. I have carbon shoes but my 2:45 Marathon PB was in New Balance racing flats, is it illegitimate because I didn't run in sandals like they did 2000 years ago? On more of an actual racing note, I have Tokyo in just less than 6 weeks, not quite where I should be fitness-wise (although hope to PB) but will be collecting my Abbot 6 star medal which has been an 8 year project... I have and had running pals who have done Newport, described as not the prettiest (Industrial Estates - which was I how I described Manchester Marathon) but fast and flat - good luck!!

Yellow carded for trying to defuse a fight, ref can do one!!

How did no Brentford players get a yellow card in that match up. The guy he grabbed smashed straight into Martinez?

Yeah bit disappointed really as cost us Kamara (who obvs did himself no favours) for a few games

Wasnt there a link to an academy in Senegal too or did I imagine that?

Kipchoge has been saying for a while that this guy was gonna be the guy to beat him. I’m interested to see what he could do in Berlin as I personally think it’s a faster course (I ran faster in Chicago than Berlin but nothing to do with the course).