Marathon Training

In preparation for the Melbourne Marathon, Allan and I did a long run yesterday - 25km around the extended west basin and central basin of Lake Burley Griffin.  A brilliant sunny morning.  We wanted to see how we would go for a distance longer than a half marathon - how we would go stopping to refuel and then getting started again walking fast for a kilometre or so and then running having just eaten.  We also wanted to see how long the sun screen would last, how long the glide would last and what aches and pains and chafing we would get.  We each wore a fuel belt with a water bottle, gatorade bottle and gu.  I felt fine until the 17km - I had drunk my water and gatorade and had a gu but was feeling a little low on energy.  And my shoulders were feeling a bit sore - Allan got me to walk a bit while I loosened and stretched my shoulders and neck and this really helped.  We stopped at the 19th km for our refuel of peanut butter sandwich and we topped up our water and gatorade. Ahh - energy and sustenance boost - and we got back into the rhythm to finish the 25km. At the end, I felt a bit weary but quite good - quads a little sore but not too bad. I know that our first attempt at a marathon will be part running and part walking - and for us it is not about the time, but how to structure the day around blocks of running, walking and refuelling, listening to our bodies and not getting injured. We have both come so far that getting to the starting line in a marathon is an achievement in itself - all the rest is upside! Just a few weeks to go now...