Nice. I though Boston was a once and done thing for me when I did it in 2016. But then I BQed in 2019 (3:04) and because of COVID, couldn’t do it (did the virtual BS race, took me 4hrs to finish and 2 weeks to recover). So i have unfinished business. I also want another jacket (one per child).
My recollections from 2016 are very faint. I remember having fun and high fiveing people when I realized my attempt of a sub 3 was a non starter. Let see if 2024 is the year!!!
Cheers man, I’m going to try hard to stay grounded and not pin all my happiness for the year on one result 
My only running goal this year is getting some speed back so I can join my nephew on his recovery runs. He started high school and his 5k dropped from sub-19 to sub-16 and he’s hoping to break 4:30 in the mile before the school year ends. Oh to be young again. 
I’m still working out my bike race schedule for the summer, but I’ll probably shoot for a sub-20 5k mid-summer. I’ve only done that once since turning 40, so we’ll see. That’ll at least let me keep up with my nephew (though he’ll be recovering while I do near-race pace, lol).
As an aside - I was blown away at the speed and mileage high school runners are hitting today. Maybe it was just the lack of GPS watches/Strava, but I would have sworn a typical week for us was ~30 miles (mid-90s) not the 40-50 my nephew is running today. And it seems like there are a lot more kids in the 4-4:30 mile range than 30 years ago too.
Just dropped in to say that sub 16 / sub 4:30 for a freshman is dang impressive!
As for HS mileage… sounds like you were in my era of the 90s. Low mileage, high intensity was the norm and about ruined American distance running. Of course we ran on dirt tracks and didn’t have carbon plated super shoes but the internet really changed things around 1995+. Those who ran in the 70s ran really big mileage (HSers running 80-100 mile weeks wasn’t out of the norm back then). The good were REALLY good, but a lot probably suffered injury… So when they started coaching it was all low mileage and don’t get hurt. But it didn’t work… information started to be shared (remember tnfmedia?) and people started to hear what Stanford and Arkansas and Adams State were doing. The top performers are all pretty close to what they’ve always been but the depth at the top has definitely increased!
Yeah, we’re definitely all impressed! I was a mediocre runner in HS (rowing was my primary sport back then). And his mom and dad weren’t/aren’t athletic at all. So we’re all a bit amazed.
But, he’s loving it right now. I’m just “bummed” I can beat him in a random 5k any more.
After spending the last two years doing a “running focus,” my plan is to spend more time trying to meet some cycling goals this year.
I’ll still be doing 3 runs a week (2x 30-40min and 1x 60-70min) since I feel better doing more than just one sport and there is a local 12k in May that I love doing each year. This will be my 10th year doing it. Goal is sub-48 minutes (time needed to re-qualify for the fast corral for the following year). I’ll probably do a 5k or 10k a month or so prior to get an idea of where my fitness is at
I was an 800/1600 guy in HS in the late 90’s/early-aughts and I’m not sure I was even hitting 20 miles a week. I think having all the info out there on the internet (ie letsrun, strava, coaching sites) really helps. As an athlete you can see what other fast guys (or coaches) are doing and emulate it. All I hade was a football coach telling me to go out and run and making weird workouts with no structure or plan other than for it to be “hard.” The plethora of really good shoe options help as well.
GF and I decided we needed to start running again. Found out about a local 30/50k in the desert that looked like a good idea, so signed up.
Not the first time I signed up for an ultra with no training. Let’s see how this one goes in a couple weeks.
Famous last words 
Look forward to the race recap!
Said no one ever.
Still working out the details but at a high level; a 3-4 week block of speed work, then 8 week build of high(ish) mileage 70-80 miles per week with an emphasis on threshold and then focus on goal marathon pace for the last few weeks.
I got the registration link today so it’s definitely time to put my head down and get to work.
Hoping to qualify for Boston. Ran a 3:06 which is a 4 minute buffer for my age group. Based on last years qualification, this doesn’t seem like enough. Safe to say I have to run sub 3 to have a shot?
So I was planning on doing a load of research to find my first training plan for the Manchester marathon in April but to be honest I really like the look of the one that is listed on the event webpage 
I have downloaded the “advanced sub 3 hour plan” and I think it would be a good fit for me.
If anyone who actually knows what they’re doing has time to have a look at it and say what they think it would be appreciated 
I’m good at bad decisions. Signed up for my first 50 miler with no training too.
If I had time to train, I probably wouldn’t, so might as well race like I would train.
I looked at it for the 2022 edition and decided to go the “Advanced Marathoning” Pete Pfitzinger plan (55 mile max mileage week plan I think, shortest.) Many people told me if you stick to it you’ll be stronger than many and they were correct.
Having said this, nothing wrong with plan you linked, just for me it was a reduction in load from memory.
First six weeks of the up to 55 mile plan (as an idea.) I would recommend getting the book even if you dont follow the plans.
(Only posted to support my recommendation of the book, it wouldn’t be right to post anymore.)
I followed a hybrid of this and Ironfits Marathons After 40 last year. I was in better shape, not sure if that was just another year of Marathon training in the legs though. However I got Covid for the first time a few week before Manchester so DNS. Had the form to be 15 minutes quicker than 2022 but never got to show it in the 2923 edition. 
Its a quick, easy course.
Thanks 
It doesnt look vastly different from the one I’m planning on following, however, one thing I did notice is that the plan i’m following has no rest weeks other than imediately prior to the event.
Following TR plans for cycing I’m used to 4 week periodisation cycles but the marathon plan I’m following just ramps up the milage peaking 5 weeks before the event and then starts to drop back down…
I’ve run sub 2:50 many times so kind of know what I’m doing - or did my marathon days are over. Looks ok apart from - and this is just my opinion.
1/ The longest long run at 36k or 23 miles is good, but I’d include 2 more around that distance and another 3 at 20+ miles. This plan ramps up the mileage quickly but has only one really long run.
2/ The long runs are way to fast - sub 3 is 6:52 pace - the long run range is 6:43 - 7:07. That’s running MP most of the time…sounds like a recipe for injury. When I ran my pb of 2:47 I was running 6:25 pace - my long runs were at 7:20 -7:30 pace. I did include some runs with 10 miles at MP and some fast finish long runs (plus I ran a 2:03 20 mile race) but not routinely that fast.
3/ The day after a long run should be a rest day not a run and strength day, I would take the day before the long run off as well.
4/ You only need one intensity session/week either hills or intervals - not both.
5/ It is always best to include a midweek longer run as a bridge between your short runs and your long run - maybe 12-14 miles.
Finally mileage is king, queen and jack with marathons - an extra day of mileage will beat an extra interval day when you get to mile 22 of the race.
good luck
Thanks! I really appreciate your input that makes a lot of sense.
I did think that the pacing for the long runs was a bit tasty, and to be honest I was planning on ignoring that a bit in favour of more time on my feet.
I was also planning on doing a lot of my long runs on trails rather than road that kind of makes target pace a little irrelevant.
I’ll see how I get on with the two interval sessions a week - I’m kind of expecting “life” to get in the way of that anyway 
Can you guys save me from doing a running threshold test?
My cycling threshold hr is around 175bpm based off a decade of training and racing, but I’m wondering if my running threshold is a touch higher. Does it sometimes work like that?
Bit of data from this morning:
5 x 5mins @3.47min/km pace off 2min recoveries.
HR crept up to 180bpm by final minute of last 3 reps. Breathing was nice and steady though and I rated the session 7/10rpe. Could have done more reps if necessary but was getting quite tired.
I’ve not had the watch long, so afraid I don’t have much other useful data.
It’s not critical. I’m happy trusting my rpe, I’m just mildly interested.
