In reply to ramraider and all:
> ... good luck and let us know how you do
After so much helpful advice from so many I had better 'fess up to the evolution of my plans. Several things have happened:
1. I did the Reading Half, 11 minutes faster than last year - 2hrs 9 - training works! But I was Sooooooo knackered, almost as tired as you feel after childbirth.
2. Since then I've done a couple more 13 mile runs, at a gentler pace, and felt very good afterwards.
3. My running friend decided, very wisely due to injury, that she wasn't doing the marathon we'd planned.
4. Another friend is helping me with some weight training, and it has turned into a bit of a project and is actually making a difference to my climbing.
So my plans have shifted a bit. This summer's objectives:
- stay "half-marathon ready" and do a few longer runs too, build up speed on shroter runs and do the Oxford Half in October in 2 hours.
- get stronger (anyone who has seen me struggling with an overhang will understand this)
I would still like to run a marathon, but do not feel to be in a rush to do so and would like to have built up enough distance running to not feel totally wiped out by it as I did after the Reading Half. Will come back to that, probably when a particular race takes my fancy.
Thank you all!
Lxx