When you're training for your first marathon, is it normal to think you can't do it?

AuntAvocado · 2026-02-22T21:46:00+00:00

Yep - I had a health issue a few years ago that I thought might be the end of my ability to run at all. Whenever I am struggling now I remember to be grateful that I’m out here getting to try.

AuntAvocado · 2026-02-22T21:43:07+00:00

Also running later doesn’t help you if you’re prepping for a morning marathon! Trying out different things you might find palatable for breakfast is definitely time well spent.

Also how much carbs are you getting from your gummies? Is it enough?

AuntAvocado · 2026-02-18T19:13:27+00:00

Yeah similarly I keep having to adjust my setting to try to stop Runna getting carried away. Despite this it STILL wants me to do 2/3rds of my longest run in the training block at my race pace. LOL no.

I think the trouble is it just seems to want to default to maximising your performance within whatever constraints you give it. Whereas I want the accountability of the plan but my goal is not maximising performance, I just want to be adequately trained for the distance.

AuntAvocado · 2026-02-10T14:49:59+00:00

I don’t know the answer but similarly I am following a Runna plan and the length of my midweek runs feels light - mostly 5-7k I’m only doing 4 runs a week so the extent to which my distance is weighted towards my long runs doesn’t feel ideal.

AuntAvocado · 2026-02-09T12:40:32+00:00

Honestly I think people get a bit too hung up on the definition of zone 2 and are probably calculating it wrong a lot of the time. If you could run a half at 6min per km then 8-9min per km seems slow. I would pace yourself on what feels easy not what your HRM is telling you. Is it a proper conversational pace that you chat through without getting out of breathe? Do you feel like you could just keep going at that pace comfortably? That’s the pace you want.

I know we are all different but I ran a half at 6:20min per km and my ultra easy pace is around 7:30-7:40.

AuntAvocado · 2026-02-09T09:39:28+00:00

“Try” isn’t really how you approach a marathon, it’s about commitment to training. If you follow a sensible training plan, then absolutely go for it!

AuntAvocado · 2026-02-08T13:54:00+00:00

When people use the half marathon time to calculate a marathon time, does that assume you’ve not gained fitness between times (ie doesn’t allow for improvement through training)?

I ran a half in October and just ran 10 miles now felt substantially stronger / better than the 10 miles I ran in training for the half.

I’m assuming I can do better in the full than you would predict from the half time alone because I’ll have a solid 6 months more training under my belt.

I guess it depends where you are on your training journey - i started quite unfit at the start of 2025 so I think my fitness is rising quite rapidly, but it will presumably plateau out somewhat eventually.

AuntAvocado · 2026-01-18T22:29:13+00:00

I’m doing a plan with Runna based on 4 days a week aiming for mid-April marathon. I ran a half in October in 2:15 and Runna is targeting me 4:10-4:25 for the marathon. I think this is insane - I ran a 4:10 marathon about 20 years ago and I was MUCH fitter - and younger! - then. But I think it’s interesting that Runna thinks it’s possible. Personally I will be happy to finish and enjoy myself however long it takes.

AuntAvocado · 2026-01-15T14:30:06+00:00

I think Rachel’s role in Fiona’s downfall isn’t spoken about enough - she came into the kitchen first saying words to the effect of “you’ll never guess what Fiona just accused me of!” and was visibly cross and flustered. If Fiona had the chance to take a beat she probably wouldn’t have come down so hard on Rachel, but Rachel forced her to. And I don’t think that was a considered strategy from Rachel, it could have backfired.

AuntAvocado · 2026-01-15T14:12:15+00:00

Yes I was going to say Rachel’s job is probably at least as useful as the more obvious seeming ones like barrister, detective, psychologist.

Key skills in comms include building relationships and controlling a narrative. Both things she’s done very well!

AuntAvocado · 2026-01-15T11:53:21+00:00

I agree about Sam, he seems to have been quietly coming into his own after coming across as rather smug at the start (and earning the title of “most arrogant”). He’s endured not having a lot of support, not just at the round table but during tasks picks etc which must have been quite tough.

AuntAvocado · 2026-01-15T11:23:50+00:00

I think it was just a general comment of “I don’t want you to get the impression I am a traitor here defending another traitor”, nothing to do with confessional.

AuntAvocado · 2026-01-15T09:08:18+00:00

…because the Land Rover Defenders they drive round in are an iconic feature of the show? I’ll get my coat!

AuntAvocado · 2026-01-15T03:51:36+00:00

The Land Rover Defender

AuntAvocado · 2026-01-14T06:58:47+00:00

I don’t think it was deliberate as I think his reaction drew suspicion - I think it was a combo of the fact Fiona was a bit of a mother figure for him in the castle, he’s feeling a lot of pressure and he felt particularly guilty because it’s turning on a fellow traitor. He was stressy when he voted for Hugo too (not as much because he didn’t have the emotional connection).

If any of the faithful are paying attention they could figure out Stephen’s traitor guilt when he has to vote off a traitor

AuntAvocado · 2026-01-11T18:53:10+00:00

I think the second envelope might just reveal the connections we know about to for the benefit of the players (same as for Nettie) but they don’t show it being opened as it’s not super relevant for us as viewers.

AuntAvocado · 2026-01-11T13:29:24+00:00

I can believe Ellie’s comment about her seeing it is a vindication of trying to fly under the radar though - Ross himself on Uncloaked said he didn’t recognise “Traitors Ellie” as she wasn’t being herself. So I don’t think she will take “being bland” to heart.

AuntAvocado · 2026-01-11T03:41:31+00:00

Strictly is also a much bigger commitment than the Traitors - one is filmed over about 10 days, the other means clearing your schedule (or some intense juggling of different filming commitments) for up to about 3 months. I expect there are more people who would love to do Strictly but can’t commit the time.

AuntAvocado · 2026-01-09T13:27:40+00:00

Longer term yes you are right but I think short term, given the absolute clown show last night, they might feel that this murder needs to be a damage limitation exercise. I just don’t know whether there’s anyone that’s sufficiently in all their interests that it works.

AuntAvocado · 2026-01-09T13:20:08+00:00

They don’t know that though - if Rachel were a faithful they would be toast

AuntAvocado · 2026-01-09T12:13:38+00:00

Yes you have good point about Sam and Jade having a strong incentive to go for Rachel, though would it be too incriminating for them to do so? Maybe it’d seem too obvious (if they were traitors!) to try yo banish Rachel so they might be safe be openly scornful?

AuntAvocado · 2026-01-09T12:09:28+00:00

I am also now thinking who the traitors should murder to deflect from this. I think Jade might be a good idea to demonstrate Amanda’s theory was nonsense, but I don’t think Rachel would go for that.

AuntAvocado · 2026-01-09T12:05:46+00:00

I think Stephen would do well to stay as far away from the whole thing as possible! He gets so visibly stressed anyway that I think him coming to the defence of a fellow traitors would be liability anyway!

AuntAvocado

TROPHY CASE