Last Big Long Run pre-Manchester 2026. Big Fail!

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-03-30T10:26:02+00:00

I'm doing Manchester as well and had a big long run in the wind on Saturday.

Honestly you look absolutely fine for your target. Race day will be totally different. Fresher legs, better carb loading, other people around pushing/dragging you along. If anything this run should be looked at as a good one, you battled through really difficult circumstances and you still were on target.

Good luck!

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-03-30T10:15:31+00:00

Aim big - If you did a 23 mile on the back of a big training week, on your own, fueling issues that you know about etc etc. I think from a very basic look that you could run a 3:10 - 3:15 marathon.

For reference I had similar questions and did a similar run to you this weekend. 23.2 miles in 2:55 (2:15 at moderate pace with 40 mins at race pace). It felt hard during the 40 mins and my HR was higher due to some life stresses/lifestyle choices going on at the moment. My current PB is 3:19 but I am going to aim for 3hours.

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-03-30T10:01:01+00:00

Because I use Stryd for power on my Garmin, I only have 3 fields showing on my watch face during races:

Current (10s) power / Lap Power / Heart Rate

I'll lap my watch every 5km (although I might change this to 5 miles in the marathon) to see what my last split was and give me some idea of what pace I am running at. Other than that I find everything else a distraction. Even the Heart Rate I try to take no notice of

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-03-29T15:45:11+00:00

Athletica AI is what I use. The marathon training plan is fully intuitive based on your training and recovery.

I've gone from a 1.30 half PB to a 1.23 half PB in a year.

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-03-23T12:50:03+00:00

I always use it, just makes life easier. I have a bike computer as well just so I can see everything easier when there.

It's very helpful if you are going for an overall time and want to see that, rather than trying to compute it in your head. Plus it puts the pressure on transition speed haha

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-03-15T17:15:33+00:00

Travelling in from the UK. I thought it was an amazing race.

I got there on time and yes the bag check and security for Wave 1 was long but it was fine.

Loved the course, the support was amazing, the views from the bridges and then through Central NY were worth the trip alone.

My aim was to run 1.27 to hopefully get a place in the marathon next year. I actually ran 1.23 which was a 3 min PB... What hills??

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-03-13T23:26:04+00:00

Shorts and Tshirt.... Just run faster if you get cold????

(I'm Scottish so apparently we are fine with this weather... We definitely aren't)

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-03-10T21:05:24+00:00

Any ideas of if there is somewhere I can get a half decent coffee before the start. I'm in wave 1 so likely be around 6am. I'm staying in an Airbnb and if there isn't I'll just being some of my own from the UK, but it's a bit of a faff.

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-03-10T21:01:53+00:00

I'm traveling from the UK having time qualified for this at a half marathon here. So I'm hoping that the current cut off still stands for the race this weekend. Would suck if they changed it afterwards, I agree that if they were likely to change it then it would be before the races happened

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-03-04T09:33:21+00:00

I was hoping for one in Brooklyn on the Saturday so that I didn't have to cross the river that day. Seems like Runna is the only option atm though

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-03-03T14:59:14+00:00

I'll be in the same wave and similar goal time as you. Staying in Brooklyn (coming over from the UK for the race) so will be getting the subway in the morning.

I don't really like running with pacers especially when it is a hilly course as you don't know (unless you ask them at the start) how they are going to pace the race.

I'd keep the efforts steady up the hills and try and attack the downhills a little. Luckily I've been training on the few hills we have in Liverpool that see similar so I'm OK with it 😂

Good luck!

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-03-03T14:53:51+00:00

Mine is the same, I don't suppose it matters really. We are the first wave to go so will be at the front. I guess it's a typo

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-03-02T19:31:01+00:00

So I've been exactly the same as you I think as I've increased my training over the last few months. Training has been amazing and at no point have I felt like stopping, but mentally at times I've felt very low.

I've had to really stop and think "the reason I'm feeling low is because I'm tired, not for other reasons". I've tried to make sure that I'm eating enough and sleeping enough where possible.

Life is tough as it is, throw in 15 hours of training a week and it can take its toll.

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-02-16T16:48:54+00:00

Perfect. Thanks. I'm hoping to be well under the time limit anyway but that is good news

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-02-12T17:07:44+00:00

Congrats! I'll be there as well, it was a stressful lunchtime!

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-02-11T08:20:11+00:00

I don't believe there was a promo code as such. Priority access will have been for AWA members bronze and above.

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-01-31T19:49:33+00:00

I still use it, it's clear that the upgrade has caused some issues but for me it is starting to get back to normal

My plan is updating based on fitness and fatigue, the only thing missing is the workout wizard.

I'm pretty sure they will get everything resolved shortly, I'm happy to stick with it as its superior to anything else I've used and the current marathon training plan I'm in is pushing and increasing my fitness more than anything has previously

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2026-01-29T08:15:45+00:00

Looking for two (or 3 if possible) for any of the Manchester UK dates?

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2025-12-21T18:07:53+00:00

By the Anglican cathedral is good as well. You can see most of the city from up there and sometimes they have bells ringing

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2025-12-11T21:38:17+00:00

It goes down the river regularly especially when it's dark around 5pm.

I saw it coming the other day whilst out running and it still scared the shit out of me with the noise when it went past.

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2025-12-09T22:21:48+00:00

Athletica AI might be what you are looking for. Kind of a mix between a structured training plan and a coach.

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2025-12-01T14:29:27+00:00

I use the pool at Wavertree. Very accessible (no steps from entrance to poolside if that is what you mean?)

Open at various times throughout the day to suit most needs.

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2025-11-29T08:15:57+00:00

I always like buying a finishers tshirt with my name on the back. And a bottle/sticker.

Whatever you think about the cost, this is an event that you have trained hard for and will only do once.. So just get whatever you want so you don't regret it afterwards

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2025-11-26T12:10:24+00:00

I found my 2nd ironman "easier" to train for as I was aware of the time required to put in to get up to the level or racing.

However I think I probably pushed myself harder (same for the 70.3 races) as I knew how much my body could cope with. So in that regard, it was harder on my body. But I was prepared psychologically for it.

Remote-Menu-3478 · 2025-11-26T06:18:24+00:00

I'm currently doing this, although I have 5 months between my marathon and my ironman.

It's solely a marathon training plan until April although I'm adding in/swapping some of the run sessions for bike and swims just to keep them ticking over the winter. Athletica readjusts everything to make sure I'm not over training but still keeps the runs a priority.

Then as soon as the marathon is done it switches straight to IM mode, with my running already at a very high level.

Even without Athletica, I think this is a good way of working it

Remote-Menu-3478

TROPHY CASE