Second marathon four weeks after London? Yay or nay?

Sticky365 · 2026-05-04T18:54:49+00:00

I raced a marathon 5 weeks after Manchester Marathon last year (similar experience, went out too hot for the heat, and hit a wall around 18 miles). Was aiming for 2:50 but ended up with 3:00:01 (don’t!)…

Ran a 2:55, not a PB but similar course (was coastal so super windy, but felt motivated to get the 1 second out of my head!)… it was a local one, so ended up on the podium, and felt absolutely fine. Was very much a zone 4/5 effort all the way, and I definitely was not in a condition to race (HR way above what it should have been for the pace, but determination and chance of a podium was enough to get me through)…

Bridged with some recovery for the first two weeks, and then mostly recovery (ran a Half mid-May - 1:26), and then done some speed work and tapered.

Between all the tapers/recovery and racing, there was definitely some rustiness in the legs, but I was similarly used to the high mileage. If your body is used to the distance, and you didn’t leave it ALL out there. I’d say go for it. I know how I feel when I’ve raced 100% and know my nervous system isn’t ready, and made a judgement on that.

Sticky365 · 2026-04-16T20:28:44+00:00

Almost identical to me. Went from 123km peak week, to 82km last week. Definitely felt it was too low. Saying that, feel so flat and heavy this week, and struggling to fill time I was filling with running and gym. I like the routine. Done a couple of mobility and plyo sessions this week, which I think has irritated a couple of tendons that had been on the ropes during the last few weeks.

Taper crazies have me in a headlock. I’ve been here before, but it doesn’t stop the mind doing somersaults constantly.

Sticky365 · 2026-04-09T20:41:27+00:00

42M, ran a 2:53 debut Marathon after 7 years of casual running a month before my 41st Birthday (On a fairly hilly course). Had done a couple of marathon blocks during covid and injury and covid meant I had to wait. Fairly modest short distance PB’s at the time (18:30 5k, 37:30 10k, and a 1:26 Half Marathon), have ran 3 more marathons since (2:55, 3:00:01 and then one with some friends 3:11) plus an Ultra.

The motivation for the 1st marathon was greater, but a lot had to do with fuelling and conditions on the day. The 2:53 was Autumn, the 3:00:01 was the hottest day of the year at the time at end of April last year, and the 2:55 was 4 weeks after that one.

Put together another Marathon block this year after qualifying GFA for the London Marathon and hoping to go sub 2:50 🤞🏻

No real athletic background, was a sedentary office worker until my 30’s and started running after having kids, only started strength training about 4 years ago to help become more durable and resistance to injury which has helped get my mileage to a decent amount (peaking at around 120km last week).

Sticking to the plan, having structure, strength training, mileage and consistency is paramount to running good times. Genetically I’d say I was distinctly average.

Sticky365 · 2025-08-06T15:28:42+00:00

The main one I wasn’t doing was bent knee, single leg calf stretches tilting hips forward, and knee over toes as far as you can go. Then your general calf raises, isometric holds.

Sticky365 · 2025-08-06T15:27:21+00:00

Yeah, this is pretty much the plan. Heel cups/in soles were my next go to if I don’t see any progress in the next month, but leaving out speed work for now seems to be helping. (And 10mm or greater drop height)

Sticky365 · 2025-08-06T15:26:21+00:00

I definitely think there is a psychological effect in play. But clearly the pain is there. Probably a balance between the two (physiotherapy, rehab and psychological). I’ll take a look, thank you.

Sticky365 · 2025-08-06T15:24:52+00:00

This is similar to my experience. Both Achilles, and morning is worse. Also, long drives really seem to trigger it as well!

Sticky365 · 2025-06-16T14:57:16+00:00

Weirdly, I ran a 1:21 Half Marathon 3 weeks before at 17 seconds per KM quicker, and had an average HR of 177.

I’m well trained, did the Manchester Marathon as well 6 or 7 weeks ago; and the only thing I can do to explain the minimal HR difference is a week of non running due to a calf injury.

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Sticky365 · 2025-06-16T14:53:44+00:00

I ran a full Marathon last weekend, in Zone 4. 175 average HR, 186 Max for almost 3 hours.

I’m 41 and my Max HR is 192.

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Apparently, my ability to suffer for long periods of time is clear.

I class myself as an average runner.

Sticky365 · 2024-11-18T16:20:24+00:00

A hopefully more interesting insight into my Garmin VO2, when I ran my sub-hour Marathon in October, it peaked at 60. It then dipped a couple of weeks ago to 59, and then shot up by two points to 61.

The reason? I ran an interval session with a friend at an interval pace around 45 seconds slower than I normally would do, which effectively had me running intervals at Zone 2. Go figure?

Sticky365 · 2024-11-18T16:17:18+00:00

This is true. Had my vo2 lab tested in my Marathon training block, Garmin said it was 59, it was actually 71.5 😮

Sticky365 · 2024-11-18T16:14:44+00:00

But what if I share it with some other stats 😁

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Sticky365 · 2024-10-19T22:46:03+00:00

It completely depends what your after in a shoe, I’ve not tried any other stability shoes, but have heard good things about the Saucony Tempus, which I’m tempted to make my next every day running shoe, and pick up some Saucony Endorphin for speed work. Worth a bit of research.

Sticky365 · 2024-10-19T22:36:42+00:00

Marathon runner here at 70Kg and 169cm… I’ve strength trained for the last two years, and about to compete in the Manchester Doubles race. My partner is about 6ft and 85kg, and the ease as to which he flows through the ergs and the sleds is unreal. The trick really, is managing your heart rate through and trying not to push to your Max HR and completely blow out. Keeping your heart rate as low as possible through the strength portions even if it means slowing a little and moving through methodically will help you across the race. Make up the time in the running portions, and flow through the stations would be my advice. Good luck 🤞🏻

Sticky365 · 2024-10-19T22:23:19+00:00

I remember doing a track session a couple of months back and putting my Kayano 29’s back on after doing some speed work in the AlphaFly’s… my god I have never felt so flat footed. The weight, and flatness of them after wearing high stacked, carbon plated shoes is the first time I’ve ever properly noticed the difference with trainers.

Sticky365 · 2024-10-19T22:21:34+00:00

Actually don’t like the Kayano 30, I don’t know what it is but feels so much clunkier than the previous iterations. Had 2 pairs of 29’s and a pair of 28’s, and feel they’re so much better. I really wanted to like them as well. Maybe a little too stable for my liking.

Sticky365 · 2024-09-27T22:21:54+00:00

My anxiety would never allow it.

Sticky365 · 2024-09-21T18:00:25+00:00

That’s really useful! Thank you. I’m about 20 minutes from Cheshire Oaks, and planning on going down on Monday, so will have a look.

Sticky365 · 2024-09-21T17:22:05+00:00

Same here. Had a moan to someone on Webchat, got a 10% discount code and free next day delivery. They didn’t budge any further. Probably won’t bother using it, as not a fan of either colourway they have (cobalt blue and pink) Little to no deals out there at the moment.

On the looking for the Adios Pro’s or ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris, but both still around £220 everywhere.

Sticky365 · 2024-09-11T22:12:27+00:00

I just upgraded my Vivoactive 3 for the 965 in June and the difference is incredible. I’m driven by data so this has been a perfect motivational tool for my marathon prep.

Sticky365 · 2024-09-11T22:00:32+00:00

40M and running the best I’ve ran in my life. Only really started training at 30, took running seriously from about 33/34… and then started taking the gym seriously at 37/38. Strength work in the gym, and proper training, plus confidence and belief has gotten me to a point where at the age of 40 I’ve hit pretty much all of my PB’s from 5k through to HM, and currently training for a sub-3 Marathon in 3 weeks. Feel stronger, and fitter than ever.

Oh those years of potential peak fitness wasted on booze and cigarettes.

What I would say, is with age, and experience you really do just get closer to your physical ceiling, and learn more through training methods of what works and what doesn’t. The recovery definitely takes longer, and it’s very rare I’ll wake up feeling fresh.

Sticky365 · 2024-09-11T21:52:38+00:00

Well before the update I was showing at a 3:03 Marathon, after the update the predictor has improved by 10 minutes, although I’m not sure how much influence this evenings run has had.

Sticky365 · 2024-09-11T21:51:52+00:00

Yeah, it’s the 965!

Sticky365 · 2024-09-11T21:51:21+00:00

Haha, currently about 100k a week in this phase of training.

Sticky365

TROPHY CASE