#vmlm2016

[wandergoate]

#proudmoment #MeningitisNow #HardWorkPaysOff #Vmlm2016 Thanks to everyone for their support! #LonDONE

[bv1987]

London - Done

One down this year, and a minimum of one marathon to go.

On Sunday I completed my fourth London Marathon, on what turned out to be an ideal day weather-wise for running... So much so that the overall winner, Eliud Kipchoge was within spitting distance of setting the world record with a fantastic run.

I ambled to the start in plenty of time on a chilly, damp morning in East London, and was surprised by how calm I was. I felt like I could have had a nap - not through tiredness, but through serenity - even up to entering the start pens on the Blue start.

It only took me 11 minutes to cross the start line, which considering I was in start pen 8, was pretty good. I would have been quicker over the line, but I couldn't see the point in running before actually reaching the start line!

Pacing was good throughout, up until the point where I mentally switched off around the 20-mile mark and started walking. I am yet to work out why I did this. Yes I was a little sore (my right hip is giving me a bit of nuisance) but I wasn't completely out of it. I was on to finish around the 4h25m mark, against a target time of 4h22m so I was really on it, and I was happy to see that my prolonged absence from beating the pavement hadn't had an impact on my fitness.

Once I'd stopped running and switched to walking however I was stuck in the all too familiar position of trying to get going again. The last six miles became a real battle, but once I made the right turn at Big Ben, I vowed to run the remaining mile or so, and did - at a fair pace!

Finishing in 4h46m34s puts my personal best nearly 25 minutes further up the chart. I'm happy - though not ecstatic (I could have gone faster - I had no need to stop!!). I am confident however, that provided my body (particularly my hip) recovers well, that the Edinburgh marathon on 29th May will yield a quicker time again - partly as it's a less busy route meaning a smaller distance run (London clocked in at 26.54miles - which isn't too bad considering how busy it is), and partly because I know I can go faster than I did in London.

Pictures will follow, but I loved this year's race. I was amazed how far I could go, and I now firmly believe that I can aerobically run the entire thing at 10-minute miles. Now I just have to do it!

[wandergoate]

Just in case any of my lovely followers would like to track me via the #VMLM2016 app (Apple only) or via the official website, my race number is 42182. Would also love some more donations to help me raise as much as possible to help families who are battling meningitis. Visit via http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/andrew-goate 100% of every donation goes to @meningitis_now and will also be matched by #QBEFoundation - you can make your donation go even further by adding gift aid if you pay income tax! Thanks for all the love and support across the last year - it's come down to this! #GoateDoesVMLM2016 #marathon #marathontraining #running #goals #fitness #slimmingworld #slimmingworlduk #slimmingworldmen #slimmingworldhelp #slimmingworldmafia #slimmingworldfamily #slimmingworldtreats #slimmingworldfriends #slimmingworldcommunity #slimmingworldfollowers #swuk #swmen #swarmy #swinsta #swfamily #swfriends #swcommunity #swfollowers #slimmingworldrecipes #slimmingworldmeals #swmeals #swrecipes

[bv1987]

Expo Day

So today is Expo day for me, and my chance to pick up my running number at the ExCeL centre in East London!

It's also my chance to get a bit of a rubdown in anticipation of what I'm about to complete. The guys at the Expo in the Massage Area are akin to gods to the runners. A little loosener of a massage rather than a deep sports massage which would leave us all unable to move. The guys and girls are all trained physios, and funnily enough know that we're about to run a marathon, so they know just what to do, and the advice they give is invaluable. #magichands

On top of that there looks like a fantastic programme on the main stage. I'm going to try and catch the Experts show this afternoon to listen to a little bit about pacing. It's probably the one part of my running that I'm focusing on most this year, as I look to achieve improvements in my time. I was quite successful in my training of sticking to 10 minute miles, so I'm going to go out at 10's on Sunday and see what happens! I think provided I have no issues, I should get to about the 22mile mark without any problems on pace...it's the last four miles or so that will be an interesting time!

[wandergoate]

Well, that's one way to spend a Sunday! More #marathontraining with an 18 miler under my belt now. Considering this is training for my first marathon, every long run has ended up being 'the furthest run'. This is all in support of @meningitis_now who do amazing work in supporting those suffering from this debilitating disease as well as their families. Please consider donating what you can to my @vmgiving page and helping me to raise as much as we can so that #MeningitisNow can continue with their important work of saving lives and rebuilding futures. To read more about why I am fundraising for this charity, and to add your donation, please visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/andrew-goate I am grateful for every single donation that comes to my page. It will be doubled by my employers via the #QBEFoundation and will go on to help so many people. #pleasedonate #virginmoneygiving #vmlm2016 #running #training #Fundraising #colchesterrunning #runkeeper #fitness #Goals #slimmingworld #slimmingworlduk #slimmingworldmen #slimmingworldhelp #slimmingworldmafia #slimmingworldfamily #slimmingworldtreats #slimmingworldfriends #slimmingworldcommunity #slimmingworldfollowers #swuk #swmen #swarmy #swinsta #swfamily #swfriends #swcommunity #swfollowers #slimmingworldrecipes #slimmingworldmeals #swmeals #swrecipes