This is the kit I wore to run the Edinburgh Marathon in 2011, so I thought it would be appropriate to use it again here. This time I will a fourth if not a fifth Gu packet. I only had three in Edinburgh and by the last 4-5 miles I was relying on the kindness of strangers holding out gummibears and any other sugary items to keep myself going.

Top tip: I used safety pins to fasten the Gu packets to the waistband of my running shorts. Provides easy access and you don’t have to worry about any wonky reach-around action to ill-placed zippers and the like.

Comparing the Edinburgh and Hamburg, I have to say I am very much looking forward to Hamburg’s flat course without all the ups and downs from Edinburgh. Also, I suspect that the atmosphere will be better in Hamburg, given the course cuts through the heart of the city and you aren’t lost somewhere in the outskirts of Scotland!

Edinburgh Marathon 2011
Edinburgh Marathon. Those little dips & climbs in the latter part of the race? PAIN. Source: my Garmin data.
Hamburg Marathon. Looking less painful already. Source: Official site.

On to my training plan.

I’ve managed to build up a strong base in terms of mileage in January, so I’m not too worried about fitting in a Marathon training plan in just 11 weeks. I’ve moved around some of the longer runs to match the Strava challenge timings, otherwise the plan is as calculated by the Runners World Smartcoach feature. Nifty little tool.

Week Date Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Total
1 4/2
10/2		 Rest
/XT		 Easy Run
Dist: 3mi
@9:17		 Rest
/XT		 Tempo Run
Dist: 5mi, inc
Warm; 3mi@7:47; Cool		 Rest
/XT		 Rest
/XT		 Long Run
Dist: 13mi
@9:17		 19 mi
2 11/2
17/2		 Rest
/XT		 Easy Run
Dist: 4mi
@9:17		 Rest
/XT		 Speedwork
Dist: 5mi, inc
Warm; 2×1600@7:21
w/800 jogs; Cool		 Rest
/XT		 Rest
/XT		 Long Run
Dist: 9mi
@9:17		 18 mi
3 18/2
24/2		 Rest
/XT		 Easy Run
Dist: 4mi
@9:17		 Rest
/XT		 Tempo Run
Dist: 5mi, inc
Warm; 3mi@7:47; Cool		 Rest
/XT		 Rest
/XT		 Long Run
Dist: 10mi
@9:17		 19 mi
4 25/2
3/3		 Rest
/XT		 Easy Run
Dist: 3mi
@9:17		 Rest
/XT		 Tempo Run
Dist: 6mi, inc
Warm; 4mi@7:52; Cool		 Rest
/XT		 Rest
/XT		 Long Run
Dist: 20mi
@9:17		 29 mi
5 4/3
10/3		 Rest
/XT		 Easy Run
Dist: 6mi
@9:12		 Rest
/XT		 Easy Run
Dist: 5mi
@9:12		 Rest
/XT		 Rest
/XT		 Easy Run
Dist: 6mi
@9:12		 17 mi
6 11/3
17/3		 Rest
/XT		 Easy Run
Dist: 2mi
@9:12		 Rest
/XT		 Speedwork
Dist: 7mi, inc
Warm; 3×1600@7:17
w/800 jogs; Cool		 Rest
/XT		 Rest
/XT		 Long Run
Dist: 14mi
@9:12		 23 mi
7 18/3
24/3		 Rest
/XT		 Easy Run
Dist: 2mi
@9:12		 Rest
/XT		 Tempo Run
Dist: 6mi, inc
Warm; 4mi@7:47; Cool		 Rest
/XT		 Rest
/XT		 Long Run
Dist: 16mi
@9:12		 24 mi
8 25/3
31/3		 Rest
/XT		 Easy Run
Dist: 2mi
@9:12		 Rest
/XT		 Tempo Run
Dist: 7mi, inc
Warm; 5mi@7:51; Cool		 Rest
/XT		 Rest
/XT		 Long Run
Dist: 20mi
@9:12		 29 mi
9 1/4
7/4		 Rest
/XT		 Easy Run
Dist: 2mi
@9:06		 Rest
/XT		 Speedwork
Dist: 8mi, inc
Warm; 4×1600@7:12
w/800 jogs; Cool		 Rest
/XT		 Rest
/XT		 Long Run
Dist: 18mi
@9:06		 28 mi
10 8/4
14/4		 Rest
/XT		 Easy Run
Dist: 2mi
@9:06		 Rest
/XT		 Tempo Run
Dist: 5mi, inc
Warm; 3mi@7:38; Cool		 Rest
/XT		 Rest
/XT		 Long Run
Dist: 8mi
@9:06		 15 mi
11 15/4
21/4		 Rest
/XT		 Easy Run
Dist: 2mi
@9:17		 Rest
/XT		 Tempo Run
Dist: 5mi, inc
Warm; 3mi@7:47; Cool		 Easy Run
Dist: 2mi
@9:17		 Rest
/XT		 Marathon Race Day
26 miles		 35 mi
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