Building Up to the Loch Ness Marathon 2024: 8 Days to Go

Welcome back to A Diary of a Runpreneur! Here we are on consecutive day 1573 of my run vlogging journey. The Baxter's Loch Ness Marathon 2024 is just over eight days away, and I am gearing up to run it with my best pal, who will be tackling his first-ever marathon. There’s so much excitement in the air, and I’ve been reflecting on my training, setting realistic expectations, and managing injuries along the way.

The Training Journey

Training has been a rollercoaster. I recently punched my data into the Tanda calculator, an algorithm that predicts marathon performance based on the average weekly mileage and pace over the previous eight weeks. Ideally, I was targeting a sub-3:15 marathon, which required an average pace of 4 minutes 40 seconds per kilometer. Unfortunately, I've faced a few hurdles.

Over the past eight weeks, I’ve been on holiday, running up and down mountains in 40-degree heat. The Tanda calculator doesn’t account for such extreme conditions, nor does it consider the slower pace when I’ve been running with my kids. Given all this, Tanda predicts that I’m fit for a time around 3 hours and 13 minutes. A bit of a blow, but adjusting for the heat and terrain, I realistically aim to shave off about five minutes from that estimate.

Setting Realistic Goals

I currently hold a personal best (PB) of 3 hours 24 minutes 48 seconds, and I’m keen to beat that. With my adjusted training expectations, I’m setting my sights on a time closer to 3 hours and 20 minutes. Any time bettering my current PB would make me ecstatic.

Battling Injuries

Injury management has been a significant part of my preparation. I’ve experienced a minor resurgence of plantar fasciitis, but thankfully, a calf stretching machine called Calf Pro has helped ease the discomfort. My niggles aside, I’m feeling optimistic about keeping the injuries at bay.

Logistics and Planning

My journey to Loch Ness from East Anglia in the southeast of England would typically be a gruelling nine and a half-hour drive each way. We recently decided that such a long drive is far from ideal preparation for a marathon. So, we’ve opted to buy last-minute plane tickets, albeit at a steep price. Note to self: plan and book earlier next time to avoid unnecessary costs.

Using Data Wisely

For those unfamiliar, Tanda Race Predictor is an excellent tool. Simply type "Tanda Race Predictor" into Google (T-A-N-D-A) to find the calculator. It syncs with Strava to analyze your metrics, helping set realistic race expectations. Based on my data, setting a goal of sub-3:15 seems overly ambitious, so I’ve adjusted my target to a more realistic 3:20 or under.

Future Updates

Stay tuned for more updates as I delve into my detailed preparation plans, including nutrition and other aspects critical to race day. Remember, setting achievable goals is key to staying motivated and reaching your targets.

Support the Mission

As always, if you believe in my mission to save children's lives by attempting the ultimate ultra-marathon through run vlogging on consecutive days, covering the distance of a lap of the world barefoot, please subscribe, share, like, and comment. The more people we reach, the more funds we raise and the more lives we save.

Stay positive, stay happy. I’ll see you again tomorrow!

Kevin Brittain