LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5887

Registration is open 50€ at the moment via Davengo. If it keeps this up then next year wil be the day after my 40th birthday so I change categories. Hope that's going to be a good year. For now best get a good time this year for a better starting block in 2007. Unless I can miraculously pinch a 1h20something from all the pnes I'm doing beforehand.

Anyway, I guess everyone is going to this one again. Book your flights as early as you can. They fill up fast.

ed! · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:12 am Subject:

Thanks Rick Smile

I've just had a brief look at last year's thread, but there's 23 odd pages!!

Is there a summary of info and tips available anywhere?

If not, I'll get started on those 23 pages Smile

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4070

Wicked, just registered, this time I bought a 2 day metro card as well. Save all that faffing about getting tickets before travelling.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5887

Summary:

Tips for getting there
Register early to make sure you get in.
Team up with people to organise same flights and accommodation, unless you like to travel alone.
You can travel on friday night and pick up your race pack on Saturday morning if you don't want to take friday off. Race is saturday afternoon. You can fly home same day and save on accommodation if you are just going for the marathon. Other people like to make a longer stay out of it.

Tips for getting a good time
Starting blocks - Don't do it as a first marathon if you can avoid it. I managed to blag Rich into D block last year but normally they would put you in block H and just upgrade you to block G if you haven't done a marathon before. Doing a previous marathon in a <1h35m time should get you into D then you can be upgraded to C where most of the rest of the team skate. See the events page for which ones to have a go at (Duisberg, Dusseldorf are run early and you should have time to update your registration details on Davengo before they are taken by the organisers to work out your block.

Learn how to skate well in a paceline. If you don't you might as well start in the G or H blocks at the back. Do some summer training sessions with us at Tatem on Tuesdays.

Know what you can sustain for 1½ hours and what you can't. Heart Rate monitors are quite good to get the feeling of what your limit is.

Never, under any circumstances, leave a line that you think is too slow in the hope of finding another one. Wait until a better line comes past and switch lines. This only happens near the beginning of the race so start as far forward as you can or no faster lines will ever be behind you.

There is no substitute for good technique. Fitness will get you so far but technique will get you further, faster.

ed! · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:07 am Subject:

Thanks for the info and tips...I might try catch up with you when next you're out and about to chat some more (if that's ok with you).

Will also speak to others who did it last year (especially those that did it for the first time).

dan_b · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 2416

sol · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:46 am Subject:

"DanB" - loves the jobs you hate.

ed! · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:51 am Subject:

LOL - cheers Dan...although I didn't mean for anyone else to have to read through it all Embarassed

I'm sure I'll still have loads of questions, but I'll save them until after I've spoken to people (will hopefully have refined them by then).

lemming · Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 691 Location: Reading, UK

Dare I risk booking this or shall I just assume I'll miss the flight again and save my money. hmm

merten · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 8:54 pm Subject:

lemming · Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 691 Location: Reading, UK

Quentin · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 240

Can i give someone €50 so that he/she can register for me.

I am useless with organising!

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4070

Just use your card and register online, it's easy with Berlin. It's only some of the other German and French marathons that seem not to be so well organised for foreign entrants.

tanya g · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 5:18 pm Subject:

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4070

From the airport? You could do, I bet there are cycle paths, but your marathon performance will be reduced.