Manchester Marathon 2024 Training EP1 - Road To Sub 3

After four unsuccessful attempts at running a sub-3-hour marathon, I am embarking once again on my fifth training cycle, determined to break this elusive milestone. My target: April 14th, at the 2024 Adidas Manchester Marathon. Join me as I document my journey in this series, starting with Episode 1.
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[@harryruns1]

Not long to go now! Great work mate 💪

[@TheWu]

Yea it’s coming so fast. Wish I had a couple more weeks ! Haha

[@kunalpopat3576]

Another good video pal. Just picked up the End Speed4s looking forward to getting them out Thurs.

[@TheWu]

Thanks mate. Oh they look good I was thinking to get another pair of 3s on sale. 4s are a bit pricey!

[@the_village_runner]

Youve got it this time mate, had a great few months of training and I know youre gunna be in great shape come manny!

[@TheWu]

It’s beast mode for sure this time!

[@sivabala5232]

Hi Will, I just completed my first marathon (Barcelona 2024) and I would like to thank you for all your inspiring videos that helped me during training and the race itself. A huge thank you.

[@TheWu]

Oh thanks so much for the kind words. Appreciate the view of the content and it’s so good that you were inspired during the journey. Barcelona looks such a good marathon I will have to do it one year for sure.

[@NickGrobler81]

Fab long run mate!

[@TheWu]

A route you need to do!

[@Stevenc1984]

Impressive Sunday long run! 👏

[@TheWu]

My fave run of the week!

[@dawnbrighton4142]

Hopefully see you at Nth Lincs half, good luck with Manchester and getting the sub 3

[@TheWu]

Thanks 🙏🏽 . Not long now until Nth Lincs let’s go!

[@simonhodgson4941]

Best of luck. I'm also in Manchester for my first marathon. Training going well and feeling good.

[@TheWu]

Awesome first marathon is always a big one! Hope it’s a great experience for you and the first of many!

[@Sandeep-fl1tl]

You will smash it bro good luck

[@TheWu]

Cheers mate.

[@TheRichKeeble]

Ah looking good mate! Does look nice to run round there. Great to hear the little one sleeps through - I remember those early days were tough…

[@TheWu]

Thanks Rich, yea I’m just praying he doesn’t regress anytime soon. I hope the tap injury is healing quickly.

[@TheRichKeeble]

@@TheWuFingers crossed for ya! Both of mine went through phases to be honest but before you know it they're sleeping through and going to school! Gamechanger that. Tap injury's still hanging around to be honest!

[@AndyCliffMTB]

Thanks for your update Will, I’m glad you’re doing well and you’re looking strong, some of the splits in that fartlek session were super quick🚀. I remember your 2023 attempt and the cramps which denied you a sub-3, are you going to factor in the salt tabs, they might prevent cramps. It’d be nice to finally meet you, I’m planning to be there (on my mtb probably)😊

[@TheWu]

No I’m not going to use the salt tabs I’m just going to focus on strength and conditioning my legs and better nutrition leading to the marathon. I realise I haven’t really ever carb loaded well enough after researching the process more. I have always used a lot electrolytes in my marathons, in training , the leading to the race day and during and I don’t think adding more is the issue at all. I’ll look out for you on the bike!

[@AndyCliffMTB]

@@TheWu I’m sure you’ve done your research so I just hope the stars align for you this year😊

[@ChrisBrown-dy8ts]

Great to meet you @ North Lincs Half today. You put in a great time , would recommend the Saucony Pro4 .s ✅

[@TheWu]

Yea same to you. Thanks for your support 🙏🏽. The pro 4 looked awesome I would love to try them but quite pricey.

[@RunThePlanet]

Great job Will, thanks for the training update. I've got nearly 500km on my vaporfly 3s, still prefer the tighter 2s for the race/event (bit firmer too), just can't get the 3s tight enough over the toe box area. I'd like to see them go back to a straight lace pattern next time. Not long now, and with that long run your looking good

[@TheWu]

Yea I saw you switch out the v3 for the v2 in your video. I mean they are very different now but I feel they are just different categories now and v3 may be more comfortable in the long run but yeah they do feel less speedy. I’m not 100% decided to use them over adidas pro 3 yet.

[@jameschaves5723]

This is the one Will. I have no doubt your fitness is their.

[@TheWu]

Haha thanks , I wish for you to be correct.

[@twrhancock]

I'll see you on the start line. Well if your in the Red start... Hoping for 2 55. I managed to scrape under 3 hours last year at London after several years of trying

[@TheWu]

Yes my wave is Red! I would love a 2:55 but anything under 3 will do! Let’s hope I can do it like you did in London.

[@markg99]

Hi. I only found your channel recently. I'm not far away, in chesterfield so it's nice to see you running in some places I recognise. Monsal Trail looks like a good place for a long run. I grew up in Bakewell but wasn't a runner at that point. Best of luck with the training 👍🏃

[@tworunningbrooms]

The Monsal Trail parkrun has your name on it.

[@markg99]

@@tworunningbrooms you could be onto something there! 😄👍 I'll get over there at some point. I saw all the cars parked at the side of the road last time I drove over to my mum's house, past Hassop Station.

[@tworunningbrooms]

Lovely cafe too. We should have a KZbin meet up. Extend your running circle further 😂

[@markg99]

@@tworunningbrooms absolutely. You can be one of my three friends. It's more of a running triangle 😅

[@TheWu]

Ah that’s cool. Will you run Chesterfield 10km? You must run monsal it’s great in the early morning, avoid it midday it’s too busy.

[@Mack.Tracks]

Looking strong, dude!

[@TheWu]

Cheers appreciate it. 🙏🏽

[@andywyrobek902]

I'm sure you will this time, you have genuinely pushed my training harder watching your progress

[@TheWu]

Yeah!! 👊🏽

[@YuennyLam]

Hope the training for your sub 3 goes well 💪

[@TheWu]

Thanks , hope training is going well for you too.

[@bodhisattwadasgupta5317]

I will be doing my second manchester in April, last year was walled ... want to make it right, though training is marred by being unwell for quite a bit of time ... lets see and hope to see you there ...

[@TheWu]

Hi, awesome it will be my 3rd time and yes I’m looking to make it right too! Let’s do this my friend!

[@tworunningbrooms]

Smashing training camp, Will. Funnily enough I've been thinking about trying the Chews too. Do they weigh heavier than the gels or about the same? Also in a Vaporfly 3 vs Adizero Pro 3 quandary. See you at North Lincs Half.

[@tworunningbrooms]

Edit. Just ordered some.

[@TheWu]

These ones I have are smaller and lighter too. That’s a positive for me as I will ditch my gel belt too. The only thing I’m still wondering if I need a bit of water with them. I would stick to adidas pro 3 if you are used to them. If I had more pairs of pro 3 I would probably use them still for the marathon but I have a bit of millage on my only pair and have tons of Vapourflys to train in. Feel like I should train and race in a similar feeling, although the vaporfly v2 is quite diff to v3 so even that’s still a bit of a thing to think about more. Ah cool north Lincs see you there!

[@Davyj81]

I’ll keep an eye out for you in Manchester only 6 weeks away

[@TheWu]

Coming too soon isn’t it! Wish I had a couple more weeks 😅

[@Ligerpride]

When it comes to marathon training I did my own program which would be roughly equivalent to a HH plan considering it involved running every day. I ran every day except 2 prior to a taper from July to the end of October last year. The endurance benefits I got from this was noticeably better than prior plans, although it could just be the added benefits of another block of consistent training. I agree with you in that it generally doesn't really do much for speed. That being said I did run a PB for 5 mile, 10 mile, HM and Marathon in that timeframe and managed to squeeze in just under 3 hours for a marathon last year. I'm not particularly fast so these PB's were good by my standards (obviously).

[@TheWu]

That’s good, I had more non run days with HH but I remember just not feeling the sessions. Also it always had a big session the day before the weekly long run which was a bit too intense for me. Glad you got under 3 hopefully I can too.

[@ElloEllo35]

Easy got it in the bag this time mate. I have had a long and hard training block going for sub 3:30. Strained my ankle ligaments last week so not in a good place at the moment!

[@TheWu]

Ah take it easy. I know so many people getting injured at the moment it’s always going though my head. Hopefully you can make the start line.

[@ElloEllo35]

@@TheWu fingers crossed I see you in Manchester but looks like 3:30 is off the cards till another day!

[@emanuelsantos5585]

For me marathons only on Alphafly 1

[@TheWu]

Never tried any of the alphas always too expensive 😢

[@kunalpopat3576]

Are you running sheff half BTW?

[@TheWu]

Hmmm I’m not sure if I should being a week out from Manchester. Although looking at my plan it does say a 20km run! I’ll have to decide later.