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VLM 2010 - Match Report!
Apr2920101:33 a.m.
A few days later and I still can’t quite believe it! 3 running ambitions achieved in one day.
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1)running the whole distance of a marathon without stopping or walking - done!
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2)completing a marathon under the golden 4 hour mark - done!
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3)beating an olympic athlete in a race - done!
Ok, number 3 wasn’t really an ambition before hand....but it happened.
Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself. Here’s the marathon story:
LAST WEEKS TRAINING
Well, this hadn’t gone brilliantly. After a PB at the Fleet half marathon (see separate blog entry for details) things didn’t quite go according to plan. A cold (poor me), a foot injury and then going to work at kids camp meant that I didn’t get enough runs in, particularly long ones. My longest uninterrupted run was 17 miles (I did an 18, but it was either side of an hour’s worth of football....which had to be my worst performance ever!!). On the plus side, going to camp meant (and the lack of running) meant my foot and all the other little niggles and strains completely healed so at least I showed up on marathon day completely healthy. It was just a question of what would happen beyond 18 miles, especially after last year.
TAPER & CARB-LOADING
I worked quite hard in the last 10 days before the marathon. I went to the gym most days, one session on running or cross training and the other for swimming. It goes against advice but I didn’t feel fit, especially after eating loads of junk at camp! Anyway, working hard in the last week was a risk but if gave my a big psychological boost - almost as if I tricked my mind into believing I was fitter than I actually was!
Last year’s carb-loading was really a one-day affair but this year I did a whole week’s worth. We (Karen was very accommodating in the kitchen department) tried to vary the menu but even so, I really struggled to get pasta down me at Saturday tea time!
Oh, one coincidental thing.....for the second year running, MOTD’s first game was Man Utd beating Spurs!!
MARATHON DAY - Pre-Race
Got up, breakfasted (porridge + 2 slices of marmite toast) and then Karen took me to the station. She later admitted to feeling rather nervous for me, because she knew I’d be gutted if I didn’t break 4 hours. She’d have been right.
Once again, my plans of meeting running friends were scuppered....not this time because of me going to the wrong place. This time it was due to pre-race rain sending people in search of cover. Maybe next year....!
But then 5 minutes before the race started, the rain stopped. Thank goodness (and to think many were stressing about it being too hot!).
THE RACE
I ditched the makeshift rain coast (a black bin bag) and we were off. I was starting much further forward this year (due to some creative writing on my entry form) so I reached the actual start line in less than two minutes. And it was immediately clear that I wasn’t going to have last year’s problems of being crowded out of running my own race.
Here’s the almost mile-by-mile account:
1 - 3 (Blackheath - Woolwich): Felt a little heavy legged, but I always do at the start of a long run. BUT I was able to run my own pace and get into a good rhythm. I looked at my watch and realised I was running faster than I meant to but decided just to go for it. I figured the longer I’m out there, the more it’s going to hurt so I might as well get as far as I could while feeling good.
I also saw at least two church ministers “blessing” the crowd but spraying water over the runners. That was nice touch.
4 - 7 (Charlton - Greenwich): Not a lot to report except for my first sighting of Karen and the kids at Greenwich - always a boost, seeing the ones you love.
The atmosphere was as good as last year and the bands and support were brilliant. The one difference with starting further forward is that I didn’t get to appreciate any of the more extravagant costumes on view. No rhinos, cannoes or Angels of the North to get round, nor to appreciate. There were Fred Flinstones, Batmans and Stormtroopers to keep me company though, which was nice.
8-10 (Deptford - Surrey Quays): Still feeling good. Started to realise I was well inside the my goal time, but also that there was a long way to go. Last year it all fell apart at the Isle of Dogs (and that was after a much slower first 13 miles) so I was a touch worried about what might happen.
11 (Rotherhithe): My only bit of celebrity spotting. I did a sort of double-take as I ran next to former Olympic 400m runner Iwan Thomas. After the penny dropped I said “Oh, hello”. We had a brief chat and he said “well, good luck - you’re looking fresh”. And that was that.
12: Tower Bridge - is always nice (he says, making it sound like he’s done dozens of marathons) as you move into central London. But it’s also a touch demoralising as you then turn right and run miles in the opposite direction to where the finish line is.
13 - 17 (The Highway to Mudchute): Started to slow a little but every now and then picked the pace back up, though not quite to the pace of the first half.
18-21 (Canary Wharf - Limehouse): Would the wall come.....would the wall come.....I can sense it....it’s out there somewhere.....time to focus.....zoning out a little......just...avoided...wall.......I might have just brushed it.....
I later found out that Karen, the kids and Dad had been at Heron Quays (18), which was not a pre-planned venue. They saw me but due to my zoned-out state, I didn’t see them!
22-25: ( Tower Hill - Westminster): And onto the (albeit long) home stretch. I’m now getting slower but still trying to appreciate the crowds and use the chants of my name to spur me on. I saw friends (Richard V and then Rachael T and her girls) on the Embankment followed by Karen and the kids again. Nearly there....but the legs were really seizing up.
26 (the finish): Strangely, if I did hit the wall, it was as I ran past the “385 Yards To Go” sign. My legs turned to tree trunks and I could hardly move them. In the last 200m it felt like I was running backwards and everyone around was overtaking me. But I didn’t care.....I knew I was just about to smash last year’s time, smash the 4hr mark, and smash any target I could have dreamed of.
For the first time in a race, there was no sprint finish....I guess you could say I left nothing out there on the track! I won’t bore you (more) with an analysis of what went right and wrong, but the finish time of 3.41.19 was not even in the ball-park of possibilities during training/planning.
POST-RACE
Yes....I did get a little emotional! Satisfied? Went through the process of the photo, bag/medal collecting trying to remain dignified....physically too! And when I reached the family (who were sitting on a grassy area near Horse Guards), I couldn’t even find the energy to talk! We sat for a few minutes and then I just said I wanted to go straight home. I wasn’t ready to celebrate.....
.....but I was by tea time and I demolished a lot of food at Pizza Express!
I’ll be contacting those directly who’ve supported me but it would be remiss of me not thank Karen and the kids. My training hasn’t impacted on family life too much as I’ve worked around that, but still, they’ve been very encouraging. Thanks!
Check back soon.....if I’m bored, I will do that analysis comparing this year’s race to last year’s. I won’t be offended if you don’t read THAT!
Oh, and in case you were wondering why this was “almost” the perfect day, it’s cos Chelsea won 7-0! Still, you can’t have everything!
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Apr3020096:47 p.m.
What I'd have done differently....
After reading the "My Marathon Day" blog, NorwichPaul and also Leo expressed an interest in knowing how I plan to tackle next year. I think Paul is a brand new...
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