Inquisition by Menton

Wow what a day. I had originally hoped to creep inside 4:10 and maybe even match a friends PB of 4:08.

In the event I managed to break 4 hours.  I still smile whenever I think of the time because I honestly never believed after the past 3 marathons of 4:55, 4:22 and 4:11 that I had it in me at my age to ever threaten 3 anything.

It wasn't easy, no marathon ever is and hitting the wall at 34 k probably hurt more than ever before and at that point it felt like I was running backwards. However that said it never seemed to impact on my pace and my second half at 1:58 was just a minute slower than my first half.

I can't quite figure how it all fell into place this race, training had been lighter than usual and I felt more nervous than ever.  I guess it must have just been getting in front of the 4 hour balloons and driving myself on in the second half hoping against hope that they wouldn't reel me in after I hit the wall in the last 10K.

This morning I went out for my first run since and something felt different. I think this 4 hour target must have been nagging at the back of my mind for some time without me realising it.  Now it's gone I'm not sure I now have a goal at this distance anymore. 3:40 something, could I ever again be bothered to put in the effort and run through the wall again for such a number, probably not.

Well that the end of this years blog about a marathon I thought would be an inquisition but turned out to be a liberation. 

Thank you for those kind fellow runners and joggers who have sent messages of support, all of which were gratefully recieved and good luck to everyone whose spring marathon is looming.

I hope you all have as good a day as I had.

Yesterday was the last 10 mile plus run of the taper and I brought it forward a day given the weather forecast for London this morning was heavy rain causing bouts of pneumonia for anyone out jogging before noon. Just a couple of sub one hour runs are now left before next weeks marathon in Bacelona.

I just though wanted to thank each and every one of the running clubs above whose races and training runs I've taken in over the past 6 weeks or so.  It makes training so much easier when there are fellow runners to tag along with on 10 mile plus runs and you don't have to carry your water on your back. 

All of these events take meticulous planning and are only possible due to the time given up by the small army of volunteers who marshall and man water stations. I'm very grateful and appreciative of the not inconsiderable investment of time in often miserable weather conditions like those endured in Bungay last week and those being experienced in Hemel this morning. 

So thank you because without your events I and many other runners just wouldn't get to the start line of our respective marathons in anywhere near the shape we need to without you and your commitment to your respective clubs, who you all are such fabulous ambassadors of.

Hope to see you all again next year.

Well the legend of the Black Dog claims he last made an appearance when the rain fell with hail on a day as dark as hades itself, however that was in August and so the lightweight hound from hell clearly isn't stupid because he was no where to be seen this bitterly cold morning in February. 

The weather was truly appalling today with driving headwinds for most of the first half of the course forcing snow, hail and rain sideways into every runner.  It wasn't nice and if it was bad for the participants the marshalls must have been risking hypothermia at times.  They did a great job as did everyone connected with the race, but I do wish they'd posted out the numbers and timing cards, I hate having to do that fiddly safety pin thing with numb fingers.

As a final preparation run for Barcelona, it did the job but acclimatisation wise it was worst than useless, but at least it's locked up miles in the legs which I suspect are still feeling last weeks exertions at Bramley.

All I need to do now is sit and wait and hope that this mornings hike around Suffolk's mountains hasn't caused me to catch a bout of pneumonia.  At the moment I'm not quite sure, sniffly yes but no more than that and lets just hope that the Black Dog of Bungay doesn't come back to haunt this years marathon effort. 

Well Bramley in Hampshire but lets not have accuracy getting in the way of a good headline.  The times aren't out but I know I cracked 3 hours for the 20 miles and that was a target which provided plenty of motivation on the second lap which promised a lot of pain but which thankfully a couple of stitches apart never really arrived.

For once everyone at the start seemed to get into their right time groups and as a consequence it was possible from 50 metres into the run to get into a regular training run stride pattern without having to constantly chop and change to get past people who were either to fast and trying to get through the crowds or too slow and coming back through the field.

All around I was fortunate enough to fall in with runners who were running a few seconds faster a mile than I and that helped the time and although I expected to suffer in the last few miles, the run last Sunday seemed to give me plenty of confidence that there was going to be no collapse towards the end.

That is though the last long run and now it's the taper with the 20K at Bangay next weekend the next target.  So from here on in it's avoiding injury, cracked and uneven pavements and people coughing and sneezing at work and on the Underground.  Strange but sometimes the running isn't the trickiest part of the training.