Becoming a Real Runner

Don’t ask me why but I was feeling pretty relaxed coming into this one. I hadn’t exactly had the best of training, had gotten sick a few months out and between races etc, I hadn’t ran over 20 miles since the end of February. Had some pretty horrid long runs too, had barely broken 8 min/mile in any of them much less done any MP miles In the LSRs. As I said, despite all that and the recent crappy results (19:03 5k for example) I actually felt ok. My midweek MP runs had been going well although I had only gotten up to 11 miles on them. I figured I would blag it though based on previous marathon training and ultra endurance.

Anyway the morning of the race was great, got up at 6:30 for breakfast and headed out with the other lads around 7:45 for the tube. All went really smooth and by 8:45 we were well placed in the GFA pen. Plenty of room here and the queues for the toilets weren’t even too bad. We were well able to chill out and even had plenty of time to shoot the breeze with all the other boardsies.

By 9:45 I was in the start pen. I had planned on going out with Village Runner and a few other lads from the apartment but I had lost them before the start and I was well back in the pen. There was a wonderful atmosphere as we waited for the race to start and there was a minutes silence for Boston Victims just before the off which was wonderfully observed.
Soon we were off and I took a minute to cross the start line. This was actually a good thing as I was able to take a minute off at all the clocks (there was one every mile marker) and had a fair idea of pace early on. There was a little congestion on the first mile (nothing much) but before long I was into a lovely pace, everyone around me was doing the same. I concentrated on keeping things very easy but thankfully the splits were good. The 3hr pacer passed me at about 3 miles and he stayed right there for the next 3-4 miles. I was a little worried about that fact but the pace felt so easy I went with it. All was very conversational and I felt great, even high-fived a few kids as we headed through the cutty sark. Miles 1-7: 6:59, 6:51, 6:51, 6:46, 6:53, 6:57, 7:01.
Around this point the pacer started to drift away and I was in no mood to push it to catch up. I was really determined to keep the effort easy but at the same stage not let up. I was already passing loads of people at this stage so I made a conscious decision to pick out a few runners who looked like they knew what they were doing and keep up with them.
Miles 8-13. 6:55, 6:53, 6:55, 6:50, 6:56, 7:03. I went through half way at 1:30:59. I had planned on hitting it at 1:31, but missed it by a seconds ;-). Anyway I concentrated really hard at this point on feeling relaxed. The pace felt grand it has to be said, just felt like I was cruising. I was passing tonnes of other runners. I always gauge my effort on how good my stomach is. When I am really pushing it I can’t stomach any gels. I had already taken 4 by 10 miles and they were going down a treat. I started regretting only bringing 7, and had to start rationing them (took my 7th at 21 mile) but figured I had taken on loads of energy so there was little danger of hitting the wall. As I said miles 14-17 were a dream. Passing loads of runners and still felt like I was jogging. Started to question if I shouldn’t up the effort already but I guessed it was a bit early. 6:53, 6:52, 7:11 7:00.

There were a few tunnels and a few drags at this point so I couldn’t be sure of the garmin spilts but the legs were starting to get a little heavy and I noticed the right calf starting to cramp up a bit. The lack of Long runs was starting to catch up on me so I began to have to concentrate on keeping up the effort as most of the runner around me were now going noticeably slower. The pains in the calf were preventing me from picking up the pace so the effort stayed very similar throughout the rest of the race. I wasn’t wearing a HRM but from my lack of breathing I knew I wasn’t working as hard as previous marathons. I wasn’t watching the garmin much but I had a bit of a panic at mile 19 when I noticed a really slow split. I picked up the pace at this point for fear of not breaking 3:10 but the next mile was much quicker than was actually possible so it must have been a garmin malfunction, probably caused by the tunnels. Mile 18-21: 7:05, 7:30?? 6:35???, 7:09.
Obviously at this stage it was all about survival. The legs were holding out but only just, I was counting down the miles big time here, just thinking ’keep it going for one more mile, then you will be able to run 8/8:30/9 minute miles and still get a PB’. It was a fine balance though as the cramps were getting imminent. It was all about the right leg, but just before the 22 mile mark, I was running near the barriers and some silly cow dropped a cardboard banner just in front of me. Nearly tripped over it and got an immediate spasm in my left calf. I turned round to give out but my whole left side went into an immediate cramp so I thought better of it and just kept going straight!! As I say is all about survival at this point. I didn’t check my pace band but I figured I must be getting close to missing out on a sub 3:05 and a BQ for Brian ;-) but I made a concerted effort not to check the garmin or the pace band until the 26 mile mark as I was doing the best I could at the time!! 22-26: 7:07, 7:18, 7:27, 7:04, 7:24.
Finally hit the home straight and it was such a relief to see the ‘385 yards to go’ sign. A quick check of my 3:05 pace band confirmed the bad news at this point: I was 5 seconds down on 3:05 pace so I would have to up my effort . Picked it up at this point, starting a sprint fort the line, but that last all of 50 metres as my left calf then hamstring went into spasm, I tried to push on limping on the right side but the Right calf then hamstring followed the left’s example. Don’t ask me how but I was able to keep the effort up despite the problems, taking 7 seconds back over the last stretch to finish in 3:04:58. Happy days, little outside my target but I think I ran my best race on the day and am pretty sure I couldn’t have finished a second faster. You have to be happy when you give it 100% regardless of the result. .

Summary: 26.36 miles in 3:04:58 (7:01/mile)