outforarun wrote: » Will be tracking with interest. I really hope it goes well for you. Not just because of the great training you've been putting in, but also selfishly as we are neck and neck pace wise (6:44 yesterday pace for me on the P&D 7 mile LT) and we're both toying with 3:19. What's your race-fueling strategy looking like? Best of luck man.
overpronator wrote: » What a day. What a marathon. I just ran today by now I felt and the Garmin was secondary, risky but thankfully it paid off. I'll do a report in the next day or two but I think a lot of it may have passed me by!!
outforarun wrote: » You've left me with no choice but to have a crack at sub 3:20 now.
outforarun wrote: » Cracking time. You must be thrilled. Well done. I saw your time and wondered what your strategy was: did you aim for 3:19 realise after halfway that you were well inside your comfort zone and then started upping the pace, testing the waters. Or did you decide on the start-line to go for 3:14 and just fall short. Reading your post above it seems it was a very off the cuff run by feel - but surely you must have been glancing at the Garmin throughout. Brave approach. How many gels did you take in the end? You've left me with no choice but to have a crack at sub 3:20 now.
yaboya1 wrote: » No bother to you!
yaboya1 wrote: » How did Mrs O get on?
overpronator wrote: » Cheers OFR im genuinely delighted and surprised in equaI measure. I was going over and back in my head (and actually really wrecking my head with it if I'm honest) about what to aim for in the last few days and weeks, sub 3.20, maybe aim for 3.18 for wiggle room if it goes wrong, feck it go for 3.15, if the wheels come off they come off. I just couldn't decide so in the end i said I'd see what felt manageable in the first 5 and try to hold it as long as I could. I know what running the first 16 miles of a marathon too fast feels like through bad experience so I had a bit of a reference to go off. I just kept it steady early on, made sure I felt comfortable to half way and didn't exert myself breathing wise. I found the first half tough, more mentally than anything, even though its the faster half as I just wanted to get it out of the way so I could get stuck into mile 14-20. Tower bridge at 13 had to be experienced to be believed. One I got past 15 miles and felt in one piece I knew I was on for a good day. I still had no designs on a time but was using a 3.20 pace band as a ref each mile so knew I had some time to spare, I had a 3.15 one on too and gave it a glance for the first time at 18 miles but I looked 2 ish mins off if I remember so forgot about it. Once we got to 22 miles it took everything I had just to maintain pace and cramp was setting in in my hamstrings, I had to stop for about 30secs at 23 miles for a stretch as they gave up on me but thankfully I got going. The last few miles are a blur, I was moving well, there could have been a sub 7 mile in there, I'm not sure but I was hurting at this stage. I sprinted as hard as I ever have past big Ben and down the mall and was very close to puking when I crossed, I didnt actually know I'd run 3.15 until I checked the watch! I ran pretty even splits throughout, in and around 7.23 a mile and whilst I kept an eye on the garmin I didn't let it dictate my pace particurlarly early on, all bets were off after 20! Gels at 4,8,12,16,20 along with salt. I also ran the entire thing completely soaked (I mean drenched) to combat the heat and have some huge blisters as a result but alls well that ends well. It was an unreal experience on the day and to be passing swathes and swathes of people in that setting, along the embankment, knowing I was close to my limit but just about holding on is some feeling. Its all a blur now though and the day did pass me by in many ways but to run 3.15 is a massive thing for me personally and something I never felt I had in me. I really think that just going out and forgetting about goal times, giving it socks and not letting the Garmin be boss worked out well for me. I was lucky i had a good day though as im sure i would have panicked if i couldn't hit a good pace or close to it in those early miles. Overall expectations were well and truly exceeded!
overpronator wrote: » The last few miles are a blur, I was moving well, there could have been a sub 7 mile in there, I'm not sure but I was hurting at this stage. I sprinted as hard as I ever have past big Ben and down the mall and was very close to puking when I crossed,
overpronator wrote: » whilst I kept an eye on the garmin I didn't let it dictate my pace particurlarly early on
overpronator wrote: » Gels at 4,8,12,16,20 along with salt.
outforarun wrote: » I'll probably deviate from you there and I will let the Garmin drive my pace early on.
RedRunner wrote: » Great race OP. Well done. Parts of it were a bit of a blur for me too but it's an incredible event. One which I won't forget any time soon.
overpronator wrote: » Here's a garmin connect link .
overpronator wrote: » That's odd, works for me, sure try this one! Its not marked as private or something is it?http://connect.garmin.com/activity/479344071
Beef wrote: » What's the elevation spike? Did you go up on the London eye going around? Even more impressive!
overpronator wrote: » Cheers KL, the best of luck with Limerick. How's the training been going, legs holding up?
kerrylad1 wrote: » Training has gone very well.I have more or less hit all my targets,legs holding up well,no niggles of any sort,(touch wood).My only down fall is the beer on a sat night.:p,I keep kidding myself,you have just done a 22mile run and you deserve it.
yaboya1 wrote: » You do Maybe hold off now until after the race though. You'll enjoy it more and won't feel guilty then
