Hot Marathon

Brighton Marathon, a years work. I go down with John, Dave, Richard and Emma. John and Dave are supporting. My years target has been sub 4 hour. I have been training so hard, that based on other races my predicted time is between 3:35 and 3:45. I wonder if even 3:30 is possible given that this is my race for the year (i.e. all out 100% race effort)

John and Dave drop us at Preston Park. After a few minutes we all go off on our own to get ourselves in the zone. I know it is going to be sunny so I slap on the sun cream. At the start I see Matt from the club, which is good as we have a good chat. The start comes quickly and we are off.

Initially it is annoying with slow runners blocking the way, particularly on the hills. Within the first couple of miles I get blocked behind the 4 hour pacemaker. Eventually I squeeze past.

4 or 5 miles in, things are going well. I am running 5:00/km which would be a 3:30 marathon. I keep talking to myself to keep things tidy.

The problem is all the time it is getting hotter. Gradually, but hotter and hotter it gets. There is not a cloud in the sky and the sun is beating down.

I gradually start to slow down, not a disaster, maybe 5:08/km but the heat is taking its toll. Around 10 miles I start to struggle. I have been drinking, but the sun and the hear are overbearing. Standing in the sun for 4 hours would be hard. Running, a Marathon? Crazy.

I struggle from 15 to 18 miles. I am in a bad mood and having to dig deep. I had trained so hard for this but none had been done in heat or sun. The trouble is I have had this four hour target for so long. In reality, with experience you would have to write-off this Marathon, slow down and enjoy the day. But I have my target. I have to get round under 4 hours. Once I have done it, then future marathons I can play it by ear.

The miles around 20 down towards the power station and docks and Shoreham are horrible. A few times I manage to get myself into the shade, and it feels so mych better. Suddenly in front of me is someone on the ground screaming in pain like I have never seen. Cramp. He cries
"Won't one of you &^%$£s stop and help me?"
Guilt gets the better of me. Me and another guy stop and lift his legs. I am looking at my watch seeing the time drain away. Eventually I pass the leg to someone else. I discuss with the other guy who stopped about why the spectators didn't help given that we were running a marathon...

In front of me is an idiot on a bike talking to his friend. I give him a mouthful of abuse telling him to get of the course. He rapidly takes my advice.
"&^%$%^ &^^%$$"
I say to him as I go past.

The last 6 miles are hell. The sun and heat have destroyed me. I am running between 6:15/km and 6:30/km. Fortunately my fast paced early kms have given me enough of a buffer that I should just be able to drag myself over the line. The whole time I am doing the calculation of how slow I can get away with running still make it under 4 hour. I have to stop and walk a number of times. The moonlight challenge 32.75 mile ultra was hard and tough, but I loved it. I enjoyed the struggle. Today this is just suffering. I feel sick.

This is among the hardest things I have had to do. I run 5km most days of my life. Today this is the hardest 5km I have ever run, to get over the finish. I stop a number of times to walk. The crowd is shouting, but I ignore them. I keep doing the calculation of how fast I would need to run to make it there. I wonder if I can walk? But even walking is hard.

At the speed of the continental drift the finish approaches. I cross the line. 3:55! I had done it.

I feel really ill but don't know what will make me feel better. I have drunk loads and eaten lots. I need shade. I find some shade and relax. After a while Matt comes along and joins me slumped on the floor. We both agree that the heat was impossible.

It was so hard, but I did.

Next time I do a marathon,
1. If it's hot, all bets are off. Jog and enjoy!
2. Pick a reasonable time and run an EVEN pace. Don't set crazy targets, whittle the time down 5 or 10 minutes at a time.
3. Estimate a faster time to get closer to the front at the start
4. I ran in the Piranhas and they were fine. No blisters and lack of padding/cushioning was fine
5. I work at a desk all day. I think my hips/legs are not flexible enough, hence the pain there. I need to stretch more
6. I peaked to early. January, I was detoxed, light and superfit. Probably why the Moonlight Challenge went so well.
7. Doing the Dunsfold 20 and Reading Half Marathon as races drained me too much. No races in the run up!

There were some hairy moments, but bloody did it!

26.2 miles 3:55:07 Hot