London Marathon 2013

I meet up with Richard and we travel to Blackheath.  He is dressed as Abraham Lincoln.  I do lots of wees before the race.  I eventually line up and am ready to go.  I realise that a lot of the runners around me are probably going to be slower.  It appears that everyone blags their time to move further forward.

The first couple of miles I only lose 30 seconds off my 8 minute/mile target.  After a while I fall in with one of the pacers running 8 minute miles.  He has a backpack with a flag hanging out of it.  It is still cool but the sun it out and shining bright.  I think the pace is running 15 seconds a mile to fast.  I later realise that he is running bang on 8 minute per marathon mile (A marathon mile is a bit longer because of weaving and other runners)

The main issue is that I am struggling.  I'm only a little way in and it doesn't feel all to easy.  About 10 miles I decide to have a gel.   This picks me up and I feel better.

I soak in the atmosphere over Tower Bridge.  I see two separate groups of my clubs supporters.

But now the sun is taking its toll.  I am sweating lots.  I can feel it in my legs.  I doggedly keep with the pacer.  In fact there is a pacer also doing 8 minute miles in front and so I catch up to him and run between the two pacers.  Then as we start to come in to docklands around mile 17 I know the game is up.  The first pacer I was following goes past and I gradually fade away.

I decide to slow down and enjoy.  Just jog the run in.  Though my earlier pace has done a lot of damage.  It's still really, really hot with the sun beating down.  I mange to run the rest of the way but the pace slips to 11 minute miles at some points.  Only the fact that I know there will be friends and family supporting me stops me walking and keeps me going.  Once I pass them it is only the thought that people will shout at me if I start walking, so I keep going.

In the end I reach the finish and it is 1:45:57.  This is 3 minutes slower than last year.  Despite all my extra training, the loss of about 4kg in weight the same thing happened, race pace abandoned at mile 18.

My three things for further investigation are:
1. Was it the heat?  Not sure if that would of caused the legs to be so sore. I had been training in 1 and 2 Celsius temperatures in the dark.  I had run 25 miles on one bottle of Lucozade sport.  Today I had countless bottles of water and drink and was still thirsty.  I was just not adjusted to the temperature.  From what I can see everyone struggled.  The records say it was only 16 Celsius, but it felt hotter in the sun and I was sun burnt at the end.
2. I wonder if some of the soreness in the legs could be attributed to the wearing of racing flats.  My training were done in more cushioned trainers.  I wonder if running a marathon would be better done with some cushioning.  I had no problem with this during training
3. Was the pace just to tasty?   Maybe I could not cope with 8 minute miles?   Running even slightly faster than your limit in a marathon will cause bad things to happen.  Maybe I need to have a go at running a marathon and an even or negative split pace that I am sure I can do?

I'm not giving up on the 3:30.  This has just made me more determined.  Just annoying if I am tied to the vagaries of the weather.

26.2 miles 3:45:57

Beckenham Assembly League at a jog

It's the Beckenham assembly league.  I talk my wife and our friend Emma into coming.  I go only and jog.  It's funny as I have battered myself around this course previously, but today I cruise.  A couple of times I am tempted to push on, but I hold back.

It's rather fun running well within my limits.   Nearly marathon day.  Interestingly at 7:25 per mile, well ahead of marathon pace on a hilly course.

3 miles 22:15

In 3rd Gear

I've been to the marathon expo and got my number.  I need a run.  I had the sports massage yesterday but the legs feel fine.  I left my training shoes at work so I put on the race day shoes.  I go out and run towards Beckenham High Street.

I am fit, trained and rested.  I feel like I am driving in 3rd gear.  At any moment I can floor it and accelerate away.  I manage to reign it in.

I touch the cinema and head back.  Little or no energy is expended.  I do a quick burst of pace for the buzz alone.  Hope the marathon hurries up and gets here.

5km 30:00

An hours long run

A week to go, and I'm twitchy.  I decide to get out for an hour.  I leave the Garmin behind.  No point pushing as no training effect to be had.  It's about keeping the legs ticking over.

I head out to Beckenham Place Park.  I run about with the dog walkers and then turn back.  On the way back my toe nail starts hurting.  I stop and sort it out there and then.

It's to early to go home as I want to run an hour.  I go and run gentle laps of Shortlands Park.  No pace pushing at any time.

6.5 miles 59:09

Oh so Easy run

It's been rainy all afternoon.  I didn't run yesterday and I'm determined to keep my legs ticking over.  I head out for an easy 4km towards Pickhurst Park.  I start of and it is "oh so easy".  The biggest problem is the mud blocking my way.

I run up to Pickhurst Park.  To be honest it would be nice to continue, but I stop and head back.  A weird pain in the back of the ankle but I don't care.

An easy 6 or 7 tomorrow I think.  A few gentle runs in the week and then, and THEN the big day.

4km 24:15

Last interval session before the marathon

I'm not feeling the love tonight.  Too close to the marathon.  We are doing 5x1000.  I struggle to do the first few reps.  Then I drop off and chat with some slower runners.  All the other sessions I have run with maximum diligence.  But not today.

I'm dawdling on the reovery before the final lap and in front the group I was running with set off without me.  They are probably 100m ahead.  I sat to the guys next to me, lets catch them.  I power off with new vigour before catching them up after 400m.  I then hold on to the end.  The burst of speed reminds me I am in shape.  Nothing to prove tonight; saving it for the marathon.

5x1000 with 400m jog recovery

Short and gentle

Sums up my run back from Lower Sydenham.

4km 22:00

Penge West Easy Run

Taking it easy, I get the train to Penge West, roll down the hill to Beckenham.  It's a bit of a work up the hill from Beckenham to my house but it keeps the legs ticking over.

As I run through Penge there is a busy road to cross.  Most roads you can always find shelter halfway from the traffic.  This road is different.  I suddenly realise I am about to get squished by a car.  I pull out a full-force sprint to get out the way.   A bit further down in Penge a similar things happen and I explode into a sprint.  Afterwards I am able to keep running.  It feels good being fit and nimble.  One of the best bits about marathon training.

3.1 miles 25:30

Half Marathon ending not so well

I am tapering.  So I decide to go out and run 13.1 miles without being to hung up on it.  I skip the morning run as the baby is being an nightmare.  I move it to this evening.  So I tuck the kids up and head out down the A21.  On the way out, despite it being uphill I find it pretty easy.  I get to the run around point and its all good.

With about 3 or 4 miles to go I stop to get a drink.  I also buy a couple of very sugary sweet bars.  From there it seems to deteriorate.  I struggle to hold any sort of pace.  I know I shouldn't get hung up on it, but it's annoying.  It's mainly the legs that seemed tired.

Rest day tomorrow and maybe I'll take another one.

13.1 Miles 1:51:00  (With 10 minute refreshment stop)

How I want to feel when I run the Marathon

Tonight a nice gentle 5km to Beckenham Cinema and back.  Except as soon as I start running I feel fantastic.   Proper fantastic.  Life is easy, I am smooth, powerful graceful for little or no effort.

I zip in and out of the people on the high street.  It's more uphill on the way back but not a problem.  Problem one of the best (not necessarily the fastest 5km I have run)  Got caught crossing the road in Beckenham for ages as well.  Looking back in the history this is forty seconds faster than I have ever run it.  I also wasn't pushing it as I know I am meant to be tapering.  I also plan to do 13 miles tomorrow.

Hope this how I feel on the big day.  Would love to know what brought it on?

5km 24:08

Gentle Roll Down the Hill From Crystal Palace

I'm not sure what benefit I'd get from a hill session at this late time so I decide a nice gentle roll down the hill from Crystal Palace.  It's light now in the evening so I turn right out of the station and into the park.  I run past the dinosaurs.  I stop for a wee in the toilets before continuing.

It's easy running down the hill and I am not caning it.  To be honest I am quite enjoying this.  The wind is quite strong which slows the pace.

The long miles are behind me.  I'm looking forward to an easy 13 miles this weekend.

5.85km 31:40

Slippery Track Intervals

I go for a quick beer after work as Larry is leaving.  It's only my 5th drinking event this year because of the marathon training.  I'm still determined to go to the track though.

At the track it is cold, snowy and slippery.  We do 8x800 with 1:30 recovery.  I run these slightly faster than the group I am with.  I average about 1:37 a lap or 3:14 for the 800m.   Yasso 800s would be 10x800 with a 3:14 recovery.  This should be your marathon time but in hours not minutes.  I don't know how good a predictor this is, but I should be good for my just under 3:30.

I can feel the race is near, and I'm looking in good shape.

8x800m with 1:30 recovery

Clock Change Delight

Having done the hard miles I am going to taper.  I'm not going to over-taper.  I plan to run as much, just a little less each time.  So tonight instead of running back from Lewisham, I go to Lewisham and then jump on the bus to Catford.

By Catford Police Station I realise it is light enough thanks to the clock change to run through Beckenham Place Park.  So I do.  Running offroad through the woods, skipping over roots is fantastic.  I think my regular hill sessions even made the big hills on the other side not too bad.

Hopefully Spring and Summer are now on the way.  We have the light, now all we need is the warmth.

5.6km 31:13

Club Night

My wife has been doing club night recently.  She has a cold and so I get to go.  I see some familiar faces.  In the end I decide to go with group 5 led by Karen.

The pace is high, just a little below my marathon pace.  Considering I did 20 miles yesterday it's not too bad.  In the end the run is cut a little short.  It's good to be out and running

6.02 miles 50:00

Last Long Run

I was going to do the last long run last night.  But work intervened and I had eaten too much, too late.  So I get up at 7:00am.  I head out towards Biggin Hill.  Last time I tried this route I gave up, diverted and abandoned after 11 miles.  Today I am determined to see it out.  This is a hard route.

I'm not too fussed about hitting any pace and it's likely to be slow on the way out as it's such an uphill slog.  I trundle along.  It's not too bad.  I go up through Biggin Hill, all the time as I climb it is getting cold.  My hands feel like near frost bite.

At the top of Westerham Hill I run out of Pavement.  I have about 1/2 a mile to run so I do an out and back along a country lane.   The run home will be easier as it will be mainly downhill.   I stop at the Petrol Station in Biggin Hill and refuel on wine gums and sports drink.  I also need to do this to warm up a bit.

As I start to lose altitude it warms up.  Through Hayes I am bored of the podcast and stick some music on.  This gives me a lift.  Once I reach the top of the final Hill on Pickhurst Lane, the pace picks up considerably. I run the last mile or so at 7:40 a mile; faster than marathon pace.

It's been hard, but not too bad.   I walk in the front door, my 7 year old girl jumps out on me and goes:
"Pinch, Punch, First of the Month".  Ruthless.

Last long run done, feels good.

19.87 miles 2:57:13