Flora London Marathon 13/04/08
This is my story of my weekend in London, (marathon weekend). Travelled down on Thursday evening, my friend Phil who stays just outside London met us at the airport. We were staying with Phil and his wife and his daughter Olivia.
Went to the expo on Friday it was really great to go there during the day when it was a bit quieter. Took a few hours to go round; spent too much money, you have to pamper yourself sometime. Friday evening went out with Phil for a short run (4 miles) just to make sure all the body parts were working properly. Everything seemed in good shape wish the race was tomorrow, slept well friday night, long lie in bed Saturday morning, girls went shopping didn't spend too much, unlike them. Phil and I decided to watch an inspirational film Gladiator, filled up on the carbs went to bed early, surprisingly enough had a good night's sleep.
Taxi picked us up 6.30 we're on our way. We arrived at the start about 7.30 the atmosphere was already beginning to kick in, this was my eighth London and I was looking forward to getting things going. I had two hours to fill, so what better to do than walk around and speak to as many people as poss, everyone is nervous but what I tried to do was spot the first timers and try to reassure them that what they were about to take on was
really an enjoyable experience ha ha. After speaking to as many people as poss 30mins to go I hand my bag in. Did all the usual toilet stops try not to do any during the race as in previous Londons. 10mins to go I make my way to pen 2 and bump into my good friend Scott Ferguson shook his hand and said enjoy the run Scott see you at the finish. Asked Scott how long there was to go you would have thought I was telling him the race had been cancelled because his chin almost hit the floor: what on earth was wrong Scott? "O my god don't know if I can run I don't have my watch." Don't worry Scott it could be a good thing just run how you feel and go for it; see you at the finish. Standing in the pen you would have thought the race had already started as the pushing and barging had started.
The race starts, tried to get into my pace straight from the start, by the way the pace I was looking for was 7.15 to 7.30 first mile: 7.20 spot on, next 4 mile under 7s not good too fast but easy. If I thought I could run under 7s at the end I would not have been concerned but I knew I wasn
't in 3 hour marathon shape so really had to slow down. I did that and the miles went by really quickly I was at half way with very little bother 1.34 Another few miles went by still waiting to see when it was going to get tough... 18 mile, 19 mile, 20 mile still going well 6 mile to go, still feeling fairly good, all I needed to do was keep concentrating, keep positive and I am on for my target time. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 miles down 1.2 to go. A look at the watch tells me all I have to do is a nice easy (ha ha) last mile and I'm there, finished in a time of 3.12.21.
Very pleased didn't find it too hard but was a bit worried about my legs at the finish: had the usual cramps but nothing I had to worry about, no paramedics this time. Saw the two Scotts at the finish - pbs for both of them, a fantastic day all round. Anyone who hasn't done a marathon and is thinking about it get your entry in a.s.a.p.
I enjoyed the marathon that much I have signed up to do the New York Marathon in November, hopefully a little bit quicker.
Report Bert
Photos borrowed from the bbc site, I reckon my license fee covers that, any problems let me know and I'll remove them. pb
Here is Scott H's report....
What an absolutely fantastic experience this was. I had been told about the atmosphere, friendliness of the crowds / other runners and the buzz surrounding this event and boy were they right. From the Expo on the Saturday morning right through to the finish line it was amazing. I had the privilege to briefly meet Liz Yelling at the Expo on the Saturday. My friend from work, with whom I had gone down, had met her at a marathon training camp at Club La Santa earlier in the year and through another friend who still kept in touch with Liz, had arranged to meet her at the Expo where Liz was giving a few talks.
I have never felt the way I did the night before this race before. I have never taken so long to pin a number to my
vest and I actually felt physically sick at one point thinking about the following morning.
To the race itself...
I was in blue pen 2 and actually was only about 25 metres from the start line when the race started. Everyone tells you not to go off too fast in the marathon and that was my intention however it is not as easy as you think. The sun was shining and I was feeling on top of the world. Luckily mile 1 was still quite congested even though I was so near the front. I was through the first mile in 7.22. The runners began to thin out about half way through the second mile and I was through mile 2 in 14.13 (6.51). I was really enjoying myself and still couldn’t believe I was running in my first marathon and it was the London Marathon. What made it even better was that in the couple of weeks leading up to it I was struggling with injury and at one point thought I wasn't going to make it to the start line. However a couple of miles in and all thoughts of injury etc were gone and I found myself running with a big cheesy grin on my face. I was loving it.Around mile 2 Bert appeared on my shoulder telling me how he had just passed Gordon Ramsay and that he could not believe the size of the guy. We ran together for about a mile or so chatting away, both commenting on the fact that we had probably gone off too fast. Sensible experienced Bert decided to settle down to his pre race pace whereas I was still caught up in the “this is great and I am feeling on top of the world” and kept at the same pace. I said cheerio to Bert and his last comment was he hoped not to see me again before the end. I had hoped this as well but unfortunately it was not the case. Mile 3 was 20.52 (6.38). The crowds were great as we headed back through Greenwich with all the pubs having great big speakers with music blasting out of them. I even managed a quick dance to YMCA as I passed one blasting the tune out. Mile 4, 27.24 (6.33), mile 5, 34.09 (6.44), mile 6, 40.58 (6.50).
I was now thinking to myself what was my target for the race. A few weeks before I wanted a sub 3.15, however in the 2 weeks before I was more heading to just being able to get to the start and get round. Now I was over 6 miles in, running well and feeling great. I thought briefly about going for sub 3 but luckily that thought did not last long. I was back onto my original goal of a sub 3.15, but
nearer 3.05. Mile 7, 47.45 (6.47), 8, 54.43 (6.58). My thinking at mile 8 was almost a 3rd of the way through and I was still feeling good. I felt comfortable at the pace I was running was thinking even if I tired in the last few miles I could afford to drop to 8 mile pace and still make sub 3.15.
Mile 9, 1:01.50 (7.06) and mile 10, 1:08.45 (6.55). It was about half way through mile 11 when I started to feel a little bit of pain in my glute. It was more just an annoyance at this point nothing more. I was, at this point, still happy that my calves which had been giving me trouble lately were still feeling good. Mile 11, 1:15.19 (7.03). Now my right calf was starting to feel a little tight but not too bad. I was actually thinking that maybe I was just expecting them to bother me at some point and it was more in my head. Mile 12, 1:22.55 (6.55). The pain in my left bum cheek was starting to get worse and the pain started to move further down my leg. I was starting to find myself running with 2 fingers pressed into my cheek where the pain seemed to originate from. Not the most comfortable way to run. It was still at the uncomfortable annoying stage at this time and was not causing me any bother with my running. Mile 13, 1:29.42 (6.47) I was through half way in 1:31.55.
Now the rain had started and my left leg was getting more painful. I was still trying to run with my fingers pressed against my bum cheek. It was starting to really worry me now. Mile 14, 1:36.55 (7.12) and mile 15, 1:44.23 (7.29) My Garmin lost its signal during the next mile but completed miles 16 to 18 in 25.01 minutes (2:09.24). I think 16 & 17 were sub 8 miles as I stopped a couple of times during the 18th mile for a stretch as the pain down my left leg was getting pretty unbearable. Apart from this I was still feeling comfortable breathing / energy wise. Mile 19, 2:16.38 (7.13). Perhaps stopping to stretch during the previous mile had helped as this one was quicker again. Mile 20, 2:25.08 (8.31). It was during the latter part of this mile that I had to stop again as the pain was really getting to me. As I stopped to stretch again Bert came past shouting encouragement to me. I hope he did not hear my response and I will not repeat it in this report. Sorry Bert. I tried to start running again but the most I could manage was a slow jog. I looked at my wrist band at the 20 mile marker and noticed I was still on target for a 3.10 finish. I tried to use this as encouragement to get running again but just couldn’t. I was worried that I was going to have to walk the rest of the way. I was so disappointed as I still felt comfortable and felt I had the stamina but the pain was getting too much. In all honesty I actually thought about quitting at this point as I could not face walking the rest of the way and finishing nearer 4 hours.
Mile 21, 2:35.02 (9.53). This mile was made up of a slow jog and quick walk. The crowds were great with encouragement but unfortunately their offers of jelly babies and opal fruits were not helping my leg.
I had taken along a couple of Ibuprofen and decided now was the time to take them. I went into my belt pouch and they were not there. I was devastated. I must have dropped them when taking out my gel before the start. Mile 22, 2:46.14 (11.12) and mile 23, 2:57.24 (11.09) were made up of walking at as quick a pace as I could. I must have been a sight walking along prodding two fingers deep into my arse cheek. I remembered I had put my pain killers in the zipped pocket of my shorts. I was about half way through the 23rd mile.At the 23 mile marker there was some king of large junction and the crowds were like they were on 4 sides and the noise and encouragement was amazing. That was it I was going to try and get running again. The cheer from the crowd when I did was unbelievable. I don’t know if it was this, the painkillers or what but I just gritted my teeth and concentrated on running the best I could. I was off again and couldn’t believe how many people I was managing to overtake. I was just thinking about trying to keep it going as long as possible. There were a couple of times when I was close to stopping again but I was determined to run all the way to the finish.
Mile 24, 3:05.37 (8.13) and mile 25, 3:14.16 (8.39). Just over a mile to go. The lift this gives you is hard to explain. The pain was forgotten and all I was thinking was only a mile to go come on. 800 metres to go and a look at my watch. I could possibly finish under 3:25. Come on push it harder. 400 to go and it is still possible. 200 to go and just under a minute to get under 3:25. I managed what felt like a sprint but probably was no quicker than I had been going, just working harder. Through the finish: hands in the air with a few strong strides (that is how they tell you to finish in the magazines). 3:24.56
What an experience and the application is in for next year.
Report Scott Hutchison
Scott previously ran the Great North Run dressed as a naughty nurse (much to the chagrin of everyone he passed.) Not that that has anything to do with London but I think these pictures deserve some consideration.
