Baxters Loch Ness Marathon 5/10/08
I am beginning to think that Ryan and Cameron have got something against Inverness. For the third time I have made the journey myself. last years marathon we were all set to go when two days before ryan wasnt well. then at this years half marathon it was camerons turn and two weeks before the marathon both had chicken pox so yes it was to be another trip on my ownsome although this time there was no rushing around trying to get things booked at the last minute everything was pre-booked and no trip on megabus this time. mega journey more like. train arrives in inverness at 12.00 and barry(baza) who got on at inverkeithing says that he will go to his b & b, dump his stuff and meet me back at wetherspoons for something to eat and then go over to registration to get my number. i dont know if anyone has heard of the site fetcheveryone.com there was a crowd of about 15 had arranged to meet up for a few drinks. sunday morning up at 6.30 and as breakfast was not being served until 8.00 i made do with a box of cheerio cereal bars i purchased the day before. having 2 in the room and another 2 walking over to get the coach up to the start. so after a bus journey that involved 2 bananas and a go energy bar and a can of red bull to wash it all down with its off the bus to find the nearest loo, just kidding. although its a bit cold the sun is out and no wind the conditions are perfect. i mentioned to a few runners that in previous marathons i have started too cautiously, so i made the decision to go a bit quicker although going through the first 2 miles in under 15 minutes might have been asking for trouble. runners had mentioned about the long hill between 16/18 but i forgot about the one at 4, not long but it was enough to knock me off the pace i had settled into. with the miles passing and reaching halfway in 1.37 and still feeling comfortable but the hardest part was still to come (16/18) last year i had to walk a fair bit at this point and again this year was no different. there were a few of us taking the the walk option but once i reached the top i got going again although very slowly. it was round about 20 miles that carole (remembered her name) from gala past me at this point last year same again this year although she was belting along and wished her good luck. 21 miles in 2.45 and a sub 3.30 target set it looked like a doddle but anything can happen in a marathon. approaching 24 miles and the shout of "come on Porty" had a familiar ring to it yes Julia and the gang from helensburgh were there and i said to another runner its amazing what a bit of encouragement can do and by the time i had got along the other side they were there again thanks folks. the last thing you could do without is another hill at the end of a marathon but seeing the clock at 3.26 gave me a boost and with a sharp turn on to grass and then the track and even managing a sprint to the finish in 3.27.08 ABOUT BLOODY TIME i felt like shouting but thought better of it. the only negative was having to walk again one day i will hopefully run the whole way but the positive being it was only between 16/18 so i did run the majority of it although from 18 onwards it was slow. well done to Margaret Sandeman who not only ran the dundee adventure marathon ran loch ness as well 4.15.23 at dundee 3.59.43 at loch ness which is nice and flat ha ha. the funniest sight of the marathon was not long after the start not even a mile into the run when i could hear laughter so i looked across to see what was causing all the fuss. a sheep was thundering up the grass verge in the runners direction. it must have been in the middle of the road and got a fright seeing 1400 runners heading towards it and a few comments were heard "there goes ma pacemaker" and "your going the wrong way". so on that note it was a great weekend the journey up the marathon itself and to finally get under 3.30 not a pb but achieved target time. next run will be Clova.
Report John Pickard
