London Marathon 2013

So after a near-perfect buildup 21st April was race day.

Before the race I have to be honest I have never felt so fresh. I felt so fresh it was incredible, I felt like a coiled spring, a loaded gun, a massive pocket of energy ready to bounce around the streets of London. The carb load had gone well and for once I hadn't even had a dicky tummy on the morning of the race. I was ready. Confidence was sky high. I had even declared my target to folks I knew. I was gunning for sub 2:25. The weather was perfect. There were no excuses.

I got the train with fellow club mates and enjoyed the banter to the start as the nervous excitement started to build. Got to the Champs start and had a good chat with Ben Martin-Dye, Howard Clark, Rob Downs, Charlie Wartnaby, Stuart Leaney, Peter Tucker, Simon Hart, Steve Way and Chris Minns before being led to the line. It was awesome seeing Mo and the World's best marathoners lining up just inches confront of me. Got myself some BBC facetime (it'd be rude not to). Aidan Adams, a future club mate also said hello to me on the start line.

We pay our respects to the Boston victims which was very emotional and then before we know it Dave Bedford has sounded the hooter and its down to business.

I told myself to go really steady and to try to make my first mile the slowest. It came in at about a 5:40 (I failed) but it was still slower than the average pace I had planned. I was getting into my rhythm and gradually found myself in a nice little group, going through 5k in 17:03. This was fine as the first three miles are downhill and I wanted to hit each 5k in roughly 17:10. It felt alright but just after 5k I went past Steve Way who was unfortunately having to slow to a jog as he had picked up an injury the week before the race and had decided to see how it would go once he started. His training had been  impeccable and he was sure to get a PB and almost certain to get a 2:17 or under based on his form. Gutted for he fella.

The next 5k was about making sure I was comfortable with my running. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and although I know now I was working harder than I should, the pace and rhythm felt fine at the time. I was having way too much fun. showboating to the crowds, giving out high fives like they were going out of fashion. I was, quite frankly having the time of my life! I went through this 5k in 17:09.

After the Cutty Sark it is probably the time that one should be really relaxing into their rhythm and I did this to an extent feeling more comfortable as I went through. Next 5k was passed in 17:09 too!

Now it was all about getting to Tower Bridge, making it to half way before getting down to business with the hard end of the race. Going through the next 5k in 17:15 and hitting half way in 72:20 I was absolutely bang where I wanted to be but it was at this point that doubts started to creep in. The group that I had been running with had quickly disintegrated and there were only three of us left. Paul Marchant who I had run with at Peterborough last year (until he took off about 7 miles in!) and a Polish guy who still seemed incredibly comfortable. Confidence was still high as I kept trying to refer to how I felt during the race two years ago. I was convincing myself that I felt better but in reality I was probably lying to myself a bit! As we reached 15 miles this is were my race started to unravel. I got a bit of a stitch which was manageable but I did have to ease off the pace a fraction meaning Paul again started his march(ant) to glory. As the stitch dissipated I was isolated and then I started to feel a bit of cramp coming on. Not dangerously so but I felt if I forced the pace it would hold me up significantly. At this point of the race I was now just focued on getting to 30k where I would see my wife Hania, daughter Mia and Mum (who had made the trip from Yorkshire on the day to support me). This was all I could focus on but I was starting to be in a bad way. A very bad way. My racing head had deserted me. Thoughts of dropping out came to mind. I did that last year. I wasn't going to do it again. Last year was acceptable, this time wouldn't be. I would accept the end result, even if I hadn't raced it as well as I should have!

This was about hanging on. As I went through 30k in 1:43:31 (17:41 5k split) I knew my game was up but I could still see a familiar figure in the distance. It was Peter Tucker of Blackheath, one of my proudest scalps from Edinburgh Marathon last year (he may not have been completely fit at the time but he has represented England!). I was getting closer to him and as we approached 20 miles I was virtually on his shoulder. He must have been having a terrible patch as I was certainly not running well. It didn't take long though for him to get it together and start pulling away from me.

I hit the return after Poplar High St and saw my mate Ben Shearer at the side of the road (2:29 marathoner who pretends he is retired from marathons). I could see in his face that he knew I was having a bad time of it, but his support was nice all the same!

Now people were starting to come past me and that is so demoralising as it shows that you have not run a good race. Working toward the Tower (30-35k in 18:32) was so hard and having shouts from a few folk I know supporting helped but I was still struggling to lift the effort. I was spent. I was completely gone. Please. Where is the finish??

As I reached the Highway I get all sorts of cheers from mate Rich Hodge, Catherine Charlton, Derek laws, Suzy Yates, Simon kenyon, Dave Farmer. I remember them only vaguely. There were plenty more too but it was just so hard to know who was shouting at me!

Now we hit the City and its all about the Embankment. It's a bloody long way. Calculations going on in my head and despite not being too bad at the Maths generally I have no idea what I'm likely to get. I still think I'll get a PB but the pace is still dropping, I cant hold on! Whatever happens I must get another sub 2:30. Anything else is unacceptable the work that I've put into this campaign! Andy Rayner gives me a shout as I soldier on.

It feels like loads are streaming past me. In reality its hardly any but each one hurts, like a dagger to the heart. And each one slows me still. I try to hold onto their heels but I cant. I hit 40k with a 5k split of 19:19. Oh my goodness, that is awful! If I continue to slow at this rate there is no chance I will get under 2:30! Head down, now is about standing up and being a man. You can lift those legs a little higher, you can get them turning over a little quicker. You will get under 2:30. Don't let yourself down.

Now it's all about getting to Parliament square and seeing the family again. I know they will see my face and know that I am not getting what I want.But I know they will be proud. I see the pride on their faces. I hear their cheers, it lifts me. I have been lifted by the thought of seeing them and that it is nearly all over. Drive on! Nearly there.

By this time I think the PB has gone and as I enter the Mall I can see the clock just going over 2:29. the finish line still looks a mile away, I dig in. There is no point leaving anything out there. Leave it all on the road. I do. as I get closer to the finish I cant quite believe it but there is a chance of a PB! I struggle and strive and get them little legs moving and although I finish my watch on 2:29:34 I know there is a chance I may have PBed given I try to start my watch just before the gun and stop it a little while after! I find out from a friend Tim Aldred on one of the baggage lorries that I have PBed by  massive two seconds! I would have cried if I had any emotion left, I wanted to but there was nothing left. Spent.

Oh my word, that was hard!

Marathons are hard. really hard. I'm not sure I have the mental capability to be a really strong marathoner which is a shame as physically I think it suits me. There are certainly things to work on.

Just a good job when I finish one I get to see this.

Not a fantastic experience truth  be told, but I am proud of how hard I pushed myself. I don't monitor my heart rate during races but having looked at the stats post-race (full details below) my heart rate was 5bpm (185) above what would be expected in a marathon. This just goes to show that I was working way harder than I was capable of! Maybe I should monitor it next time.... keep it a little lower and just accept the outcome was the best I could do!

So scores on the doors were 2:29:31 for 41st place out of c36,000. 72:20 first half and a 77:11 second half shows how painful it was!

All that said, running is ace. The best hobby ever. But it is just a hobby.