I can see the end of the taper weeks...

[marco83]

Monday the first of May is almost here. That is the date I have circled on my calendar about 16 weeks ago as race day! In the last 4 months, I ran over 600 miles and attempted various time to break the 20 miles in long runs.

Today and for the weekend I will only run 3 to 4 miles to keep the body moving.

I am feeling good, so if the weather is helpful (avoiding at least the wind on the coast of Belfast) I will attempt to break the 4 hours!!!

here it is I wrote it... I did not want to write this as I have never managed to run the full marathon without hitting the wall at mile 20, but I want to have the mental strength to at least try so I have decided to make you aware of the goal. Let's see how it goes

have a lovely weekend runners

all the best

Marco

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

So exciting - good luck Marco!!!!

[JaySeeSkinny Half Marathon]

Good luck, Marco! You'll be brilliant🏃

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Good luck Marco - full of admiration here. Look forward to reading that post run report🙂

[Tomas Marathon]

Have a great race Marco. Sounds like you have put in all the necessary effort in during training, so you're ready! Now go enjoy (as much as one can enjoy running 42 km) and smash that four hour limit. Best of luck.

[misswobble Marathon]

If the training is done then you should have every confidence that you will be ok on the day. Enjoy your taper 🙂

Best of luck with the race! Enjoy yourself 😃

[Anniemurph Half Marathon]

You're prepared, you're ready - you can do this! Have a great race and run well! I'm looking forward to reading your report afterwards

[C3PO Marathon]

Congratulations on following your plan so diligently, Marco. I'll be wishing you all the best on the first, and look forward to your report.

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Good luck Marco! Look forward to reading all about it!😊

[ju-ju- Marathon]

I hope it went well and you managed to knock that 20 mile wall done..l. 😎

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Did you? How are you?

[marco83 Marathon in reply to roseabi]

I Picked up a tummy bug with some weakness from my kids on Saturday (don't you lose being a parent ). I only felt a bit funny and tired and I gave responsibility to the emotion (you hear what you want in your brain right?)

Of course I was feeling ok, in fact I was running at a 3h45 to 4 h pace keeping my heart bit below 155 for 19 miles. But the bug hit 20 miles in the marathon... so around mile 21 I had to stop a couple of times and it hurt to the end...

Without that I could have done much better (and I have still to work on my mental strength) !

but in the end it's ok,

it was a personal best of 4h15'17'' which, considering the sun and two toilet stops, is not bad

Today i feel well, legs don't even hurt, and I am already looking for the next opportunity

Anyway, I will report on this as soon as I have some time

happy running!

Marco

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to marco83]

Wow! Well done!!!

[Tomas Marathon]

How did it go Marco? Looking forward to hear the news

[marco83 Marathon in reply to Tomas]

we wrote together, see above

I'll report with more details soon

[Tomas Marathon in reply to marco83]

Sounds like you did brilliantly, considering everything. More than brilliantly, in fact! Well done Marco!

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon]

Wow Marco, that's fantastic! Really pleased for you xx

[marco83 Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

I am happy now, but i wasn't too pleased on the day... I had to walk and run for the last 5 miles as often has happened... It was the stomach, but I'm starting to think that the brain is tricking me in the last stage...

I don't fully have it yet, but I'll get there!!!

In the meantime I'll enjoy my new pb and look out for the next opportunity 😀