Today I was talking at my running group about the Yorkshire Marathon and how they said they would be there as a team until the last runner crosses the finish line. My fastest half is 4:10:00 so in theory doubling that and adding 20mins takes it to 6.20pm finish (10am start 7hr cut off takes it to 5pm estimated)
Now on Bank Holiday Monday I did 8miles in 2:11:38 (fastest I have done the distance) and I have put the pace of 16:27 into a marathon pace calculator and it gave me an estimate finish time of 7:10:59 so not much over the cut off time. My friend reckoned that as it will be October it gets darker early and the Yorkshire Marathon organisers despite saying that they will be there until the last runner crosses the finish line won't want to be standing around in the dark and she reckons it will take me more than 8hrs hours to finish.
Feel a little hurt but also not sure if I should be cheesed off too as neither she or I really know what will happen on the day. I am hoping that I can prove her wrong. I am doing my 18miles on Saturday.
Written by
Pippa49
Half Marathon
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Hmm that’s tricky because it’s hard to predict how it goes and you dont want to be too pressurised. I think that if you do a half in 4hours then it’s fair to assume that a full will be 8 hours. I assume one needs more wc breaks etc. I’m not sure you’ll be able to cut off an hour of your time in a few months. Is it a strict cut off? Have you looked at past results?
They have said in an email to me that they as a team are there until the last runner crosses the finish line whatever that time may be. I have it in black and white so hope that they are true to their word. It is only because they said that the last runner will be supported by the back marker to the finish line if requiring more than 7hrs on the pavements that I didn't drop to the 10 mile race on the same day.
I am believing them. I am more confident that I can finish the marathon now but will have a better idea of how long it takes me when I do my 18miles or 20miles run.
Yes you definitely can do it. You can always let them know your estimated arrival time in advance to make sure they are there. All the best with your 18miles run, wow!!
Thank you think if I can get the 18miles done I will be on target training wise . At Swansea one of the tail walkers had a radio and would radio when we reached each mile marker so assume that the back marker will do the same.
Yes I have it in writing too so if it doesn't happen I'll be complaining to them about being mislead. I will give it my best shot but I am going to enjoy it regardless.
No but she has done London a couple of times. She is quicker than me even Jeffing and she is petite. It's hard when you don't have experience of doing a marathon but my experience won't be hers
Nope. I didn't think she would be. Quite frankly I don't think she wants you to finish as she thinks she's in a different class. Ignore her.
I don't expect the YM folk will want to just hang about, I would expect them to run along with you to help motivate you over the line and share in your experience.
It's your day, don't let anyone spoil it for you before, during or after. It's your journey! 👍🏻😁
I've just put the date in my diary. I'll be supporting you from Sussex all the way! 😉
Thanks. She would never stop anyone from doing anything but I feel on this particular topic she is wrong about me. I have never done anything like this before so I am going to be out of my comfort zone but that is a good thing. I have decided that as you only have one life don't waste it saying that you wish I had done xyz. As you say YM have given their word in an email and it would be bad publicity for them to go back on it. I was the last one at Swansea Half but the tail walkers, my friend and the army cadets followed me over the line. I was only 19mins 45 seconds over the cut off time of 4hrs but they had waited and in the rain too for which I am eternally grateful. Hoping it doesn't chuck it down for the Yorkshire Marathon. Not bothered about me but I will be embarrassed if I keep them waiting too long in the rain. Thank you so much I appreciate that. I am not going to let anyone spoil it for me.
Looks to me like they’re saying if you’re below seven hour pace they will wait at the finish and the back marker will support you but the actual course will be closed. In other words you’ll need to stay on the pavements not the roads, wait at pedestrian crossings and other stuff that you wouldn’t normally expect to have to do in a road race: but they will wait till you finish and you’ll get a time. It might be worth checking if water stations will stay open so that, if not, you can bring your own water.
Yes they told me that I will be moved onto the pavements but will be supported by the back marker to the finish line and will be there until the last runner crosses the finish line whatever time that maybe. Only take you off if injured or ill and unable to finish.
We’ll be supporting you on here too Pippa! 🎉 You’re working so hard and you mustn’t let this killjoy put pressure on you like that. You’ll complete the race and you’ll be supported over the line no matter what time you do it in. 😀🏃♀️
The YM organisers have a job - to organise the YM, unlike this woman who needs to mind her own beeswax!
Thanks so much for your reply. I really appreciate it. As others have said the Yorkshire Marathon organisers have given me their word and it's in writing too. I did 8miles on Bank Holiday Monday in 2:11:38 fastest I have ever done that distance and my pace was 16:27 min miles so if I do that pace throughout the marathon even if I am a minute slower I will not be too much over the 7hr cut off.
I'm not sure how to word this reply for the best but I think your 'friend' is a little jealous and needs to be more supportive of you. I think the fact that you are doing a marathon is amazing and that nobody knows what will happen on the day...even elite runners. You are going to go and give it your very best shot and you are working so hard to train...dont let anybody spoil your day or motivation. Xxx i will be thinking of you from here in Yorkshire!
Thanks. She has done London a couple of times so not sure if she is jealous. She is probably concerned. Like you say no one knows what will happen on the day.
None of us know yet Pippa if we are going to run our marathons. Or what time we will run them in. But I have found that I have to believe that I will run it and finish it. If I believe then I will. When it comes to those very tough moments it is just us, our training and our running that gets us through. I believe in you and so does this forum. Even though I run on my own, I often visualise sharing my running successes with you all on here. I think there is a little bit of envy fron your friend.... she may be worried too as I know I can't just double my half marathon time from my most recent long run, but regardless of time, you have been told you can finish and people will wait. It might be hard for her to accept that you are willing to try something that she isn't, but that doesn't mean she needs to question anything. I'm treating my marathon now as an experience that not everyone has and how amazing we will be to achieve finishing. Believe in you. Good luck for Saturday's run. The heat is cooler. X
Thanks Clairecandothis. I agree none of us know and it does annoy me a little when people ask what I did my half marathon in then they work it out and say no marathon has a cut off time longer than 8hrs. In practice this does not mean that is how long it will take me. I felt hurt that she did not believe in me that I can do it quicker than 8hrs or even 7.5hrs. They, YM, have said that they as a team will wait and I believe them. Thank you so much for your belief and support and everyone else on this forum. I will post once I have done my run/walk.
Finishing late was a worry for me with my half, but I phoned them and all that happens is you have to stay on pavements once the roads open again. You aren’t going to know your time till the day. Just concentrate on getting round. Everything changes, including your perspective and how you feel, once you’re actually doing it. All else is speculation and hypothesis.
Thanks FlickM3 they reassured me in an email as I was concerned about how long after the cut off time they would wait but they said in the email that you continue on the pavements supported by the back marker to the finish line and as a team they are there until the last runner crosses the finish line whatever that time may be. I am going to just concentrate on getting round as like you say everything else is speculation and hypothesis.
You're worrying again! All this anxiety is not good for your running. You need a positive frame of mind for this game so do try and focus on the training runs, one at a time, tick em off and line up the next. What will be will be. Race day aint here yet so crack on with the training runs and have fun out there.
I'm sure you'll finish in the time limit so quit worrying about stuff
You're doing your training so be proud. Look at the distances you're getting under your belt!!!! You're flamin badass! Give yourself some credit. Big hug there for ya ((((((((()))))))))
Lol yes can't help it as it is important to me this. Won't be long before I get my race number. Had email saying they will be posted soon landing on people's door mat from 7th October which seems a bit tight to me. Thank you. Bought myself a running belt with a water bottle either side to try out tomorrow. I will use it for my half on 6th October too.
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So pleased I’ve run my first Half Marathon! 😊
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