It was a great day for a marathon. The weather has been very cold, but warmed up for Sunday, but still stayed a cool 5-14 degrees through the race which was perfect temps. I even wore shorts which I rarely do this time of year. After going through my checklist for the tenth time, my lovely wife drove me down to Queen street before the subway started so I could get my bags checked. All went smoothly. Had on an old hoodie to stay a bit warmer. Met up with a few of the other runners in the (warm) Sheraton hotel across the street and headed out to the corals. I was in green, so it was a bit of a walk past the elite groups to get to mine. We had a really big number of people in our crew running the half - maybe 15-20 and then around 5 of us running the full - four of us running our first full.
Once the waves started moving through, I got my music going - on a run like this I needed my tunes - setup in such a way so the faster motivational stuff is at the end. I had made a decision to dedicate 10k slots of this race to my family - since there were 4 of us I took the first easy 10, then Mrs Decker for 10-20, my son for 20-30 and my daughter for 30-40. I also had a new fuelling strategy after talking to a few very experienced people. I just was not fuelling enough on gels in my earlier 30k+ runs. I was running to one every 10k which is fine for a half but not a full. So this time I took one every 7km - a much wiser strategy as it turned out.
I was running nice a smooth, mentally positive until around 25k - a lonely stretch of the course with very few supporters - getting too into my head and my thoughts - when I heard my name and looked up to see my friend and an Ironman coach saying “you’re looking good keep it up etc”- That was enough to snap me out of that funk and power through some more kms. Then at 30 the wall really hit and it all became very mental. seemed like everyone around me had the same fight. I got emotional a few times thinking about my family - you have a long time to think in your head on a marathon! - and then saw some run crew buddies screaming like maniacs at 37k - that gave me a bit more energy. There is a big highway overpass that you cross at around 35-37k which is a bit demoralizing but once you are through it, you know there are no more hills and can plan accordingly. I was out of my gels so grabbed a course gel which was Gu - not my favourite, but fuel is fuel, right?
I saw a big bunch of the run group at 39 and did a pile of high fives with just a k or two to go then I saw my family at 40k and I got a huge boost to just sprint the last .5k to get over the line at 4:27 chip time - (my Garmin was kinder at 4:22, but not official). I was a bit disoriented after that and had a moment or two of very short breaths, but it passed quickly and I met my family. Though it was not cold I felt frozen at the end. We went out for massive burgers and I had a couple of lovely Fuller’s ESBs and was surprised I could not finish my dinner. Must have been all those gels - 6 in all - filling me up still. All in all the event went just as I thought it would. I was secretly hoping to be closer to 4:15, but I did give it everything I had, so I am happy with the result. Would you believe I’ve signed up for the Chicago marathon lottery this morning?
Written by
Decker
Ultramarathon
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Thanks Tasha - The bling was really sweet! Sparkly too! The shirts were pretty cool too. I did not want to jinx myself and wear it until this thing was done
Yes it comes with the race kit and so many of the runners just wear it. I was superstitious for this race. I wore it for the half last year tho. I just designed some new shirts with our run group name so I wore that instead.
Thank you Dexy - it felt like 40 hrs at some points - I have so much more respect for the fast marathoners now. Your head and legs do some strange things after 35
I bet! 😉 I couldn't finish my dinner either. Apparently something to do with exhaustion/stomach shrinkage business. Oh well. Job is now done, horizon is open, options are free and laid bare, you are a free man now! Wait for when it sinks in. I'm travelling around for a week or so and then back to marathon training, as you do. And so will you!
Interesting 🤔. My normal gel intake for 30k was 2-3, so 6 kinda put me over the edge. Well this job is done anyway. Have to have a think about next years plans now. Maybe Chicago if it pans out, or something entirely different
Brilliant! 👏🏃♂️, I love the way you dedicated each 10k, what a great idea, love the signs, those sort of things always make me smile. Lovely bling, well done Decker, an amazing time, good job! 👍🏅💪
Thanks Madge - yes I got the idea from an Ultra runner friend who is running a 100k race in Mexico this coming week!! He dedicates sections to his wife and Daughter to get him through. Mine was just on a much smaller scale I agree - the bling is super too.
This is brilliant Decker! Lovely too to dedicate each portion to your family members. I hope you are basking in the glory of being a MARVELLOUS MARATHON RUNNER 🏃♂️
Oh it was not easy Flick - please believe that. I almost crashed many times after 30k. But the 7k gel rule really does work - that was a big fueling lesson for me.
Something we can all learn from. I fuelled every 5k 0n my half and didn't want any more by 15k, but I was using both tailwind and solid food so it was probably overkill
I was fuelling my drinks with nuun, (similar to tailwind I think) at most of the aid stations on top of the gels, so the belly was full. I had to take a quick bathroom break around the halfway mark with all the liquid 🙂
Absolutely brilliant. Great when things go to plan. Such a massive achievement and in an awesome time too. Congratulations! And good luck with the lottery
Thank you Linda - yes For me it was a bit messy/awful in some places but it thankfully fell together at the right spots when it really mattered. One of our crew was not so lucky - she was doing the Half and passed out at the 20 k mark! But one of our members caught her and after reviving her with some juice, got her across the line. She was still sub 2 which indicates how fast she was going!
Crikey, poor lady! No wonder she fainted at that sort of pace, but what a tough character to make it to the finish. That's one for us all to remember when we think we're hitting a wall
Wow fantastic Decker! You superstar! That's a great time too!
Just realised this is the same event my clubmate did yesterday (the HM)as she us in Toronto celebrating her 30th birthday with her twin! 😊so I will get to see a medal when she returns!
Oh thanks Ali! That is amazing your mate was here. The HM shirts were really nice also. Nicer than the full mara shirts IMO. I should show a pic of the shirt
A marathon is sooooo long. Congratulations. 🎉👏🏼🎉 I will never run one, but we were deeply involved as our daughter & her running pal trained for their first marathon recently, and I now know so much more about what it takes to get there. It’s amazing. Well done indeed. 👍🎉
Thank you kindly Granspeed. Yes it was longer in that last 10k than I ever expected and I trained up to 34k! The mental games that happen are the most curious. I can only imagine what head games occur on a longer ultra run like Roseabi did. I hope your daughter and her pal got round ok with a smile at the end!
Well done Decker! Never in doubt of course(!) but what a fantastic achievement and great time! 😀💪Taking on a marathon is not for the faint hearted and I am so pleased it all went to plan. Sounds as though you had some great support out there on the course and I bet your family are SO proud of you right now! Very special bling 🏅and well deserved.Just brilliant!😀👏👏👏
Thank you Sandra, that is very kind of you to say. I was lucky that things fell into place and that support was there in a few places at the end otherwise the plan may have gone differently! Mrs Decker has been doing the C25 program so it seems like she can now really appreciate it more. I am really excited to see where she goes with it.
Saying 'things fell in to place' is very typically modest of you, Deckee! Good luck to Mrs Decker with the program👍 - my OH runs too and although we tend to run alone(!) we have done a few events together this year which has been great.🙂
Thanks Sandra. I’m not sure we will run events together as she swears she will do no more than 5k and the rest of us are just crazy. But I said I would stop at 10 so time will tell 🙂...
You should be so pleased with your time. You did so great!!! I am in complete awe. Congrats on a great race and immediately looking for another one! Mad respect!
Aw thanks Sask. Though I was aiming for a slightly quicker time, (just could not catch the 4:25 bunny) I just wanted to leave it all on the course and I did so I am happy with that. The choice for the next one might be foolish but Mrs Decker did not talk me out of it since she loves Chicago. :). My chances are pretty slim of actually getting picked also
Great report Decker. That chimes with my own experience and stages of elation and despair! I couldn't eat much or drink the beers my friends were buying me after my own FM - it's very odd.
Thanks Lordi. Yes mrrun mentioned it may have something to do with the stomach shrinking. I read the body shuts down unnecessary functions during extreme efforts including digestion. I was famished the next day!
Amazing write up and run! I would be estatic with that time. Huge congratulations. It is an emotional mindgame but you did it. Chicago will be superb. I want New York one day. 🤞 x
Thank you so much Claire. I want to work towards sub 4 one day. My friend took 4 maras and 5 years to do it. Not sure my window is as big since he is in his 30s but I will keep trying. Chicago would be so fun if it happens!
True! I've just signed up for another Marathon 🙈 I was feeling a little flat without a target and now I have all the same old bubbles of nerves and excitement! X
Haha - good for you! Nerves and excitement are good fuel to keep us going. So is having a next goal. I also have one in my head but I don't want to say it until I know it could be a possibility. Good luck with your next phase of training
Thank you IP! They made it much so more manageable. What a good group of young people they are. I did not even see the messages on the signs till after the race but they are great. I would have smiled at that one 😁
Yes I will join the group intervals today but I will just do an easy pace. Hope your legs are feeling better soon. For me a hot shower and rolling seemed to loosen things up a lot. Still have tight calves though. Was ok for my strength work yesterday, but no squats!
Thanks Deals! Yes I know, I've been trying to stay afloat of all the badges with so many races in this high season! Yes if there is a bug then we better call the run doctor because it is highly contagious
Congratulations!! Great result and write up. I can relate to it all and have been thinking a lot about my recent experience wrt fuel, and don’t think I took on board enough, and was a bit lost without my music too - so well done on getting those correct too! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 🍻😊
Thanks Macmac! I only got the fuel advice a day or two before the race so this was a test of the fuel strategy - what a difference compared with the 32 training run where I bonked out after 2 gels in the heat. I am still trying to sort out all the lessons from this one. It was an eye opener!
Congratulations! Sounds like an amazing race. It was the 30th anniversary as well. Great pics too! You must feel a senses of accomplishment. And already thinking about another one! 😀I’ve heard from some park runners that Chicago is a good one to do!
Thanks Lav, yeah it was one to remember. The t-shirts have 30 concentric rings like tree rings, quite clever. Yes there’s always another one isn’t there? 😁 Chicago may not happen so I’ll take it as a sign either way.
Thank you - There was a good dose of luck in there too. The conditions were perfect for a run like this.
I've just been told by one of the experienced runners that Chicago is a 50/50 chance! I wasn't expecting the odds to be that favourable :). Feels a lot more real now.
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