The closest that I’d got to a plan was to stick with the 4:15 pacer for a while and then try and break away further into the race. The start process was split into four phases. I arrived for phase one at my allocated time but passed through the phases much quicker than scheduled (it was chilly so I didn’t want to hang around). So, I was through the start and running about half an hour earlier than scheduled (and, therefore, half an hour before the 4:15 pacer was due to set off). So, the only semblance of a plan that I had was in the bin by the time that I started.
The 4:00 pacer was a little way in front of me so I hung around at the back of that pack for a while. Although it would be great to run a 4 hour Marathon, I don’t think that’s within my ability (yet!) I’ve given up trying to use the “real time” pace on my watch at the start of events so I just ran at a pace that felt comfortable. Which pretty much sums up the first 30k or so of the race for me! There were a few undulations, mostly for bridges over railways and waterways; on these, I eased my pace back on the way up then took advantage of the downhill for some extra speed.
Checked the time on my watch at the half way point and realised that I’d achieved an HM PB! Whoopee! Then, hang on a minute, an HM PB half way through a Marathon doesn’t bode well for the full distance. In fact, it suggests that I’d overcooked it and was likely to struggle later on.
Anyhow, I managed to maintain my comfortable pace up until the last 10k or so. It then became a bit of a struggle to hang on. By this point, I was using my watch as a guide, putting in a little extra effort if my pace dropped below 6 mins / km. Although it required some effort and my legs were starting to feel a bit tired, I managed to hold on like this. I was, however, in much better shape than I was at the end of the Newport Marathon so, with about 300m to go, I managed to put on some extra speed. Not the all-out sprint that I’d managed in Yorkshire, but a noticeable pickup none the less.
I finished with an official time inside 4:16 so, not quite as quick as I might have hoped but still a Marathon PB by about six minutes (and an HM PB to boot!)
As seems to have become a habit for me, I did a ParkRun the day before. Unfortunately, the hole that I’d worn in one of my socks had become big enough to let the whole of my big toe through which resulted in a blister. That was a bit of a worry for the marathon. As it turned out, a sticking plaster and some thicker (and intact) socks prevented that from being a problem.
I thought that my pulse rate graph was interesting, showing steady for the whole race apart from a peak right at the end where I put in some extra effort.
Written by
SkiMonday
Ultramarathon
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That's such an excellent run SkiMonday . You're super modest too 😃 Congratulations on those PB's which for me are astonishing. Very best wishes to you. Lovely to meet up too!
Oh wow SM, you smashed that one alright! 👊🏅🏃♂️ What an amazing runner you are. I love how you don’t think a 4 hour FM is within your ability - yet!! I’m willing to bet it will be. 😅
Well done on a PB! What a great effort. It all seemed a bit random about when we all started. Even though I went through the start process on schedule and didn't jump the queue I ended up starting about 10 minutes before my scheduled start. Therefore latching on to a pacer was difficult.
You have a really consistent HR there showing your training really paid off. Well done!
The rolling start process, which I assume they must use at all large events, is very different to the process at smaller events where there's just one queue and, in effect, everyone starts at the same time.
One result of that is that, on smaller events, you know how you're doing compared to those around you.
What a fab time SM! Congratulations and very well done to you on your PBs 👏
You are such a consistently hard worker with your running that I have no doubt you’ll get to where your next goal takes you. But you should be highly chuffed with this one 🤗
I always walk home post run. Finish a goodly distance from my door and walk there. On race day I should have stuck to my routine. The car was too close by. Doh! On my last marathon I stayed in a hotel that night because I couldn’t face getting in the car for the journey home. My legs really don’t like it 😁
Wow! I would love to have a heart rate that low and that steady in a race! Did you have a chest strap on or is it just from your watch?Congratulations on a superb run, even though you chucked your plan in the ship canal you seem to have done pretty amazingly well any how 🥳👏👏
yep. I find that if I ignore the watch and just run on effort I end up with a very steady pace when I check after. I think we can give ourselves a bit more credit!
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