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Yorkshire Marathon 2023

runningdad profile image
runningdadMarathon
17 Replies

Incoming race report. It’s a long one, so get comfy!

So I can definitely say that Yorkshire in October is very beautiful, especially when the weather was so on point. Cool and sunny meant there was no heat to contend with and the wind from the day before had thankfully died down.

My plan had been to position myself near a pacer for the time I’d been aiming for - somewhere between 4h and 4h 30m. By the time I got to the start line just a few minutes before the start those prime spots were taken, so I just found a spot I was happy with. I was planning on keeping it slow to begin with anyway.

The strategy of using the crowd to keep things slow initially worked quite well, though I could probably have done with slowing down a bit more for those first mikes/kilometres. The first 5km saw us take in the city sites. Definitely a case of blink and you miss them, but York Minster in the sunshine was definitely a feels moment. We then left the city, swapped for country lanes, and all was going well. The crowds were less than you get at the bigger events, but still plenty of people outside their houses cheering us on. The only really very quiet sections being the very remote sections with no one living nearby.

The first half was certainly good going and I felt strong. Some of the hills were perhaps a bit more challenging than anticipated. I’m not really sure why I thought this would be a flattish course, I’d checked out the elevation map, but what didn’t look too tough visually on the day was starting to really take it out of me effort wise.

There are two turning points on the route where you end up doubling back on yourself. The first is in the lovely village of Stamford Bridge and the crowds were out in full force. The second is at the end of a long and dreary trek down a nondescript country road. It was here at around the 17 mile/27 kilometre point things really started to hurt.

The top of my legs, possibly adductors or hip flexors were tightening up, coupled with a stitch that made running up undulating sections almost impossible. Here the mind games with myself started, so by the 18th mile / 30th km I was having to run-walk sections on and off just to make progress.

Here I really needed to have a word with myself, and I will be honest and say I nearly, very nearly, quit. Life is too short I thought. But the thought of my family waiting for me and showing my son that not giving up even when things get tough can be reward in itself kept me going.

By this point I was just glad to be able to find the inner strength to keep going. As each kilometre passed I was running more and taking less walking breaks. So that felt positive, but my it was hurting. The jelly babies on offer from the spectators were a blessing now too - I’d had my fill of gels and needed something solid.

As we approached the 40km mark I knew I had it in me to finish. But I was convinced my time would be disappointing. By this point I had long been passed by the 4h 15m and 4h 30m pacers. They were going at some speed by comparison to me, but my legs were just not going to take me any faster than what felt like a shuffle.

The final mile as we approached the end was the last thing I wanted to see- another blooming hill. With speed bumps. Yikes. So with head down and pumping arms I hauled myself up towards the finish line. My family were stood at the 26 mile marker and hearing and seeing them gave me the final push I needed as I charged (of a sort) forward desperate for it to end. The announcer calling my name as I crossed the line deserved a double punch in the air, arms raised. I’d done it.

In the end my chip time was 4:32:14. Just a bit slower than my time in Edinburgh last year and not far from the time I had predicted for myself. But that didn’t matter. I’d done it when I was convinced 2/3rds of the way round I didn’t have it in me. So that’s my big takeaway. Believing in myself and what is possible with determination.

A final word on the event itself. Really friendly well organised and one of the best goody bags, t-shirts and medal I’ve ever received. So highly recommend if you’re looking for a smaller event with a personal feel.

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runningdad profile image
runningdad
Marathon
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17 Replies
Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Half Marathon

What a great race report runningdad ! 👏👏👏🙂Congratulations on your marathon - an epic achievement in my opinion and not something I could ever imagine doing myself! I especially loved your determination to ‘dig in’ despite the pain and get this done - amazing the strength we can find in ourselves when we need it!

Rest up well and bask in the glory!😀💪🏅

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon

Wow, that must've taken some real determination. But that's such a positive experience banked now, not just for your son but for you too; you can draw on that again if things get tough!!!

Isn't Edinburgh a downhill marathon (overall negative elevation)? That suggests your time here (with significantly more elevation) was a good one, however tough it felt. Great job!

runningdad profile image
runningdadMarathon in reply tolinda9389

Yep, good point Linda. I’ll take that as a big positive! 👍

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksHalf Marathon

Well done runningdad, that was a test of your grit and determination, and you definitely won! Your legs sounded just like mine in the Cardiff HM a couple of weeks ago, and I can feel your pain. But we’re not quitters! 💪

That’s a great time too, so be proud! I bet your family are. 👏👏👏

RunWillie profile image
RunWillieMarathon

Well done runningdad Great run & report 👍🏻

over61andstilltrying profile image
over61andstilltryingHalf Marathon

Many, many congratulations! Thank you for your report. I so appreciated reading it. I hope that you are feeling rested now and enjoying the after glow. 🏃🏻‍♂️😊🏅🏁🎉🎈👏

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRun10 Miles

What a brilliant report, and great running, just shows what grit and determination does,

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70Half Marathon

That's an achievement to be proud of,congratulations! 👏 xxx

00marks profile image
00marksMarathon

Congratulations on running a marathon. What an achievement! I hope your legs are recovering and that you can walk down stairs 😉

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserMarathon

Brilliant runningdad, and very well done! So much of it is in your head isn’t it? I always think that I’ve got nothing else planned for today (see my name!), so just get on with it… And being able so show that grit and determination to your kids is worth its weight in gold. Congratulations 👏🥳👏

And Yorkshire is the one I’m thinking of for next year, so thank you for the review 😀

runningdad profile image
runningdadMarathon in reply toTailChaser

Go for it TailChaser. It’s a lovely event, just my legs failing me this time.

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessAdministratorHalf Marathon

You nearly quit but you didn’t. This says everything. Big congratulations to you and very well done on the race but also for your time!

Those jelly babies clearly did the trick 😂

runningdad profile image
runningdadMarathon

Thanks all for your kind words and encouragement. It’s just what I needed to hear and a reminder to always focus on the positives!

Cowladyrunning profile image
CowladyrunningMarathon

Well done! That's a great achievement to come back after feeling like quitting. It sounds like my Loch Ness one with the hills - they take it out of you don't they? And I wasn't expecting so many at the end either from the elevation profile!!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministrator

A super run and a super report... It looks a splendid one to run! Huge well done!

Week7 profile image
Week7Half Marathon

That sounds tough! Unexpected hills when tired are just mean.Congratulations on finishing in such a good time.-find a flat one next?

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy510 Miles

congratulations runningdad . I hope you didn’t have to run in the cobblestones in York. Enjoy the bling and goodies

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