London Marathon

26th April 2009

5km splits

Quite frankly I was thoroughly annoyed and disappointed with my performance. I was 100% sure I would run sub 2:50, and thought I had a sensible game plan.

My first mistake was to drink a bottle of water about 30 minutes before the start. This meant I was dying for a pee after the first mile. I should have stopped immediately, but I hoped the feeling would go away. However it didn't. And I ended up running with increasing stomach pains, and a stupid stitch kicking in at 20 miles.

My second mistake, but perhaps less critical, was to run the first 13 miles a bit too slowly so that I was over 1:25 at halfway. I should really have aimed for 1:23, since I felt like I was just pootling along in first half.

What I didn't remember or realise is that the second half of London is naturally slower and tougher since it contains several underpasses, and the winding section through Canary Wharf with loads of right-angled turns. So the chance of running the second half as quick as the first is pretty remote, and you have to be a bit of an idiot to aim for negative splits.

I was feeling pretty much OK up until mile 15, but shortly after that I started dropping time and putting in slower miles. I tried to get my act together coming up to Mile 20 by taking on gels and lucozade. My big plan was to get to 20 miles inside 2:10, and then try to grind out a 40 minute 10k to finish.

I felt OK going through 20 miles, but as soon as I tried to push the pace on a bit I instantly got a stupid stitch that just wouldn't go away. So for about the next 3 miles or so, I was gasping for breath and hitting my abdomen trying to make the stitch go away. It was infuriating and incapacitating at the time.

Finally I got onto Thames Embankment, but by this time I knew the sub 2:50 was out the window, so I was just pottering along to reach the finish, but I still thought I was on for about 2:52, however somehow I lost more time and ended up with 2:54:09.

In retrospect, I won't be drinking any water before the next marathon, and I won't be farting around running so slowly in the first half.

I should however thank everyone who sponsored me for TakTent for Gordon Shannon, and raising over £2500!!

London Marathon

13th April 2008

Results | My Splits | Ellie's Splits

Jogged round London with a sore foot and ankle. Went through halfway in 1:23:14 and thought sub 2:50 should be possible. I was still on target for 2:50 at 30km, but then felt pretty rubbish after mile 18, and lost 5 minutes in the final 10km, thereby finishing in 2:54:55. At mile 24, I tried to summon a last ditch increase in pace, but as soon as I forced the speed at all, my right hamstring started shooting into cramp, so I played it safe and just pottered in the last 2 miles. A bit frustrating to be on 2:50 (or better) pace for the first three quarters of the race, and then blow 5 minutes in the final 6 miles. However it was the price I paid for starting too fast, not pacing it properly and not having done sufficient training.

Ellie did exceptionally well to record 3:11:32 in her marathon debut.

Dumfries Marathon

19th March 2006
26.2 miles / 500ft of ascent
Results
A nice enough route, but not one of the most enjoyable ways of spending the morning when you've done virtually no road training. Died a slow painful death after about 16 miles. Just about got going again for the last few miles, enough to sneak under 3:10, my original plan of sub-3hrs long since out the window.
1. John Kennedy, Clydesdale, 2:50:08
14. Dawn Richardson, Quakers Running Club, 3:04:07 (1st lady)
20. Chris Upson, Westerlands, 3:09:52
24. Glenna Fraumeni, Glasgow Uni Hares & Hounds, 3:11:13 (2nd lady)

Dumfries Marathon Recce

4th February 2006
Race info
In preparation for the Dumfries Marathon on March 19th, I decided to go and recce the route.

Slovenian Alpine Marathon

10th September 2005
50km / +1930m
Results | Photo Gallery | SAM Home Page

An interesting route from Preddvor to Jezersko in the hills north east of Tržič. I was leading the race after the first 2km, but steadily dropped off the pace on the 16km road section with sore calves. Once on the trail proper, the running was very wet, muddy and desperately slippery in places. Especially wearing road shoes.
At the finish, having not seen him for 15km, I managed to catch Klavdij Maraž in the last couple of metres with a mental sprint finish to beat him by 0.4 seconds - not sure if this was good race etiquette - I thought it might be worth it for a V40 podium place, but I finished 4th in category. I was 8th position overall of the 70 starters, and first non-Slovenian.

Lairig Ghru Race - 26th June

28 miles / 2200ft
Results| Rod Dalitz's report
Third race of the weekend. And by far the longest at 28 miles.
For anyone who hasn't done this race, it's a long A to B from the centre of Braemar to the centre of Aviemore passing through the Lairig Ghru in the heart of the Cairngorms.
The first few miles are easy uphill road running from Braemar before dropping down and crossing the River Dee at Mar Lodge, then a bit more road before striking off up a good track with a small climb, before dropping down into the broad valley (Glen Lui) leading up to Derry Lodge. Here you cross the bridge over Derry Burn and head west into Glen Luibeg, at first across open slightly boggy ground, before picking up a good track as far as the Luibeg Burn. Here you have to wade or boulder hop, then a steep climb at first before good running swings you northwards into the impressive Lairig Ghru valley proper. This next section goes on far longer than I remembered, taking you into the boulder fields, past the Pools of Dee to a highpoint of 835m where the view suddenly opens out northwards to Aviemore. From the top of the pass it doesn't look far, but then next section is deceptive. The descent is quite rocky and awkward for a while, until at last you hit a perfect trail leading down into Rothiemurchus Forest. The next few miles are straightforward forest trail bashing, the only memorable feature being the large white Cairngorm Club Footbridge. Eventually you pop out at Coylumbridge, and there's just 2 miles of road to go. The closes stages involve crossing an old metal bridge over the Spey, before cutting under the railway line and fighting your way up through the tourists and Tesco trolleys to the finish opposite the Police Station.
The race was won by John Kennedy of Maryhill. Alan Smith finished 4th after doing Culter Fell Race and Falkland Hill Race the day before. I was 12th in 4:11, and got beaten by the first three ladies: 1) Gillian Godfree, 2) Kate Jenkins, 3) Lucy Colquhoun.