Question:
This was my second marathon after completing Berlin (in 5hr5min) last
year. Since then I have trained well and enjoyed my running. I am now a
sub 47min 10ker and a 1hr47 1/2 marathoner.
I trained well for this marathon (until recently) and have done the long
runs, although perhaps not enough. My attitude somehow changed after
managing the 1hr47 1/2. I ran this on the 20th August. Afterwards I was
on a high for a few days and recommitted myself to running under 4 in
Berlin. However what actually happened is that I seemed to lose
motivation/commitment for the marathon. If I look at my running log
after this time, my distances reduced drastically and I stopped enjoying
going out.
Anyway, throughout September I tried to gee myself up and I did manage
one 28km long run in this time, however I think some of the damage was
already done.
I was happy to enter the taper but then found (especially during the
last week) that I had sleep problems. Some of this was due to work but I
think I was unnecessary worrying. Much more experienced runners than me
tell me that my biggest problem is lack of confidence in myself. I have
now observed this and it seemed to play out on Sunday.
Anyway on to the race.
At the start line, I was not so nervous as last year and was still
thinking about the sub 4 aim. I like Berlin, the people are nice and you
have support all the way round. Unfortunately both times I've run it,
I've been in no mood for all the enthusiastic support. You are assigned
a block to start in and they stagger the start. So in Block H we
actually stated at 9:20AM. This is good as you can start running your
own pace quickly.
During the 1st 5km my pulse was very high, most of the time (even
without the interference from other watches) it was in the 180's. 70%
WHR for me is 161 and this was my goal for the 1st 10km. Even factoring
in nerves I didn't expect such a high rate so I slowed down. ...and then
the doubt settled in for the day....and the heat started raising....
The 1st hour of the marathon was pretty cool but from 10:30 onwards the
heat really played a factor. The forecast was 26 degrees but it was
definitely warmer out on the streets. It was warm last year and I cursed
my luck that it was for a second year.
Upon reaching 20km, I entered survival mode. I ended up walking/running
during the majority of the 2nd half. Exactly what i did last year and
promised myself I would not do this time. It is difficult to describe
how I was feeling. My ears were 'bunged up' which gave the whole event
some kind of surreal quality. I felt faint and even promised myself that
I would stop when got to the 1st medical tent.
Well the 1st medical tent arrived and I couldn't bring myself to go in.
I decided to wait until the next one..and then the next etc.. This
continued until KM35 where I decided I had might as well finish.
The official drink was Basica and I think I preferred the Gatorade they
had last year. I was always thirsty and saw some runners who had
collapsed. I've not heard anything on the German news so hope it was
nothing too serious. I also kept making the mistake of dipping my cap in
the basins of water and then soaking myself, only for a slight headwind
to then give me goosebumps or this may have been dehydration I don't know.
Anyway here are the splits
km 5 0:28:41
km 10 1:01:15
km 15 1:33:57
km 21 2:08:05
km 25 2:48:14
km 30 3:32:42
km 35 4:16:04
km 40 5:06:02
The 1st 1/2 wasn't so bad was it?
Anyway....
I felt OK about it afterwards, I was pretty pragmatic and I was happy to
have finished (I'd had serious doubts about this). Two days late I'm
starting to feel less so and more annoyed.
My immediate aim is to stay healthy (last year I suffered from colds for
the month afterwards) and get back running for the enjoyment. I'd like
to do a 10KM in te near future as my fitness should be pretty good. I'm
leaving on a 4 week trip to the US in a couple of weeks and will try and
find one there, it may be the tonic I need.
As for marathons, I'm not sure. I've had two miserable experiences now
and would like to give them a miss next year. If I can resist the
temptation to not register for Berlin next year is another question.
Answer:I sympathise with you. My 3 road marathons were hell. But the trouble is, I
just can't put it down - I won't be happy until I've cracked the distance.
For me this means running the bulk of the distance and being able to walk
properly at the end. Oh yes, and I'd actually like to enjoy it as well!!. I
honestly don't know of another sporting challenge which requires such a
large amount of training for such little apparent benefit on the day. I
guess there must be logic in it somewhere.
My first Marathon was the Lochaber, some considerable years back.
Ironically, this was my best time (< 4hrs). My first London was really
painful. I seemed to reach an odd state of mind where everything was just a
blur, 'surreal' describes it nicely. My quads were so sore at the end, I
couldn't step on/off the curb without cramping. My second London wasn't much
better (4 1/2), which was disappointing given the amount of training I put
in. I think the distance running thing is something that comes with age and
experience - you have to suffer a couple of times before you learn the error
of your ways.
I find off-road marathon distances much easier to stomach. I don't know why
this is, as I would assume that they are harder work. I've got a place in
the Beachy Head Marathon at the end of Oct and am training for this at the
mo
