Saturday
Registration was fine, for once. I took a portable camping chair with
me so I hardly did any standing (from my hotel I had to get 1 bus, 2
tubes and 1 train). Would thoroughly recommend it. Virtually no
queuing for numbers or chips. Did not bother with the exhibition. Went
back to hotel and spent the rest of the day with my feet up.
Sunday
Up at 0615 - very warm already. Got to the start at about 0800.
Chatted to various people - including a guy I used to run with in
Bristol - who were all worried about the heat. I was very well
hydrated by then, so I thought I'd take it steady.
Started in Pen 1 and crossed the start line in about 60 sec. First
mile very slow - about 8m 15s but got to mile 2 in just over 15m so
was back on track (I was aiming for 7 min miles to half way, and then
see how I felt. First half of the race was just a question of 1 jelly
baby per mile, 1 gel every three miles, and turning up my mp3 player
to drown out the brass bands!
Half way in 1h 33m (but ran even splits for 1st and 2nd 10k of about
44mins each) and still felt ok, but it was very warm and I just
couldn't seem to get a good rhythm going. Then at about 14 miles I
found the course had changed (I last completed it in 2001), so I was
in unknown country. There was quite a steep rise, and then a very
boring section for the next four miles or so (Canary Wharf etc.) I
started to miss mile markers, so I was a bit shocked to see Mile 18
when I was feeling overdue for Mile 16. I began getting a sort of
cramp at the top of my hamstring which made running painful, and my
left knee was also sore.
The next three miles were through gritted teeth. Started to slow
considerably, though mainly overtaking rather than being overtaken (I
did see another member of my club - a man who's run 2hr 30mins - at
one point going like a train. I asked him what he was doing at the
blunt end, and he said he'd missed the start. Can't find him in the
results - I wonder if he dropped out, or was he running as a bandit?)
Again, I missed a mile marker so mile 21 to 23 was VERY long. However,
at mile 23 I could visualise how long it would be. My speed had
dropped considerably, but when I tried to pick the pace up my knee
kept collapsing, so I continued to shuffle along. Never have the
Houses of Parliament looked so sweet.
Not so sweet as Buckingham Palace, though, nor the sight of the finish
line and 3h 19m on my watch. I was really pleased with this result - I
didn't stop, and I didn't walk (though by the end I wasn't running
very fast!). I proved two more things to myself - 1. It is NOT
possible for me to "enjoy" running a marathon. 2. I am not built for
the distance and I will never get under 3h again.
After the end I had to get public transport back to Chelsea. I'd been
on the Transport For London website which had told me to get a bus
from Charing Cross, but I waited for 45 mins and nothing came.
Eventually another bus driver told us that the Number 11 was
cancelled! So in the end I got a couple of tubes and a bus and
eventually, at 1445, put myself under the shower. When I took my kit
off I noticed that my arms and legs were covered in dried salt.
Luckily there was a packet of crisps in one of the goody bags, so I
started the electrolyte replenishment straight away.
The worst part was the 100 mile drive back. The cramp in my hamstrings
hadn't gone away, and I spent the whole journey squirming in my seat,
trying to get comfortable. Luckily, when I got home, I could start the
serious business of re-alcoholisation again - I'd given it up for the
last two weeks. Next race is a half marathon in about three weeks - I
think I'll go for sub 85mins - I'm sure I'm in shape.
Edward