Brighton Marathon Race Report

The Start - The day begun at 6:40 as I sneaked around my brothers flat trying to make porridge and not wake my daughters.  It had been a long night with a party downstairs and a snoring man upstairs.  My brother drove me to the start and I was all Vasalined up and ready to go by 8:30.  The race itself was late starting due to a car on the course.  We were off at 9:15.

Miles 0 to 4 - The first mile was a shock with a sharp rise around the first corner.  My usual sub 8 minute mile didn't happen and I was behind my planned pace of 3:49:00 from the off.  After that, my pace picked up and at the 4 mile marker, I was within 3 seconds of my exact race pace.

Miles 4 to 10 - My pace was still good and I crept slightly ahead of my pace.  It levelled off at 1 minute ahead which felt fine.  I had a minute in the bank and was running strongly.  I wasn't really paying too much attention to my HR as I figured that the only way to get it back down to zone 2 was to go slower but I couldn't do that if I wanted to break 3:50.

Miles 10 to 13.1 - It was getting really warm by this stage.  I'd run the hills I knew about and sweat was dripping from my cap at a regular rate.  I saw my brother and daughters at mile14 which was lovely.  My thighs were beginning to feel tight and my feet were sore.

Miles 13.1 to 20 - It was still ok until I got to a horrible out and back road that was so straight and went on for ever.  It was just a long residential road and felt like hell.  Getting off it was such a relief.  The joy was short lived as we then went into a very bleak industrial estate; was this the best Brighton had to offer?

Miles 20 to 26 - I couldn't feel any pain in my feet which was good but my thighs had become very painful.  I needed to stop and stretch which I did but it didn't seem to help much.  Miles 22 and 23 were poor and that was where my dream of 3:49 went.  It only takes a couple of stretching stops and its gone.  I felt like walking to the finish but if I had failed to get under 4 hours I would have been annoyed.  So I gritted my teeth and started hobbling.  I picked up a little and tried to smile as I passed the family at mile 25.

Miles 26 to 26.2 - I realised I could still scrape a PB so I sort of sprinted the last 800 meters and fell over the line.  All that effort to shave 28 seconds off the PB.  I called my Dad and told him his PB is safe for another year.  I don't think the Ironman is a place to try and break your marathon PB.

Today - Oh the pain.  My legs have hurt before after marathons but never like this.  I have a sharp pain from my feet and the achy pain from my legs.  I really cannot put my full weight on one leg so stairs take an age.  Its going to take a while to recover.

Thanks to all my supporters.   To my brother for looking after my girls to cheering me on, to my daughters for watching me, to my wife who I know would have been watching me if she hadn't got stuck in New York and to all my friends who sent me good lucks.

Marathon goals

Well, its the marathon on Sunday.  Its come round pretty quickly.  I feel quite relaxed about it.  Its not my main focus this year so if it goes wrong, no tears will be shed.  I do, however, aim to give my PB a go.

I'm not sure what to expect.  My training has been different than normal as I've been doing the three disaplines rather than just one.  I've made sure my long runs have been done but my short stuff and speed work has been replaced with cycling and swimming so I don't feel speedy

However, I am a little lighter and my heart rate is pretty good (I did most of my last 20 miler in low Zone 2).  This might result in a strong finish to the race which has affected my times in Edinburgh and Adingdon (I was on for around 3:50 in both of them at the 20 mile mark).

These are my aims:

1st Goal: Sub 4
2nd Goal: Break my PB of 3:57:40
3rd Goal: Break 3:55 (my Dad's PB)
4th Goal: Get sub 3:50

I know I am capable of all 4 but I know getting it all right is so tough so we'll see.

Brighton 10K

Saturday was miserable. I woke with a stinking cold that had got worse and worse all day and outside it looked like the end of the world. I could not envisage running anywhere. I did some school work and pottered around the house watching my first TV in 8 days. At 6:30, we ventured out into the rain and all caught a train to Brighton to see my brother. He took us out for a nice Italian and we got to stay in a lovely room in his hotel.

Sunday morning was the Brighton 10k, a race I've run before but my brothers first time. It was actually my brothers first ever race and the first time he had run 10k. It was raining when I woke up but it soon cleared. My cold however, had not; I felt rough.

I had breakfast, porridge and toast, and then met up with Phil and his girlfriend Jo. We walked down to the start just past the pier, used the facilities, got some pins for our number and got to the start. The girls (my family and Jo) walked up the road to wave at us and we waited for the start.

At 10am we started but quite slowly. It was congested and we tried to make progress but it was hard. We went out 1.5 kms before turning back the way we came and through the start. We waved at the girls out and back and found the crowds thinning. We picked up the pace a little in spite of the head wind and made out way to the second turn around at 6.5 kms.

Once we'd made the turn for home, it was mentally easier and Phil's pace quickened. He was fine until 7 kms when he started to slow slightly. I pushed a little ahead to give him a carrot and he kept pace. In the last 1500 meters I could hear him breathing harder but he was not giving up and within sight of the finish he started sprinting. It took me by surprise but he didn't drop me. We weaved in and out of the runners getting faster and faster but still crossing the finish line together.

I'm so proud of my brother. It was great to run with him and a lot of fun. We had a huge Sunday lunch where I tried again to get him to do the marathon in April but he said never. Oh well, a 10k once a year will have to do.

Stats
Chip Time: 0:54:18
Overall Position: 1559th out of 2544
Male Position: 579th out of 1531
Weather: Overcast and windy. Not cold.
First Place: 00:29:03
Last Place: 1:44:11 (amazing guy with a walking problem who looked so determined when I saw him coming the other way)

Photos courtesy of Sussex Sport Photography. I have bought these pictures and I'm waiting on delivery.

Brighton Marathon Entered

I have my first big target sorted out. In April 2010, I'll be running my 7th marathon - the Brighton Marathon. Its the first time its being staged and I think its trying to get the same market as the Edinburgh marathon - that is the people who don't get into London. 100,000 people enter the London Marathon each year and only 35,000 get places so there is a lot of people looking for a marathon in April. It seems its going to be a similar size to Edinburgh with 12,000 places available. So it should feel like an occasion but without being too packed.

I'm trying to get my brother to run. We are doing the Brighton 10k together in November so it would be cool if he continues his training to run the marathon with me. He's currently thinking about it.