Barcelona!

After Susan's week of Arctic survival training back in February in Yorkshire. It was my time to do something slightly different so to keep the "Tears for Beers" tradition going! This time in the shape of the Barcelona Marathon, OK I did one back in September, but believe me it gets no easier for number two, as you know what's coming!

Training was suppose to be 15 week training program starting in December tailored for a 3 Hour 30 finish time, but thanks to work, missed the first two weeks, followed by another 10 days over Xmas/new year thanks to the snow and ice. But got stuck in as best I could. This was harder than last time as included efforts. I consider it all as an effort, but to the club runners it's silly things like running up and down hills multiple times, doing stop start circuits all stuff to improve your speed. I'm not a club runner so headed off by myself in my own MP3 world. For January all it seemed to do is make my legs continually ache and was a test on motivation, training on cold, dark, icy nights is not fun. But February saw the benefits and smashing 4 minutes off my half marathon time on a training run. Maybe 3.30 would be feasible although I boycotted the last few training runs as felt continually tired this couldn't be right?

So there I stood at the Placa Espanya, Barcelona at 8.25 on Sunday the 7th March with just 5 minutes to go. Some 12 thousand runners but as I had a previous time could start further down the start grid. The previous 3 days had seen 12 hours days exploring what is a wondrous city with so much on offer, probably walked a marathon in those days, just couldn't miss out.

Decision time, I had made the discovery a couple of weeks before that if I got 3Hr 15 would have a good chance to get a "good for age" entry into the London marathon so bypassing the ballot and probable future disappointment. That was a different training plan, but what the hell, what did I have to lose?

So the gun went off, this time was over the start after 3 minutes, a little quicker than the 14 minutes at Berlin and looking at the stat's was in 3012 position wise. Still congested for the first few minutes, but a good pace as we headed off to towards the Nou Camp stadium (Barcelona FC). Was trying to catch the 3.15 pace maker so made my way through the masses getting to 2129 by 5km, caught and past the 3.45 pace maker then the 3.30 pace maker by the 10km mark. Feeling fine, no clocks on the course so hadn't a clue how fast I was going but still overtaking. By 15km was up to 1859. I could now see the 3.30 pace maker and his attached balloon ahead and was slowly closing in. By this time we had rounded the Nou Camp and were almost coming back on ourselves and yes passed the roundabout which we went around at the start, that isn't that motivating! The course now headed into the new Barcelona past Gaudi's La Pedrera although I didn't notice it, concentrating on the running to much, but couldn't help but gaze at the unfinished cathedral (Sagrada Familla) on the way past. Was now the furthest point away from the start and the half marathon point and a long walk back if I gave up now! But was only some 10 seconds behind the pacemaker and half way on 1.34.31, wow still felt good, if I kept this on would be sub 3.10!

So down we went towards the shore but just couldn't catch that extra 10 seconds to get to the Pacemaker. But I started 3 minutes after him so had this in hand. I could do this. The 30Km point came (18 miles) and feeling a bit tired but not bad and was in the 1758 which was going to be my best position. Suddenly the 3.15 pace maker stopped for a loo stop, I was ahead of him! But five minutes later he sprinted past and caught his balloon on a traffic light and burst, I couldn't identify him now in the crowd. But then it happened, I slowed a bit and tried to pick up the pace but I couldn't, however hard I tired. OK, hang in there I have 3 minutes in hand. Then a board only 10km to go, that 6 miles, thats just a local circuit at home. I was now tracking 30 seconds a km slower. Past the Port Olimpic we go through the Arc de Triomf and down the La Rambla the most famous street in Barcelona. Just 5km now. But what happened at Berlin with 1km to go hit me at 5km, this was the runners wall! Its different for everyone, but for me was running but falling asleep at the same time. The eye lids were very heavy, guess it was the body shutting down. Some people were walking, but I mustn't, I would never get going again. It seemed l I was running backwards as people over took. This was hell! looking at the stat's the last 5km took 8 minutes longer than the other 5km segments and dropped 300 places, I had a dread that that the 3.30 pacemaker would pass me any time. But then the finish, I had made it 3.23, 27 minutes better than last time.

As expected, the legs seized straight away, got the medal, gulped down 3 cups of energy drink and lots of fruit. By the time I got to the bag storage, walking was a challenge. But there you go, done and despite thinking "why am I doing this to myself" at the time, look back at it with some pride. After a marathon you are absolutely starving (having burnt 4000+ calories) so headed off and after months of healthy eating indulged in Kentucky Fried Chicken! So after getting back to my room for a shower and rest, yes did venture back down, it would of been a waste not to? Despite some strange looks regards my walking technique! To be honest it the next day which is the worst.

So will I do another another, I suspect so, London is my aim, but won't decide for a while, got a Yorkshire 3 peaks and Coast to Coast to keep me fit in the mean time. That will do for now :o)