Following the disappointment of the Toronto Marathon in as much as not being fit enough to complete a full Marathon training programme so a PB. The best of age 3.15Hrs still dominated my thoughts as a London qualifying time. I would have to post one by June 2011 if I were to qualify for the 2012 edition of the race. A scan of the schedules using the reasoning that a late spring attempt would see training in good weather and lighter nights, led me to Edinburgh marathon. Statically the fastest UK course, the UK’s second biggest marathon plus could fly direct from Norwich so sounded perfect! Training started well in early February with the usual aches, pains and early injuries. But five weeks in a PB at the Norwich Half of 1 Hr 31 min 7 seconds saw a placing of 147th out of 1968 people. Something was working, I was rocking. But I had to run this with a cold so had wondered as I was stocked up with flu capsules, if I would have passed a drugs test! Yes, this was a constant cold I just couldn’t shake and would lead to several subsequent training sessions being missed as I just couldn’t breathe. The timely arrival of the Sicilian holiday and warm sunny weather would cure this and the prospect of some holiday running just to keep things ticking over all seemed good.
Alas I now start to sound like a broken record, chances to run didn’t really materialise as didn’t fancy running down main roads and pitting my wits against Italian driving skills! Then after the 3rd run in a hilly area, yes an injury, a calf strain out of the blue, no choice but to stop. Some 8 days later and back in the UK and impatient, a steady run saw it go again after 3 miles, should have known better. Yes another 2 week layoff, total disaster. Was now very close to calling it off but with flights and hotels booked a 16 mile run 10 days beforehand saw things hold firm. Yes again only 8 weeks of training completed out of a 15 week programme. Another get around job as best I could. I felt robbed and gutted.
So the weekend approached with the forecast of 35mph winds and heavy rain showers. This didn’t exactly help to bring on any confidence. So on the 21st May flew from a sunny Norwich to Edinburgh and was soon stepping off the airport bus at Princes Street. The forecast of heavy drizzle all day was proved to be wrong as windy but actually sunny at times but no rain. Maybe they have got the forecast totally wrong? An enjoyable walk around the Castle Garden and a poke around a couple of churches prevailed. While eating a baked potato (carb loading) sitting outside on the Royal Mile watching the world go by was a delight. A walk part way up Arthur’s seat for photographs saw the end of an enjoyable few hours. Checked out the marathon start area for the following day, booked into the B&B, then to the Marathon Village for the Pasta party. Got to say at £22 I wasn’t the only one to feel this was very expensive, food was scant compared to other ones I had been too although the entertainment in the form of Comedians were very good and had us all laughing. I left in high spirits and for the first time before a marathon a good night sleep. Guess I knew what to expect being a similar situation to Toronto?
A relatively late start time of 10am saw time for a decent breakfast and soon lined up in London Road (Royal Terrace Gardens). The start is actually split over two locations with this one being for people with faster predicted times. A couple of showers while waiting were brief enough but not encouraged when I realised I had forgotten my high energy sweets. In hind sight, I wasn't at my mental best which is half the battle with Marathons. But I wanted a medal to add to my collection so no turning back now!
The gun fired and off we went, although called the Edinburgh Marathon, it actually heads to the coast and you don’t see any of the famous sites of the city. The first 5kms are downhill so soon pick up a good head of steam. And before long was running along the promenade looking over the white horses rushing in from the Firth of Forth. Being with the faster bunch, was swept along as normal but soon the feel good factor disappeared and remember at 9 miles wishing it would be over. That isn’t very good when you still have 17 miles to go! The next few miles saw us pass by the fishing villages of Cockenzie and Port Seton and the half way mark, but strangely there was no clock? So really didn’t have a clue on pace, a rough calculation suggested 1 Hour 37 although I would find out later it was actually 1 Hr 34 a pretty quick time. With my strategy of running at an achievable pace until I hit the wall, although not as dramatic as Toronto, starting soon after, as my lack of training became evident and the body entered the default plod speed. People started over taking and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. The finish seemed a long way off. Passing by Musselburgh Racecourse gave me hope as the course would double back to here and the finish. While going outbound, saw the race leader coming the other way with the race car and the timing clock was a diversion.
The 180 was eventually reached in the imposing grounds of Gosford House so now feeling the force of the strong SW wind but not the promised 35mph gusts thankfully. A heavy down pour was actually quite refreshing although soon dried off in the stiff wind. Then another thing that hadn’t happened before, a call of nature and a loo stop. Obviously eaten too much at breakfast and just summed up the run, another wasted 3 or 4 minutes. Back on the road and started to recognise landmarks I had passed on the outward leg, getting there bit by bit. The only thing keeping me going was the want of another medal to my collection and a desire to keep under 4 hours. But energy levels were dire and with no sweets which helped at Toronto, action was needed. They say you should never try new things on race day, but felt I had no choice, grasped a bottle of Lucasade Sport and downed it almost straight away. For around 5 minutes I had a sensation of energy and my pace increased, but as soon as it had come, it had gone again! My major gripe with the set up now came into play. Saw a mileage board at 20 miles, but hadn’t seen any since. Was I nearly there, it would have been morale boosting to tick off the miles, but nothing, I was left with the constant thought, when will this ever end? Then a new sensation, instant pain shot up from the bottom to the top of my legs as if they were about to seize. Reaction to the Sports drink or severe lack of training? This could be the end but a minute or so later had gone.
I really was despairing at this point, no idea of the time or the distance left.
But increased crowds and people giving out jelly babies had me take up the offer when passing any out stretched hands. They certainly helped. Then suddenly the finish was in sight and load of people lining the road clapping and cheering. A glance at the clock was 3 Hr 33, totally amazing considering. From nowhere I picked up some energy and came in on a spurt. Result 3 hours 35 minutes and 11 seconds, my second fastest. How I managed that I will never know?
It has to be said the finish area was crowded and trying to squeeze out of the finish area into the public area was crazy and ill thought out. The organisers have quite a few things to think about for next year? Wasn’t that impressed later to find out I had been given a Half Marathon Finishers T-Shirt by mistake. This race had taken place before the marathon.
So there you go, reading this back it just reinforces the fact this was the least enjoyable of the 4 completed. Really need to get rid of this fixation on speed and make sure future outings are at places I want to visit, not just race. This was done for all the wrong reasons.
Although the real challenge was getting back to Norwich, with strong winds the following day shutting the airport and fallen tree’s blocking the train tracks. An extra overnight stay saw a 4.30 get up to get back to the airport for a 7am departure. Although even this was delayed and was eventually away by 9.30 and possibly the last flight before the airport was closed because of an ash cloud! Yes, an eventful weekend!
But I’m really feeling excited about the next, Athens in November, yes a pilgrimage along the very first route 2501 years ago and finishing in the Olympic stadium, bring it on!
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