I've been running pretty well recently so it was about time I had a nightmare - and this was it.
On day one I got so caught up with the social nature of the race, the fact it was Malcolm's race, I knew loads of people there, it was Beth's 100th marathon, and I saw a few people I've not run with in ages, that I forgot it was a marathon. Fourteen miles in I'd been so busy chatting and enjoying the scenery I'd not eaten or drunk anything - I sort of realised and shovelled in some gels, but it was too late to avoid the inevitable bonk. Miles 20-24 were bloody horrible, although I picked up a bit towards the end and trudged over the line in 3:49 or thereabouts.
On day two I was a bit more careful. I didn't really run with anyone so it was much easier to keep an eye to my own pace and remember to eat and drink, and combined with a slightly slower pace, it was a million times more enjoyable. You could see how on a wetter day it would be a super-tough route, dry as it was there were still a couple of ankle deep bits of mud towards the end, but as it was it was just a nice couple of days running (apart from the end of day one). On day two I finished in 3:55, 9th overall for the double runners which was ok I guess. It's also another two towards my 100 marathon Club total, so I'm sitting on 67 now.
On day one I got so caught up with the social nature of the race, the fact it was Malcolm's race, I knew loads of people there, it was Beth's 100th marathon, and I saw a few people I've not run with in ages, that I forgot it was a marathon. Fourteen miles in I'd been so busy chatting and enjoying the scenery I'd not eaten or drunk anything - I sort of realised and shovelled in some gels, but it was too late to avoid the inevitable bonk. Miles 20-24 were bloody horrible, although I picked up a bit towards the end and trudged over the line in 3:49 or thereabouts.
On day two I was a bit more careful. I didn't really run with anyone so it was much easier to keep an eye to my own pace and remember to eat and drink, and combined with a slightly slower pace, it was a million times more enjoyable. You could see how on a wetter day it would be a super-tough route, dry as it was there were still a couple of ankle deep bits of mud towards the end, but as it was it was just a nice couple of days running (apart from the end of day one). On day two I finished in 3:55, 9th overall for the double runners which was ok I guess. It's also another two towards my 100 marathon Club total, so I'm sitting on 67 now.
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