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Apr 2012
11:29am, 24 Apr 2012
14 posts
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barryparker
Hey everyone.
Mega Congrats to Clare and Smout and breaking 3.30 at VLM!!
I finished 3.42 which I was pleased with in the end. Was just about on track for 3.30-3.32 at mile 21 but then got awful cramp in my right hamstring. Just couldn't shake it no matter how much I stretched so literally ran the last few miles on 1 leg so was very pleased just to finish in the end given the pain! Crowds got me round to be honest as everytime I stopped people were willing me on and shouting my name as well. Was a great feeling getting over the finishing line!
As a bonus, I did get a 1 second tv appearance for those who recorded it. A centurian gets interviewed at mile 25 and I run past the right of the interviewer (wearing a bright green vest with BAZ in red letters). At about 295 minutes into the programme!
Off for a swim (really will probably just sit in the Jacuzzi!) then for a sports massage tonight as trying to loosen my legs up!
Clare - please move me into the longterm hopefuls as not going to be doing another marathon for a while as going to go shorter for a while.
Congrats again to everyone!!
Baz
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Apr 2012
11:34am, 24 Apr 2012
15 posts
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barryparker
PS - What happened to the forecasted cloudy with light drizzle at about 10 degrees which I saw when I checked the forecast on Friday? Turned out to be quite hot and sun beaming down all day!
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Apr 2012
11:38am, 24 Apr 2012
1,950 posts
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clare1976
well done barry, you did well to finish in that time if u were suffering from 21m. marathons are a beast. it was a lot warmer than i had expected, agreed!
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Apr 2012
11:47am, 24 Apr 2012
12,896 posts
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hellen
was wondering how busy it is running at 3.30 sort of pace? Have previously been over 4 hours at london and it has been quite hard to run at the pace I want. Thinking of targetting london next year for a PB and wondering how easy it is to run at around 3.20-3.30 pace compared to just over 4?
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Apr 2012
11:52am, 24 Apr 2012
16 posts
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barryparker
Thanks Clare - was a bit disappointed at first but when I thought about what I had achieved given the pain, I actually am very pleased with it. Definitely know I have a 3.30 in me - at Abingdon I got 3.40 but ran out of energy for the last 5 miles which cost me over 5 minutes then this one I lost 10 minutes because of the cramp. So next time if everything goes well, I can do it.
Hellen - not AS busy at 3.20-3.30 pace as at 4 hours but still about 4000 people finish in front of you at that speed so as you can imagine, it is still pretty busy!!! Pretty much impossible to get anywhere near the racing line - I did about 0.5m further than 26.2 which gives an indication!
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Apr 2012
12:06pm, 24 Apr 2012
388 posts
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Nelly
Baz, sorry you didn't get your time, but well done in finishing despite the pain. I like your positive attitude about next time 
Hellen, my only advice would be to make sure you are in front of the RW pacemakers. On reflection, my decision to follow them probably played a part in my failure to get sub 3:30, as like Baz I also did 26.7 miles. As I ran past I kept on hearing the crowd say "wow hasn't it suddenly got busy... oh, it's the 3:30 pace group... etc". I suspect if you managed to get (at least) 30 seconds in front of the pacemakers there would be a lot more room to follow the shortest route.
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Apr 2012
12:10pm, 24 Apr 2012
9,887 posts
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Naomi P
Barry, that was BigChiefRunningBore who was being interviewed, he finished a couple of minutes behind you. Well done on getting through the cramp!
And what Nelly said
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Apr 2012
12:21pm, 24 Apr 2012
11,680 posts
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DeeGee
I deliberately positioned myself in front of the 3:30 pacers, and kept in front for most of the race. Running at 7.40-7:45 pace I was pretty unencumbered, although I too did notice it got suddenly busy once the pacer passed me at around 20 miles once my mind could suppress the pain in my calf no longer.
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Apr 2012
12:23pm, 24 Apr 2012
18 posts
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barryparker
I reckon I owe BigChiefRunningBore some thanks then - I was all set to stop for another stretch until I saw him up ahead being interviewed and decided there was no way I was being on tv stood at the side stretching my hamstring so kept running for another 1/4 of a mile or so! Haha.
Thanks for the good wishes everyone!
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Apr 2012
12:31pm, 24 Apr 2012
412 posts
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MissingPhoenix
Ditto to what Nelly and DeeGee said re. the pacer.
There were 2, I assume from different coloured starts. The ones from the blue start seemed to be in a team of 3 and liked fanning across the road which annoyed me. the other seemed to be on his on own and hugged the side. I spent a lot of time around them all! Must have run near you deegee. Also must have run near BCRB for a while, I remember seeing him a lot (didn't know it was him!)
clare can you put me back into the header as a long term hopeful please. I will come back again, just not for a while!!
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