Run > Race

The big day! Woke up at 5.30am to make sure that we had plenty of time for brekkie, showers, toilets etc.. We all hopped on the U-Bahn and ended up at the start by the Reichstag. Long queues for the toilets (something that no race has yet managed to get right), but got to the start just on time to run past the Victory Column along to some real triumphant music that was playing.

So my plan for the race was to run at a pace of about 7.50/mile, thereby clocking a sub-3.30 and also beating Camerons best time while I was at it. My plan worked well for about the first 16-17 miles when I was there or there abouts, but after that although I didn't hit the wall, by legs became very very heavy and I dropped to about 8.40 for about the last 6 miles.

It was a tough race but really enjoyable. Some fantastic scenery, the crowds were great, and there was music all along the route of all varieties from techno to ethnic to jazz to rock, swing, soul and funk. Finishing the race by running through the Brandenburg Gate was an amazing experience and one which will live long in the memory.

I felt like I was going to collapse for a while after finishing and I did just that (but in a pleasant way) after picking up an Erdinger Alkoholfrei and lying on the grass soaking up the sun. I even bumped into Lofty!

I am very happy with how I ran today. I was hoping to beat 3.30 and CMs PB, and I came out with every intention of doing that and gave it a good go. It was however, just a little step too far for me, but I am still extremely happy with the time I achieved. It ain't easy to run a marathon in 3.36! The only thing I may have done in hindsight would have been to run slightly slower initially to get a better, and more easily maintained, overall pace, but nah, can't live with regrets!

Split Summary
===
1) 1m - 8:04(8:04/m) 121cal 3.33/0/hr
2) 1m - 8:08(8:08/m) 122cal 3.3/0/hr
3) 1m - 7:54(7:54/m) 122cal 3.39/0/hr
4) 1m - 8:06(8:06/m) 122cal 3.31/0/hr
5) 1m - 7:50(7:50/m) 123cal 3.43/0/hr
6) 1m - 8:15(8:15/m) 127cal 3.25/0/hr
7) 1m - 7:58(7:58/m) 122cal 3.37/0/hr
8) 1m - 7:52(7:52/m) 123cal 3.41/0/hr
9) 1m - 8:01(8:01/m) 126cal 3.35/0/hr
10) 1m - 7:43(7:43/m) 123cal 3.48/0/hr
11) 1m - 7:50(7:50/m) 123cal 3.43/0/hr
12) 1m - 7:42(7:42/m) 123cal 3.48/0/hr
13) 1m - 7:42(7:42/m) 125cal 3.48/0/hr
14) 1m - 7:51(7:51/m) 125cal 3.42/0/hr
15) 1m - 7:49(7:49/m) 124cal 3.43/0/hr
16) 1m - 8:02(8:02/m) 122cal 3.34/0/hr
17) 1m - 8:06(8:06/m) 126cal 3.31/0/hr
18) 1m - 8:13(8:13/m) 122cal 3.26/0/hr
19) 1m - 8:26(8:26/m) 122cal 3.18/0/hr
20) 1m - 8:28(8:28/m) 121cal 3.17/0/hr
21) 1m - 8:36(8:36/m) 124cal 3.12/0/hr
22) 1m - 8:55(8:55/m) 126cal 3.01/0/hr
23) 1m - 8:42(8:42/m) 127cal 3.09/0/hr
24) 1m - 8:40(8:40/m) 123cal 3.09/0/hr
25) 1m - 8:25(8:25/m) 132cal 3.19/0/hr
26) 1m - 8:40(8:40/m) 125cal 3.09/0/hr
27) 0.53m - 4:29(8:28/m) 68cal 3.17/0/hr