Race Report FLM 2007.
Forcast - hot
Reality - Dammed hot
Preditions - Struggle, but aim to closeish to 3:30 was the ultimate goal. But knew it was not on, so anything to better my previous best at London a 3:51:14.
Also, how much or the viral pnuemonia was in me, it is 8 weeks to the day since coming of medication, would this have an effect.
Meet up with 200 mins, V-rap, Gadget Man LB man, Townie at the start.
So off to the start to see if the impossible is nothing.
Had it in my mind to set of conservitally and achieced this nicely with a 1st mile pf 9:24, then the next 14 all between 8:11 and 8:35, going through halfway in 1:50:41.
So all was going to plan but was starting to feel the effect of the heat and the pace started to slow. The gels were going down to plan as was the fluid intake so on that side all was well, the legs were fine to, but the body was not........
Went past Mudchute (many thanks for the great cheers) it spurred me on, but but now the body was suffering through the heat and lack of strength.
From mile 19 I had to start adopting a run walk policy, something I have never done before. It was here that I really was considering pulling the plug as the body did not seem to want to play at all, everything was becoming a struggle, and was now looking at over 4 hours, somnething in the 8 previous maras I have only done once and that was my first one.
Made the decision to carry on with a run / walk. And this seemed to work, I was walking for about 200-400m then running for 400-800m at a time up to 22m where I then met the Fetch team and a bollte of pre ordered flat coke. Boy was that good and hit the mark, still ran and walked for the next 2 mile then the caffine kicked in and was able to run the last 2.25m
Question was would it be a sub 4, was it still on, hit 25m in 3:49:01, and bearing in mind the best mile in the last 6 had been a 9:54, it looked doomed, i said it looked doooooommmeed.
So it was a case of accepting defeat or going for it, sod it I went for it, dont know where the 26m marker was, but saw the 800m to go first, 4:20 odd to break sub 4, 400m to go, 2:10 to beat sub 4, round the corned and rocket fuel required........
hit the line, 3:59:50, but thats my watch....... (just checked offical - 3:59:48) I have not know delight like it for getting my 2nd worst ever time in 9 marathons.
But the story doesnt end there.......... I manage to produce late drama....... collect my bag, sit down, next thing I know there are loads of St Johns around me, they lift my head and (sorry guys / gals) promtly was violently ill and seemed to produce the whole contents of the race Little Britain everywhere. So I get rushed into the medical tent,and kept in for over an hour and managing to do the same feat again as they try to push some vile tasting yuk down me, it seemed to work though, I was also shivering uncontrolably and cramping...... it seems that even though I took plenty of fluids on they seemed to just stick in my stomach.
Anyway, I finished, not in the time I wanted, but the conditions were not the best for me, and I think that the viral pnuemonia had a big part to play, so of a base of 6 weeks then 3-4 weeks out the 6 weeks hard and a 2 week taper. I have to be more than happy, and am despite for me a poor time.
Summary - good times are for small maras, great experience and atmosphere is FLM.
hellish